I get pretty individualized finding the best way for my students to work on something. People come to me with a lot of different levels of background, and playing goals, so I can’t just give a blanket this is how it’s done, figure it out, as I might if I was just teaching very ambitious, college level students. I want them to learn the things I want, and give them a shot at playing the drums well, even if they’re not spending a tremendous amount of time with it.
So this is yet another approach to all the fill-oriented stuff we’ve been doing recently, which we workshopped in a lesson recently. It can take a little bit of work to figure out what’s going to help someone right now. Here we did a few basic things with the first pages of Stick Control:
Here are each of the things happening there:
- Normal right hand lead: RH on cym + BD / LH on SD
- First note of every four-note grouping on cym + BD / RH on FT / LH on SD
- Like previous, but first note of measure only on cym + BD
- Like previous, with last note of measure also on cym + BD
- Like previous, except solo BD on last note of measure.
After learning a thing, add some moves to the drum portion of the phrase. You can also add some embellishments, and add another crash— on the & of 2 would be good, or the & of 3. We’ll get into that in another entry.
I am happy to help you with any of the materials on the site, and with anything else drumming related— contact me for private lessons, online world wide, or in person in Portland, Oregon. All levels of players, and all people, are welcome.
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