16/04/18

This week's technical focus are the accent patterns below. As always start slow focusing on the correct technique. The first excercise starts with a down stroke on the first note (with the right hand)  a followed by a tap stroke (left) an up stroke (right) and another tap stroke (left). Keep the bass drum confident and relaxed. Use a metronome to track your progress. Remember you are aiming to create technical headroom so do spend some time playing this left hand lead as well. 

The second ex starts with the up stroke moving the accent on to beat 2 and 4. The same rules apply as the first excercise. 

Linear phrasing: this week you are to practice the RLRB pattern we went through in lessons. Practice on the snare first working on even sound and accurate placement of the notes. This week your limit was approx 115bpm. See how much improvement you can make before next session. 

When you have done this bring the tempo down to 80% of your maximum and start exploring some orchestrations around the kit. An easy way to do this is to think about the three notes with the hands and how you can voice them;

- all three notes on the same sound

- first note on one sound the the other two on another *

- first two notes on one sound the last single on another 

- the middle note on a different sound *

- all three notes on a different sound 

* these ones may well flow better starting on the floor Tom! 

Don't forget to use the hi-hat as one of the sound sources and try to repeat each idea a few times to internalise it. When you are feeling confident try applying it to the PBUG track "you can say" or "dance dance" 

I look forward to seeing how you have progressed next week 

26/02/18

Technical focus: bass drum independence this week! Below is an excercise to get you used to playing two 16th note bass drums against an 8th note hi-hat pattern. Remember to start slow, count aloud and stay relaxed while you work on the mechanics of this exercise. Once this is comfortable focus on keeping the right hand super even and the bass drums consistent. If this starts to feel easy, try increasing the tempo, or varying the hi-hat patter to 1/4 notes or up beat 8th notes etc. 

Groove for the week: below is the groove to James Brown's funky president. Set a couple of clear goals for what you are working towards with this groove. Are you looking at getting the first bar secure at 70bpm, can you already play all the way through all four bars but you need at add the open hi-hat . Make sure you are playing any tricky elements slow to start with listen to the track for reference but don't be tempted to try playing along before you are ready. 

"You can stay" by the PBUG is the next performance track. Reflect on the challenges you had with the last track and set APROPRIATE goals for this one. Use the full band track as a reference but you are not being asked to replicate this exact performance. You should be working on adding 16th nite bass drums and ghosted snare drums into your interpretation. 

19/02/18

This week was the recording week for "taste of freedom". Firstly let me just say how impressed I was at the way everyone approached this task and please take some time to reflect on all the progress and improvements you have achieved. 

This also a review point for the year. Reflect on the goals you set at the start of the year. Do you see evidence of progress in your most recent performance. If so set a new goal or develop the goal to bring new challenges. If you feel you have only partially addressed your goals or not achieved them at all see if you can update your action plan to reflect how you will try to improve between now and the end of the year. 

Your next project will be another track from "drums at the front". Everyone expressed an interest in improving independence playing 16th note bass drum doubles in grooves so this will be some of the focus for this next performance. 

22/01/18

Today we developed the your warm up. You should all be working towards playing the single stroke and double stroke ex at 90bpm +. Everyone needs to focus on the 16-32nd note singles and doubles section. Also practice the the paradiddle combination excercise. When it starts to feel secure work in the 1/4 note bass drum and up beat left foot to develop 4 way coordination. 

We also looked at the 16th note snare drum syncopation ex's from last week. These were looking much stronger. Use the beats page to start applying this skill. Record your playing see what it sounds like and how you migh improve it. 

Your goal for next week is to play along to school boy crush by average white band. Listen to this track first. See if you can work out he groove, use the sheet music for reference. Again record your self, make sure your time feel is even and secure. 

Use bar 1 and bar 9 of the 48 bar exercise to start practicing reading and playing 8th and 16th note combination rhythms. 

15/01/18

Today we re-capped your warm up going through different subdivisions of the beat to a metronome. Please spend some time focusing on your double strokes especially. 

Well done for the work you put in on unwind yourself. There were some very nice performances this week. Keep working on youthful expression for next session. 

Some good progress on the syncopation EXERCISES from last week. These need more work focusing on playing even time and focusing on your coordination and creating a clean articulate sound. Warm up with a couple of easier ex's before moving on to the examples that you find more challenging. 

Next week we will be applying this skill to some of the BEATS. 

Below is the accented paradiddle exercise we started. Practice ex 1+2 to push your technical development especially in regard to internal dynamics and ghost not control. 

"Taste of Freedom": this week you should be listening and practicing playing along to this track. You all have a good sense of the form and style. Just be careful as you practice that you BUILD your part and don't just throw everything at it. You are all starting to add ghost notes open hi-hats and bass drum syncopations to play make this track your own. Record your self to make sure you are not overplaying and that your fills are phrased and accurately played. 

08/01/17

Today you started work on 16th note snare drum syncopation. This technique will help you develop your groove playing and is especially useful in funk and hip-hop. You looked at two classic breaks:

Remember to listen to each break a few times first. Play through them individually first then see if you can play them to the track. If a particular bar or section is difficult use the exercises below to work on your reading or coordination 

Focus on the exercises that you find challenging. Record your self playing so you get the feel and the sound as solid and controlled as you can. 

If you want to try some of the breaks below. If a particular groove challenges you break it down see. Search for some drumless tracks on YouTube you can apply these grooves to:

Lastly over the next few weeks you will prepare your performance of "taste of freedom" by The P B Underground to be recorded before half term. Listen through this track on spotify, there are also live versions on YouTube that would be good to watch. Remember this is about you creating your own performance of this track so don't be afraid to get creative.