Back to School? What?!

It's true. Most students are now back in school in our area, including all you musicians. Here's something to help your school year groove:

As before, get it smooth with just the metronome, then apply it to some tunes. Here's one I've been grooving on recently that works well with this particular pattern.

The Gig Log, Volume 2

Phew! It's been a busy couple of weeks - gigs, airplanes and the like. But I'm finally sitting down to give you the next installment.

I play a lot of different events with Lokalgrown, from concerts to corporate events. This one was for the opening of a brand new apartment complex in Logan. We played by the pool for about five hours (including soundcheck), in the sun the entire time. I should have taken a picture of my sunburned face, but here you get a couple of pre-show looks of the kit and the "stage," as it were.

This shot is from the audience point of view, essentially from the pool. We had a few people lounging in the water while we played, but most were in the chairs and at the tables under an umbrella.

Complete with raffles and hot dogs, this was a typical summertime party.

Lots of fun.

This is just an up close of my kit. It's a little simplified, just the 10 and 14 inch toms. And you can't see it too well, but I used my 4 X 14 natural wood (maple) DW snare instead of the stock one.

It gives a little warmer, more open sound because of the satin wood finish rather than the wrap.

I've also started using the DW Dog Bones a little more (under the crash to the drummer left), and they are saving a little space and my back when I haul around my hardware bag.


Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying your summer as much as I am.

Happy drumming!

The Gig Log, Volume 1

Hi All!

I've been asked by some of my students about some of the gigs I play, so I thought it might be fun to post a pic or two from some of them.

This gig was last Saturday, August 6, 2011 at Delta High School for the Millard County Fair. This is one of the bands I play with, Lokalgrown. You can check them out here. These shots are just prior to soundcheck, so the stage isn't looking exactly like it did during the actual performance.

So, courtesy of iPhone, here you go:

And, from where I sit:

Please feel free to comment, and ask any questions you'd like to.

Linear Groove Exercise

As with a previous groove, this one looks and feels like it would be hard to apply in a musical setting. But, the more you smooth it out, emphasize the backbeat and just relax into it, you'll find that it can fit a lot more places than you think.



Once mastered, try playing this groove along with a handful of recordings from a variety of styles and at different tempos. For example, pick a track from the Fray, Metallica, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Beethoven, and make it work.

Happy drumming!

Game Changer

I've been working out on this particular exercise with the stickings from the Stick Control book, and it's totally freed up my soloing this last couple of weeks. Have some fun, and let me know how you're doing in the comments section!

Remember: START SLOW, and use the ol' clickeroo (metronome, for those who don't speak drummer).

Drum Set Tuning

You know that shirt or pair of pants that doesn't quite fit right? I have some of those clothes, and I hate wearing them. Usually they only come out when everything else is in the laundry. By contrast, there are a few things that I wear that I feel make me look pretty good - I wear those things as often as possible! They make me feel comfortable and confident. 

What does this have to do with drumming? Well - think about how your drums sound. Which drum do you think sounds horrible? How often do you play that drum? On my kit, it's anything that's got a 12" diameter (12" drums are from the Devil, I swear it). They just don't sound good, so I don't want to play them. 

My 10" toms, you ask? Heaven! I use those drums all the time. Which drums sound great on your kit? 

My point is that you are limiting yourself - whether you know it or not - by not loving the sounds on your kit. 

Here are a few resources I use to make my drums sound as good as possible: 

Remo Drumheads

Evans Drumheads

Drum Dial

Of course it helps to have a good quality of drum and heads, but time invested in tuning will pay off in big ways. 

My students are always welcome to bring a drum to their lesson (with some new heads!) and see if we can make it play nice with your kit.

Take the Next Step - Coordination and "Independence"

Okay, if you've been working on the exercises from the Stick Control book with the Slow-Fast Workout, you may be ready for the next step: Slow-Fast with "Jazz Feet."



Just remember to start slow enough to play it right. If you make a mistake two tries in a row, go slower. Your brain doesn't care how fast you are playing the exercise, but if you do it wrong two or three times, it will start to think that's how you want it played.

Set a tempo and time goal, like 90 beats per minute (BPM) for a full sixty seconds. Again, if you can do that, you can be pretty certain you've mastered the exercise at that tempo.

Good luck, and happy drumming!