When people say,”back to basics” it sounds as if you are going to the elementary stuff, and that you are not progressing but going back. Actually, it doesn’t sound that way, people explicitly say it! I strongly believe that practicing the basics is in no way going “back”, on the contrary you are going forward, [...]
Playing more than one beat at the same time, is one of the richest experiences in drumming, especially when other musicians are playing each to a different beat. It can be very confusing and complicated to learn, especially with more than two beats. Several approaches exist to learn and master polyrhythms, and I’m using three [...]
One of the key skills each drummer must develop and master is the ability to independently play different things with each of his/her limbs at the same time. Ultimately that means playing complex polyrhythms easily and effortlessly. The usual approach when learning a new beat, is to understand what each hand and foot does, master [...]
Achieving speed and a resonant sound are essential aspects of playing good drums. One of the most important skills to help this is being able to bounce the sticks on the head of the drum as much as needed. For a full vibrant sound, you will need maximum bounce, for a restricted sound you might [...]
I’d like to view this is as an “ism” rather than a profession. I’d like to think that being a percussionist is being rhythmic and harmonious in life. It means you are aware of every millisecond of your experience, as well as aware of the general theme of how things are progressing. You can see [...]
