Heard this one? - What do you call somebody who hangs around with musicians? -
A Drummer
The old ones are the best huh? Prove those cocky guitarists and keyboard jockeys
wrong. A good drummer is a musician first, a percussionist second and a noisy animal
LAST (well… hopefully!).
Posture & balance - it is vital to have a balanced position behind the kit for efficient
movement and reach
Grips - there are various ways the drumsticks can be held, find the grip which lets
you reach full speed and dexterity
Technique - those machine gun rolls are not about arm thrashing, develop the wrist
and finger action that allows fast accurate sticking
Rudiments - sticking patterns that underpin everything you will encounter in your
playing
Time keeping - numero uno for any drummer, it’s why you are there !
Co-ordination - using both hands and feet difficult? Not with the right practice
Grooves - lay down the beat and get everyone dancing
Fills - well, a drummer has got to show off a bit
Dynamics - bring the drum kit to life
Syncopation - its all about rhythm
Independence - not just using four limbs but how each one can play its own thing
Reading drum notation - most of my students start by saying ‘I’ll never be able to
read music’ and within a couple of weeks can’t do without the score in front of them!
Note variations - 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, 1/16 notes, triplets - all explained
Time Signatures - what’s all that 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8 about then? - Why not come
and find out ?
