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.