Here’s some inspiration for those of you that love spinning your sticks and all things to do with showmanship!
This is Ralph Nader. He’s a young talented guy who flawlessly combines ideas with great ease. A definately talent to keep an eye on.
https://youtu.be/hs9grTpKaAs
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#sticktricks #practisepad #ralphnader
Got up nice and early to transcribe Joe Morello’s drum solo on Take 5. This is taken from the legendary recording of Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet – 1959.
Joe was one of the first drummers to explore odd time signatures and this album was seen a revolutionary as it explored many different time signatures.
1959 was a big year for Jazz music as some of the most influential albums were released, including:
Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
Giant Steps – John Coltrane
The Shape of Jazz to Come – Ornette Coleman
Portrait in Jazz – Bill Evans Trio
Mingus Ah Um – Charles Mingus
These were all landmark albums, changed the way Jazz was perceived and setting a new standard of creativity.
This is our amazing new video for Cheshire Drum Lessons.com
It’s the first one we have done and it was loads of fun. The most difficult thing was speaking into the camera. I found it very nerve wracking. The last time I felt that nervous was when I did my first gig which was a very long time a go. All the feedback has been very positive so far and we will definitely be making more in the future. Hope you like it.
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I Was really lucky to play a gig at Hulme Hall this weekend. It’s the venue where Ringo first performed with the Beatles! The history of the building was amazing and such fun to play.
Our students have been enjoying learning Seven Days by Sting.
The drummer is Vinnie Colaiuta. In my opinion he really makes the whole tune. The song is in 5/4 but Vinnie plays a pattern on the hi hats and ride that give the impression of being in 4/4. Here I have uploaded the outro. There are some really imaginative ideas like the 4 over 3 bell pattern in bar 12 and the crazy hi hat lick that starts in bar 6.
If you want to learn to play like Vinnie Colaiuta then get in touch for a lesson:
email: contact@cheshiredrumlessons.com
This is a wonderful fill and full of little gems. It’s great for learning about inverted paradiddles and how to link them in with rolls around the drum kit. Each quarter note segment makes a great fill on its own but combining it helps to also build an awareness of the full kit. Remember to practise slow and breakdown into smaller if you need to. Work on getting the accents clear whilst keeping the double strokes quiet. Counting the pulse out loud always helps too.
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Is something holding you back from making better music?
Ever asked yourself:
“Why do I sometimes get nervous when I play?”
“Why aren’t I making as much progress as so and so?”
“Why do other musicians have more gigs?.. Better gigs?.. Are more successful?”
“But (Joe Blogs) is not as good as me! How come they get all the work?”…the list of questions goes on!
I have asked all these questions throughout my 20+ years of drumming but it is only recently that I have started to see the truth and finally find the answer to these questions. The more I travel down this path the more I am surprised that all the questions above lead back to the same answer! I would like to share some thought provoking ideas with you.
When we Google information about learning to play an instrument we are often bombarded with a host of things such as gear, concepts, gimmicks – such as “learn to play faster in 30 days” and so on. We get consumed by the latest products or the next must have item. There is one thing that is very rarely discussed and interestingly enough it’s the most profound thing to understand… the “Ego”.
Of course no-one talks about the Ego, why would they? There is no gimmick to sell that modifies the Ego. Your tutor doesn’t want to lose business by really telling you why you will struggle to achieve your potential. Maybe your tutor doesn’t even realise it themselves as they might be too wrapped up in their own ego to even notice yours! Most people don’t get kicked out of bands because of they can’t play a double paradiddle faster than a speeding bullet, yet how come we spend more hours every day / week / year / decade practising these things than really working on the key issue that paralyses our creativity, musicianship and relationships? I’m not saying to stop practising and start hugging trees but I believe that there is a balance between practising to learn an instrument and the effects that practising mindfulness can have on your musicianship as a whole.
From a Buddhist point of view; the Ego or sense of self is an illusion made up by the mind. After some thought you soon realise the ego that we cling to is the centre of all our problems.
Have you ever had a moment when you have lost your ego?
Interestingly enough as musicians we often have moments where we lose the ego and don’t even notice until we regain it. Let me give you an example:
Have you ever finished playing and realised you had been completely swept away with the moment? Maybe you lost all track of time and suddenly noticed you had played for half an hour or more without a single thought or care in the world! That feeling of “just playing” is a glimpse of living in the “present” or the “here and now”. You felt liberated and seemed to channel the energy from somewhere else as new ideas effortlessly appeared before you. Doesn’t it feel good! When you reflect on what has happened you may notice that there were no distractions hindering your creativity, no thoughts about not being good enough and no “illusions of self”. Now all we have to do is to cultivate that feeling and work on capturing that sensation more and more.
How do we cultivate such a practise?
Now there’s the million dollar question! Let me just say that I don’t confess to being an expert, I’m only sharing my experiences and opinions which are a work in progress. Whether you agree or disagree with what I have to say is up to you.
It all started for me by accident when I decided to take up Aikido in 2014. After practising for a short time it became obvious to me that Aikido is more of a “way of life” or a spiritual journey than anything else. I noticed that the Aikidokas I had grown to admire had something in common. They were all continually looking inside themselves and working on spiritual development. They had all realised that it is impossible to change other people but no matter what you can “always sharpen your own sword”. I asked them to point me in the direction of things that had made a positive impact on their lives. As a result I began to research Buddhism, mindfulness and the more esoteric philosophies.
Since then I have been constantly applying this “way of life” into everyday life and am overwhelmed by the benefits I see. My relationships with people are changing, my Aikido is blossoming and my musicianship is developing too. I am working more with inspirational people, playing great and feeling free to express myself musically without fear of embarrassment and as a result enjoying living more in the moment.
So here’s the key part:
The truth is that all of this is connected. When you play music you are “expressing yourself” through the art form. So playing music is like holding a mirror up to your personality. Your expression of music is a reflection of your true self! Here’s the big question… Do you like what you see when you look at the reflection? If not, what are you going to do about it? Making time in your life to reflect upon the important matters may have a dramatic impact on your life and how you perceive things such as music. What’s to lose by having a go?!
Interested in more stuff like this. Check us out:
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Look what’s just arrived… Our new flyers!!! We are so excited now, it feels like everything is starting to come together.We can’t wait to get these up around town! http://www.cheshiredrumlessons.com http://www.facebook.com/cheshiredrumlessons http://www.twitter.com/cheshiredrum
We have been enjoying playing this Steve Gadd lick so much we couldn’t help but share it with you!!!
He has used this phrase on many recordings and gigs. He uses it as an embellished groove but you will also here it in his solos as well.
If you would like to learn to play drums like Steve Gadd then get in touch to book a lesson! http://www.cheshiredrumlessons.com http://www.facebook.com/cheshiredrumlessons http://www.twitter.com/cheshiredrum
Learn To Play The Drums. 