So far, my video tutorials have been about making sounds that sound like the drums in a drum kit. The temptation for vocal percussionists may be to mimic the sounds of percussion we find in popular music, which means that when we translate instrumental songs into a cappella we may tend to limit ourselves to a smaller range of sounds. As with any creative endeavor, when we are making music we should push the boundaries, make new sounds, and be willing to try to do something that no one else has done before.In a time where there is so much pre-packaged, repetitive stuff coming from the entertainment industries, don't be afraid to stand out. Be willing to put yourself out there to stand out from the rest of the crowd. That is what will endure and be remembered as something unique on its own. Several years ago, when attempting to replicate a sound that I heard someone else making, I actually ended up creating a new sound that I had not heard anyone do before, and eventually practiced it enough to make it consistently, adding it into my own collection of sounds.
There is nothing wrong with taking a great song, sound, or rhythm and recreating it. It can a tribute to the original artist, and putting a new spin on a great song can be refreshing. Making something new, however, can be even more refreshing, and doing so can put you ahead of the rest. Be bold! Do something new.
