Drumm Lesson #4 - Attitude

In this Drum Lesson, I take directly from Bob Moses' book "Drum Wisdom" which now out of print. In my opinion "Drum Wisdom", Billy Ward's Inside_Out and all of Jim Blackley's Books the best Drum Books out there. Catch Bob demonstrating this concept HERE
attitude
The first step in my concept is always having a musical idea behind what I play, and getting this idea across to my listeners.  I always play from something; I never play from nothing.  Sometimes when I hear people playing, it’s difficult to know what idea they are off of, because the musicians are not making enough use of the specific elements of the song they are playing.  Melodic musicians should use the original melody as the idea behind their melodic improvisations.  Even the drummer should be able to relate a drum solo to the original tune in such a way that a listener will be able to recognize that tune in the solo.
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Drum Lesson #3 - Matched Grip

A relaxed, natural grip is essential for effective drumming.  There are three main grips used in modern playing.  Many players use the Matched Grip , Germanic Style, in which you play with the sticks held the same way in both hands, palms facing down.  It is the most versatile of all the percussion stick / mallet grips.  This grip is detailed here: The Modern Drum Room - Matched Grip 

Drum Lesson #2 - Videos on Drum Tuning

Well respected engineers will say that if the drummer can tune and play proficiently, recording a drum sound takes care of itself. So don’t ever sell yourself short as an important ingredient in the scheme of things. Drummers need to know a lot about how sound works.
Read More and get the Videos here:
The Modern Drum Room - Drum Tuning

How To Set Up your Drumset

Just imagine you're coming to dinner to eat..............at my house and we're having chicken."  - Billy Ward
This is the opening analogy for how one should position him/herself at the drumset.  It is taken from Billy Ward's award winning instructional DVD "Big Time" and in my opinion is on of, if not the best instructinal DVD out there.

Read More and see clips here:
http://www.themoderndrumroom.ca/forum/view-postlist/forum-2-techniqueconcepts/topic-16-a-couple-of-videos-about-set-up-by-billy-ward.html

Drums, Music and Performance: Soloing Over a Melody in the Jazz Idiom

Drums, Music and Performance: Soloing Over a Melody in the Jazz Idiom: "Soloing Over a Melody in the Jazz Idiom &nbs..."

Soloing Over a Melody in the Jazz Idiom

                  In jazz the drums should always be subservient to the melody.  Therefore, I am going give you a method for learning how to do this and at the end I will put a link to Elvin Jones demonstrating this very topic.
                  Firstly, you have to learn the melody, so grab a Real Book or some sheet music and sing along to the melody of the song that you want to learn.  You don’t have to be great singer, but you do have to sing it.
                  Secondly, learn to play the rhythms of the melody hand to hand on your snare drum (feet basic time – bass drum quarter notes and hi hat 2&4), while singing the melody out loud!!!!!!

Read More Hear
http://www.themoderndrumroom.ca/forum/view-postlist/forum-2-techniqueconcepts/topic-75-soloing-over-a-melody-in-the-jazz-idiom.html