Drummer David Story drumming tips

What Students Are Learning This Week: Daft Punk-Robot Rock

1/27/2021

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.

David

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How Many Songs I Can I Play With This Simple Beat? Part 3

1/21/2021

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The Easiest American Drum Beat And Some Songs That Use It Part 2

1/21/2021

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How Many Songs I Can I Play With This Simple Beat?

1/20/2021

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What students are learning this week

1/18/2021

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Who is your favorite drummer and why?

1/14/2021

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Time, Feel, Sound, Attitude, Funky, and Simple

Steve Gadd; time/groove/versatility
Chris "Daddy" Dave: limb independence, modern sounds
The Drummers of New Orleans: funky, danceable, colorful
Max Roach: soloing
Ali Jackson: joyful playing, orchestration
Quest Love: funky, understated
Tony Allen; orchestration, depth, sound
Gene Krupa: joyful playing
Vernell Fournier: color and feel
Jay Bellerose: touch, swampy feel

Who is on your list? And why?

My list and reasons direct my practice: time/sound/feel/orchestration/attitude. Let's make a list for you.

Call me.

David

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Drum Rudiments

1/10/2021

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Got this yesterday. What a heap of fun, and a great way to explore, review, and make some music with rudiments on my pad.

Drummers need a few things.

Great time feel
Great hands
Big ears

A close study of rudiments helps us to improve all three.

David

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When we practice, we are judgmental. We analyze our playing to understand what needs fixing or further development. It is goal directed work. For beginners it is difficult work. I suggest only 30% of drum set time is used to practice.

On the other hand...

Play is:

non-judgmental,
fun
spontaneous
unstructured
messy
chaotic
important
what the child signed up for

If you like some help getting your household drum journey started, call me.

David

David

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How To Help Your Child Practice The Drums Part 2

1/5/2021

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Some tips from a music teacher with decades of experience. Here they are in no particular order.

Show an interest. Sit with them during lessons and supervise practice until they find their feet. Keep it light hearted, but short. Maybe just 10 minutes of supervised practice a day is enough.
Learn about their favorite drummers and share time together watching and learning together from YouTube videos. If they don't have a favorite drummer help them find one. Start with music they enjoy, identify the drummer and then explore the drummer's discography.
Help them set up their practice space so that it is easy to practice.
Talk with the teacher, show them you care about the progress of your child.
Let them play too, practice is hard work. I suggest in the beginning 70% thrashing about, 30% practice. As they becoming increasingly emotionally connected to the project adjust the ratios. (I personally over practice. In 2021 I promise myself I will thrash about more. )
Be sure they play an instrument that works.
Help them set up the instrument properly. If you don't know how, consult a number of YouTube videos and ask me for help too. The videos below will get you started. Compare the angle of their thighs.
Remember kid's want to play music, keep it fun. Never punitive. Nothing sucks the fun out of a children's activity than an over zealous stage mother, or hockey dad. I'm sure you met them. Let's help the child associate drumming with fun and excitement the odds of success go up greatly.

If I can help, call me.

David

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New Years Resolutions for Drummers

1/3/2021

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Time to dream again. Covid-19 will abate this year; the vaccines are coming, spring will arrive. Time to get musically ready to share our music with the world again.

Here are 10 ideas to mull over.

Organize your practice space with everything you need ready at hand: scores, recordings, pencil, headset for listening, phone recording app operational, metronome, lighting, drums tuned, distractions minimized.
Schedule practice time in the calendar, the same way other non-work-related activities are. In short prioritize music this year.
Plan to take lessons this year: Let a little fresh air in. A fresh perspective.
Learn to love how you sound at your instrument: Recording frequently and accepting how it sounds and thinking about how it might be improved is an effective step forward.
If your instrument is lacking, and you have the means, upgrade.
Seek out other adult learners online. There are wonderful communities on Facebook. I belong to several them. Contribute, celebrate the privilege of being able to make music.
When concerts return, go. Be sure to be there, it will be an emotionally cathartic experience of lifetime that first downbeat. Expect tears.
Find a band to jam with after you get your vaccine jab. Celebrate together, the joy of playing together again. There are people at your level, you just need to find them.
Consider expanding or updating your musical preferences. There has been a lot of music created since our musical preferences were set in our youth. Much of it will speak to you in new ways and perhaps novel ways. YouTube algorithms are good for this. My teenage students have the most eclectic tastes which I attribute to these algorithms.
Make a fresh list of pieces you like to play this year, purchase, or print the music, put it in a folder and plop it on the music stand and visualize yourself playing.

Cheers,

David

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Drum lesson tips, Ideas, Stories and Free lessons

What Students Are Learning This Week: Daft Punk-Robot Rock

How Many Songs I Can I Play With This Simple Beat? Part 3

The Easiest American Drum Beat And Some Songs That Use It Part 2

How Many Songs I Can I Play With This Simple Beat?

What students are learning this week

Who is your favorite drummer and why?

Drum Rudiments

Practice verses Play

How To Help Your Child Practice The Drums Part 2

New Years Resolutions for Drummers

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