Excellent technique is at the core of my teaching philosophy. We will reinforce good habits to ensure a lifetime of injury free, easy movement on the instrument. We will focus on good posture, grip, and developing co-ordination within the body. We will spend time exploring the 40 Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments and the solo repertoire as per the RCM (Royal Conservatory Of Music) Percussion Examinations requirements and standards.
MUSICALITY
Musicality, feel, groove, touch; call it what you will. These are the nuances passed on through generations of musicians that transcend the notes on the page and connect us to the music. We will study the greats, play along with them, and work towards developing your own voice on the instrument.
IMPROVISATION
The drum set is the perfect instrument to allow you to explore your creative side. We will learn to take simple ideas and develop them into grooves, fills, and solos. You will will start improvising almost right from the beginning as it is such an integral part of what we do as drummers. We will study jazz in depth and the role of improvisation within that art form.
Reading
Reading music is a skill that is often thought of as unnecessary for drummers. Buddy Rich and John Bonham didn't read music they say. True, but for the rest of us, reading music gives us a common language which we use to share ideas across all barriers. Music literacy is essential to our growth and development as drummers.
'WORLD' MUSIC
We will explore music from all over the world from a drummer's perspective. The modern drummer draws influence from the rich musical traditions of many countries and cultures: Rock, Funk and Jazz of North America, to Samba and Bossa Nova of Brazil, to Salsa and Songo of Cuba and many, many more.
Music Theory & Composition
We will learn about keyboard harmony and do some practical ear training from a drummers perspective. We will learn about the importance of form, different types of musical forms and how to hear and understand form. We will take these concepts and use them to create our own drum parts and compositions.
