I’m being more active on “Reddit” lately, putting the word out about the site… by semi-crankily answering a lot of egregiously wrong things, as I am apparently helpless to not do. Wrong ideas are just […]
Category: technique
Level system warm ups
Here’s a collection of brief exercises working out some basic combinations of strokes— full strokes, down strokes, taps, and up strokes. Called the Level System by some, it refers to how high the stick is […]
Double strokes… again
This came up on REDDIT. That site. It’s a mixed bag over there, some decent, informed conversation, some very not. With the added game-like element of “upvoting” and “downvoting” things people like, or not. On […]
Left-leading density patterns – 01
Continuing this page of left handed rudimental/rudiment-like exercise patterns, getting into some very dense activity, forcing some speedy movement. See this post for the justification for getting into the odd tuplets at all— it’s not […]
I get in fights
Smart person, or contrarian? Or flat out giant pain in the ass? What is the difference between a contrarian and FOGPITA, anyway? I don’t know. I find myself disagreeing with a lot of things said […]
Very occasional quote of the day: technique and improvised music
When it comes to “technique” I don’t just want fast hands, I want fast ears! In improvised music you have to compute and consider what you’ve heard and make a decision instantaneously. Your technique, or […]
Left handed rudiments
Collection of rudimental and quasi-rudimental patterns, starting and repeating with the left hand, that a student and I workshopped in a lesson recently. Good for strengthening your left hand, obviously; I find this orientation to […]
Other things besides speed
A lot of us have very limited imaginations about how to get better playing the drums— basically, do it faster and that’s it. There are other things— sound, dynamics, touch, a number of musical considerations. […]
Very occasional quote of the day: technique
What if you think of something to play that doesn’t have a standard technique? That’s what jazz cats have been doing since jazz was born. All of a sudden, you want to play something that […]
I answer technique questions
A question about technique from Ben in Australia: I have been working on my grip which has become prominently German. I’m finding that it’s very comfortable and natural for the slower aspects with grooves, sticking […]
Drum lesson with Murray Spivack
Here’s a rare thing, a famous drum teacher, Murray Spivack, giving a drum lesson to Louis Bellson: The portion with Spivack is dedicated to basic stuff: holding the sticks, making basic strokes, and playing rudiments. […]
How not to hit a drum
Hey, it’s been awhile since I’ve watched a drumming video, and rendered the tidal wave of complaints and irritations that come with it, so here are some comments I wrote when someone made me watch […]