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Off duty: Airman keeps drumming hobby alive

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jake Eckhardt
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  

At first glance, Airman Nathan Grodrian seems to blend in with the rest of the camouflaged uniforms at the 375th Contracting Squadron. Upon a closer inspection, one would notice the airman tapping his hands and moving his feet in a rhythmic fashion--a habit formed years ago when he began his infatuation with drumming. 

 

As a 13-year-old Grodrian had tried the cello and saxophone, but the two instruments didn't seem to fit him. So he decided to follow in his uncle's footsteps by taking up drumming.

 

"For a while I was trying to find a musical interest, because my mom and my brother are both musically inclined," said the now 24-year-old. "I found out that my uncle had an old drumset from when he was in high school, so we went to my grandparents to pick it up."

 

Initially Grodrian started playing with the snare and hi-hat to the left of him with his right hand over his left, but he found it to be hard to keep a consistent rhythm. After rearranging the drum-set to mirror the way it was originally and using his left hand over his right, he quickly caught on to the instrument.  

 

"When we started with a right-handed set, I was terrible," he said. "I couldn't keep a beat at all. My friend suggested since I was left-handed, we should switch the drumset around. It just came natural after that, and it developed from there."

 

The New Albany, Ind., native began taking lessons soon after once to twice a week from Mom's Music shop, a hometown store. After a year and a half, he started teaching lessons at the same shop. His skill and love for drums grew.

 

"I would spend all my time looking up all the up-and-coming drummers and different techniques. That's all I would do. If I wasn't in school or at work, I was on a computer researching drumming or I was down in the basement drumming for hours until my hands were red and callused. If I wasn't playing on my drumset, I was playing on my practice pads."

 

During his middle school years, he learned rock songs. When he reached high school, he got involved with as many bands in the area and attended music-related classes.

 

"When I got to high school I started meeting new people who were interested in other types of music. I was in a metal band, jazz quartet, and a traditional African rhythm group."

 

Because of his involvement with the music classes and his experience level with the instrument, he was asked to participate in Percussive Arts Society International Convention or PASIC in 2007. Grodrian, along with five other students, traveled to different schools in Ohio to perform an African style drum demo.

 

"We would play for about 20 to 30 minutes just having a conversation with each other. A conversation is where two drummers would solo back and forth. It showcased each person intricacies when it comes to their rhythm and personal style. It made me feel good that I was a part of something. I saw how happy it made other people, and it became more than just me."

 

After graduating, he stayed in the local area and played with a couple of bands until he joined the Air Force to become a para-rescue journeyman in 2011. While going through the rigorous training, he realized the job wasn't for him. Due to constraints at the time, he wasn't able to transfer to another career field, so he was sent home.

 

While he was going through the process of joining the Air Force for the second time, he took up his drumming lifestyle again until he rejoined in 2013.

 

Casey Bruce, Grodrian's wife, said, "Although Nathan doesn't get to drum as much as he once used to, he is very dedicated and talented. If he could, he would spend mass amounts of time drumming and practicing. If there is a song or beat he is focusing on, he will relentlessly practice or think about it until it's just right."

 

The airman now focuses on polyrhythms, different drumstick gripping styles, and getting faster.

 

"Even before I was in the picture, Nathan has always had so much support from his parents and family to play the drums," she said. "They have known since he was a little guy that he should do something with music. Our group of friends has also had the privilege to hear Nathan play and have nothing but good things to say. I too have heard his music over the years and know he is so good at what he does. Anything that makes him happy makes me happy."

 

The Airman said he will keep up with his hobby as much as he can.

 

"I love drumming," he said. "I've had a lot of fun with it, it comes natural to me, and I've seen how it's impacted people. Why shouldn't I keep up with it?"