Ringo Starr shares drumming tips as he accepts honorary degree: “I just hit the buggers”

nme.com:

Ringo Starr was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College Of Music earlier this week (June 2) and during his acceptance speech, imparted some drumming advice.The former Beatles drummer was supposed to receive the honour last month but couldn’t make it, sharing a short video message instead.

But while on tour with his All Starr Band, Ringo Starr was able to take part in the special ceremony.“It’s far out, I don’t have a lot to say,” began Starr’s speech after showing off the certificate to the room. “The idea that I’m a doctor blows me away.”“You know, I just hit them,” he continued, talking about his drumming technique. “That’s all I do.

I just hit the buggers. And it seems to be, I hit them in the right place.”Starr then got behind the drum kit that was on the stage, and showed off a simple beat that he used to show kids he was teaching. “And if they couldn’t do that, I’d politely tell them ‘maybe piano for you’.”“The other side of that story is that I gave my son Zak (Starkey, drummer for The Who) that lesson.

Then a couple of weeks later, I gave him another lesson,” Starr continued, playing a slightly more complex beat. “He said ‘I can do that Dad’ so I said ‘well, you’re on your own’ and he turned out pretty good.”A post shared by Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic)Starr said receiving the award was like “some strange fairy tale.