How long does it usually take to prepare for a class when we focus on the task at hand? A student with a history of unpreparedness showed up today all prepared. I asked her, "how long did it take to prepare to this level?"

“Not very long” We both started laughing. Procrastination often takes up more time than the time needed for the task.

If I can help you learn to practice effectively, call me. 

​David

Jazz Workshop Day

Playing with other musicians is the only way to learn to play in time, balance your instruments, build endurance, and hone your musicianship. And importantly, meet other students on the same journey.  

The jazz drummers and pianists of my studio meet today for a workshop. Everyone has prepared a piece to play with the trio. Then we have a community jam/workshop in the 2nd half of the event. 

Music is going to be made. 

• Killer Joe
• C Jam Blues
• Jazz exercise no. 2
• Autumn Leaves
• Ain't Misbehanvin
• Alexander's Ragtime Band
• Honeysuckle Rose
• In a Sentimental Mood and more

If you like to join us, call me. 

David

​Why use a metronome?

1. Learning to play to an external beat will pay dividends when you begin to play with others.
2. You will learn where and when you are rushing. Especially if you record yourself doing it.
3. Your sense of time will improve. Time is the flow in music. The metronome will help teach you not to rush or drag. Drumming is all about time.

​How to use the metronome.

1. Count aloud. 1&2&3&4& etc. 
2. Start slow with simple rudimental exercises.
3. Record yourself and evaluate. You will learn from the feedback a recording supplies. 
4. Play one note per click, then 2 notes, then 3, and finally 4 notes. Keep counting aloud. No silent counting.
5. If you are having trouble, clap rhythm patterns from your pieces while counting aloud. Do this slowly.
6. If you can’t count aloud and play, ask your teacher for help. They will be thrilled you asked.

 
If I can help you learn to count, call me.
 
David

At aged 50 I took up the drums in a meaningful way. Back in high school I banged about in band class annoyingly and halfheartedly. The highlight of my high school drum career was playing bass drum in the pep band. BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Skip ahead...

I met Collin for our first drum class. He gets me going. I'm pumped. I thump out my old disco beat from 1977. Thirty seconds in I realize this is going to be more challenging than I thought. He was kind.

I believed that 35 years as a professional musician would make it easier. Nope. 

Twelve years later my quest for drumming mastery has taken me to New Orleans 2X, Louisville 5X, Poland 1X, Rome Italy 1X, and Toronto Canada. I've had the pleasure of studying with some of the most distinguished drum teachers available. Terry Clarke, Greg Hutchinson, Paul DeLong, Ali Jackson and many more who have encouraged me, inspired me, instructed me, criticized me and occasionally scolded me. It was thrilling.   

I now own too many drumsets, cymbals, snares drums, and drum books. I play in too many bands. There is no cure. 

If you would like some help starting your journey, call me. 

David

Helping kids to practice drums 5 Tips

1. Take them to drum shows and concerts. Sit with them and watch drum videos together. Be enthusiastic. Normalise the experience. Find out what the child likes about different drummers. 
2. Supervise their daily practice.
3. Organise their practice space. Everything in its place.
4. Work with the teacher. Communicate the child's musical preferences to the teacher if they are shy. 
5. Have them participate in exams, assessments, recitals, and festivals. Meeting other kids creates a community, community creates buy in. And new friends with common interests. And you say, "what drum exams" Yes they exist. We have drum meetups and jams in this studio. 

If I can help you and your kids, call me. 
​

Learning to love how we sound.

In the 1921 teaching manual “Principles of Pianoforte Practice” by James Friskin, he asserts that most students “simply do not hear all the sounds they produce”. I concur.  Students have not changed.

Friskin would be amazed, I’m sure, at the technological tools available to students today, namely YouTube and phones. YouTube for inspiration, artistic impression, and guidance. The phone for recording and evaluating their progress.

It would be interesting to discuss together what students continue to miss when they grind instead of plan. How they often bore themselves silly with endless repetitions, hoping for a musical miracle instead of exploring the recordings of their pieces.

First level: Before practicing, listen to a professional performance. Then record yourself playing and listen back. How did it go? How was your time? Jot down notes and annotate the tricky bits, like fingerings, into your score.

Second level: Before practicing, listen or watch the recording. Mark your score with notes on what you heard: balance, accents, rudiments. All and everything you hear. Now, with the recorder going, play from your notes. Listen and analyse the results. Repeat.

Now the hard part, learning to love how we sound. It takes a certain amount of fortitude to listen to ourselves play. Especially in early music study. It can be discouraging. But push on in faith. You will be the first to hear improvement and progress in your playing. Over time you will accumulate hundreds, even thousands of practice recordings. (In 12 years of playing drums I’ve 248 Gigs of mp3 recordings) It’s fun and gratifying to hear how one sounded a decade earlier, or even last year.

If I can help you learn to practice effectively, call me.
​
David

30 Minutes of practice for 30 seconds of Music
 
I’m learning the xylophone. I practice daily for 20 to 30 minutes. What can I accomplish in 30 minutes? Not much it turned out. For every second of the final performance time, it takes me about 1 minute of practice time.
Let me break it down.

1. I was familiar with the piece of music; so, I knew my musical goal.
2. I started the video recorder.
3. I played through, noting the problem spots. 
4. I practiced the 1st measure after I figured out the stickings. Four correct repetitions and I went onto the next measure.
5. Every 4 measures, I would glue it together. The final passage took most of my time.  
6. I considered the dynamics from the start.
7. I stopped 3 times to watch the video.
8. The results are below. 

 
If I can help you with your practice skills, call me.
 
David

Another lay-off is ending. Next week there is the rock band, the following week the jazz band resumes. Yes! 

How am I preparing?

1. I'm jamming along with the playlists. 
2. I've reviewed the charts. Some of them I may redo for more clarity.
3. I play every day. Two hours of rock music takes energy. Lots of it at age 62. 
4. I'm dreaming of which drum kit I'll bring along. 
5. I'm charging up the GoPro camera. Video is a good quality control method. 

Cheers, 

Davi