Mark Applebaum Gone Mad!

Drum Roll Please...allow me to introduce the “Mad Scientist of Music” Mark Applebaum. Mark Applebaum breaks the rules when it comes to music. It is his questions and boredom that drives him to surpass the boundaries that people such as Beethoven and Bach placed before him. That is the area where I can personally relate to Mark, as I want to become the “Mad Scientist of Drumsticks”. I want to be able to break the boundaries of drumsticks like Ahead did with their carbon fiber drumsticks or like Vic Firth did with different tip designs. I have many questions, all which still have yet to be answered as my research continually progresses. But what surprised me most about Mark is his boredom with music. How can that be?

            Mark Applebaum is so bored with music he went out and created his own instrument out of junk. That is the kind of character that I truly admire. Common themes in most of my posts have been about people who find a problem with what they love and decide to do something about it. Boredom drove Mark to change something about what he loved most. In his TED talk he played a Beethoven piece and amazed the crowd. He followed their applause by saying that it is a boring piece. That made me laugh however, he did have a valid point. Sometimes we fall so in love with our passion that we can run dry of our passion at some point. This is where change is necessary. This is when questions need to be asked. This is the point where innovation is created.

            Mark Applebaum took his boredom and innovated an instrument. The instrument was complex in its design and was not aesthetically pleasing however; it did its job, which was to create music. At one point Mark asks the audience “Is this music?” Everyone has his or her own opinion on what is music but the real question lies in accepting the other side’s argument. All in all, watching Mark satisfying his boredom has driven me to accept others view on what music is to them, for music is art at the end of the day. Not only that but to continue to push forward while asking questions about what I love most, drums, drumsticks, cymbals, drumheads etc. Lastly, Mark displays leadership through innovation. Change something about what you love, lead the way and make an impact! Keep on drumming!