There has been controversy over the world's fastest drummer competition from the start. To a person that does not play the drums it may even seem absurd why people are so disconcerted by the seemingly innocous event. Hundreds of people have participated, even famous artists such as Johnny Rabb, Marco Minnemann, Mike Mangini, are recognized as record holders of the WFD. So what is making people upset about the WFD?

The reasons that I have heard why people have a problem with the WFD is the fact that the competition encourages people, even non-drummers to want to play the drums in a non-musical way. Others feel that calling drumming a sport is somehow diminishing it or insulting the name of drumming as a whole. Reasons I have encountered the most are usually in some way related to the "musicality" of drumming when playing at such blistering speeds. The speeds that are reached at the competition are rarely if ever heard in a musical context. So, why encourage drummers to stray from their path of true musicality? Why lure them like moths to the flame? Why take the WFD seriously?

Well first we should define music. The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre.

Courtesy of The American Heritage? Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Unfortunately, what is considered to be an evocative composition is subjective. If I do not find that a particular genre of music contains evocative composition does that mean that it is no longer music? Is it possible that a particular type of music can be music to some people but not to others? This is where the line gets hazy and arguments can be made all day from both sides. So the next question is can an evocative composition contain parts in it where its speed is comparable to those speeds found at the WFD. This is a subjective question again. It all seems to boil down to an opinion no matter which side your on. But regardless of your own subjectivity in what is evocative, it can't be denied that the drumming of the WFD is in itself evocative. The pictures above prove it, displaying crouds of people attracted to this event.

Can the WFD destroy what drumming is? Does it deface the value of the name itself by referring to it as a sport? Are young drummers world wide being led astray by a useless skill? I'm sure I haven't listed every reason that people have a problem with the WFD, but if you think the answer is yes to any of these questions then you are one of those who are against the WFD. The WFD does not and has never professed any claim as to being a musical competition. They are only looking for the fastest drummer for each competition they hold. The contestants spend many hours of practice and woodshedding in order to obtain their current speeds. Like any other sport the competitors must train regularly. The winning contestants deserve much respect for the time they have spent practicing and training for the event.

In the end it is a contest where people can have fun, and even learn a few things about fast playing technique. If this isn't your thing, turn the other way and try not to spoil the fun for those who love it.