Thirty Thoughts

“Thirty Thoughts on Drumming”: Presenting basic principles of drumming will help to understand concepts that will build a foundation for effective playing and teaching.  My Thirty Thoughts for Drumming include fundamental statements that will help you think about how we perform on and communicate about percussion instruments.

Intro

1. Listen to the music, it will inform how you should play.

2. Sing what you want to play, create your personal play-along soundtrack

3. Think of playing and movement as a free-flowing water faucet

4. Visualize how you wish to look when you play

5. Move how you want to sound…like a dancer, and how you want others to respond to you…like a conductor

6. Drumming: motion in time, realize time, space and subdivision within your motion.

7. Drumming is like treading water: relax and you’ll stay afloat…be rigid and you’ll sink

8. When you strike a percussion instrument, your goal is to put it into vibration.

9. Be in control of your technique – don’t let your technique be in control of you

10. Your two hands should create one airstream – using even, balanced technique

12. Wind players strive for a beautiful tone, then alter the sound with articulation and tone variation. First, create a full, natural sound on all percussion instruments.

11. Balance your limbs like you walk – with an even gate, not like you have a sore foot.

13. Make sure you are listening to other musicians – not just yourself

14. The Learning Process: Imitation (copy others); Application (incorporate what you hear into your playing); Innovation (use these tools to create your own musical personality)

15. You will rarely be asked to play more complicated or to play more notes

16. Drummers are leaders and accompanists…simultaneously

17. The wrist is the engine of the stroke.

18. Think of dynamics like a jar of sound: raise and lower the sticks for volume

19: The rate of a stroke is analogous to bouncing a ball: bounce the ball faster by being closer to the ground; to be slower, bounce it higher.

20: Maximum resonance comes with rebound, or a stroke that emulates rebound.

21: Grasp the stick like a pencil or a piece of paper – use only the tension necessary to hold it.

22: The grip point (fulcrum) is like a door hinge – a tight grip reduces movement and fluidity

23: Sticking combinations will create a smooth flow of sounds and varied phrasing.

24: Try playing with one stick – it can often simplify and clarify your ideas

25: Think of your set-up as a cockpit of a sports car – everything is within easy reach

26: Set up your drums for the style of music you play, not for the music someone else plays.

27: Conceptualize coordination as rhythmic counterpoint.

28: Over time, technical development may slow down, but musicianship can always improve.

29: Use your time to learn, not just to entertain yourself.

30: Have fun – make drumming a part of your life on your terms.

Watch for more content – coming soon!