Later this month my drum students will join in with my piano students in a joint jazz performance workshop. Our first pairing since the before times. For some students who play electric drums at home it will be their first go on a traditional drum kit. Here are some tips to get ready for this experience. 

1. Practice the rudiments and snare etudes softly this month. The power strokes and general joyous thrashing possible on electric drumkits won't work in an acoustic environment with pianists playing jazz. 
2. Jam with jazz recordings this week. The album below is an iconic introduction to jazz drumming.
3. Practice the required pieces more than you might normally do. 
4. Prepare to have fun. Playing with other humans, making improvisational music is thrilling. Music is a team sport. 

David

​Covid protocols will be in effect. 

A rudimental warm-up based on the 40-bar exercise from Syncopation, the timeless drumming manual. 

Drumming is about having fun. Having fun is about playing well. Playing well is about directed instruction. Playing music with others is about time and groove, period. The band wants to hear our pulse, good vibes, and steadiness. This happens when we work on our "stage one drumming"

In short:

1. Our posture at the kit
2. Knowing the appropriate grips: French, German, American, Traditional
3. Control and knowledge of drum strokes: Full, tap, whip, finger and more
4. Practicing our rudiments: cornerstone of every great drummer and determined aspirant.
5. Understanding pocket: laying down a groove that fills the dance floor or in the case of jazz, has fingers snapping.
6. Hand accents: a key to groove, feel and drumming finesse.
7. Our Time development: The great Terry Clarke and Greg Hutchison both said, no time, no gigs. Or in our cases, basement banishment.  It can be learned. 
8. Learning how and what to practice to make the most of our precious practice time. Learning to practice well will help us maintain the enthusiasm we initially brought to the project. Drummer Benny Greb believes, and so do I, that seeing and hearing progress is the key to staying motivated. 
9. Pick tunes or beats to play that we like that are also within our capabilities. 
   

Chat soon, 

David

This track challenges a students' ability to hold a groove for an extended period of time. Drummer Grady Tate plays with so much feel, groove and simplicity.
No small feat. 

David

Transcribing the drum chart for Robot Rock made me feel 13 again. 
When listening at 1/2 tempo, I hear some interesting sound artifacts with the bass drum part, like it was being doubled.
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​David

How I will be spending some practice time over the holidays, preparing this piece. A fun solo piece for the snare drum.

​Good hand skills are the core competency of drumming. Learning some solo repertoire is a fun way of going about it. 

If you swing them a bit, they morph into a New Orleans Roll offs or drum solos pretty fast. 

​David

Snare Drum Solo. Chris worked it out be ear. Smart kid. 

He's six, he's killing the intro. 

​David