published by sheldonkreger on Sun, 11/04/2012 - 21:20
Only a handful of albums this year excited me enough to count down the months, weeks, and days before release. "Perfect Harmony" by the David Garfield led group Karizma was one of such albums. Take a look at the lineup of musicians, and you'll understand why I could barely withhold my excitement:
published by sheldonkreger on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 17:49
The Drum Kit Handbook by Dan Balmer is a gorgeous addition to any musician's library. Coming as a hardcover and packed with full color photos on every page, it's a very special visual treat for anybody who loves the drums.
Not only does the book look great, but it has a lot of great information. It's clear that Balmer has been passionate about the drums for many years, as his knowledge seeps through every page. He covers every piece of the drum set in great detail, explaining the different materials, manufacturing methods, and components used today. So, if you're new and wondering what to look out for, this is a great resource. From hardware to drums, from cymbals to pedals, you'll learn the what-and-why to help you make informed decisions when purchasing gear.
published by sheldonkreger on Thu, 04/25/2013 - 20:27
One of the great things about working online is that I get to "meet" all kinds of great people who I'd normally never connect with. A few months back, Ian Barnett contacted me and showed me some of his playing. I'm pretty excited about his project and I thought I'd ask him a few questions about the drums.
published by sheldonkreger on Sat, 01/05/2013 - 20:36
2012 was a fantastic year for music. Many, many musicians created some of their best work to date. I've had my eye on several of my favorite musicians and know that the work they released in 2012 will proudly stand out as masterpieces as time passes. Here at Pro Drum Blog, I'm going to share my favorite moments in drum history of 2012. There were some incredible touring groups, as well as album releases which continue to inspire me to practice. Be sure to comment and let me know what I missed - too much music, not enough time!!!
Top Albums of 2012 - For Drummers
As drummers, we have developed ears which look for very particular things - the sound of the drums and cymbals, the complexity of grooves, the authenticity of different feels, etc. Here's my list for top albums in 2012, in no particular order.
published by sheldonkreger on Sun, 12/02/2012 - 17:50
Herbert Pirker plays drums lightly to acheive an airy, but dark feel on the drum set. His playing matches the mood of the music. When given the chance at 4:45 in the video below, Pirker plays freely over a vamp set up by the other members of this progressive jazz trio. It's amazing how well the sounds of the instruments blend. In particular, the selection of cymbals really defines the feel of the grooves. They also allow Pirker to utilize non-traditional phrases in the music and during the vamp.
published by sheldonkreger on Sat, 11/24/2012 - 18:44
I'm always fascinated by precision - whether it's in a technical performance (such as sports or music) or in science, mathematics, and engineering. It's very interesting to see the way that a human being can conceptualize and execute certain movements, or the way they can theorize and make predictions about their surroundings.
Russ Miller plays drums in a very precise manner. The physical awareness which is required to play drums like this is a beautiful thing. I'm enchanted and inspired by seeing the years of dedication to the instrument bringing such profound results.
Now, some players who are loose and raunchy are fantastic. However, I really dig music and drumming which is clean, clear, and confident.
published by sheldonkreger on Thu, 11/22/2012 - 16:09
Have you ever worked on a set of exercises from a drum book without having any idea of how they are going to affect your playing?
Recently, I decided to explore different approaches to my drum practice. In the past, I have chosen books with a specific goal in mind. For example, I would aim to improve my swing feel, or to learn some hip hop beats. However, this time around, I'm intentionally choosing to learn how to do something without having any expectation for what it will do to my playing. Because I'm satisfied with my ability to play most styles of music, I now have the luxury of enjoying the drums without having to focus on an urgent weak spot in my playing. This is due to several years of focused effort and time spent behind the drum set.
published by sheldonkreger on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 08:57
Virgil Donati finished a tour of Europe with Allan Holdsworth and two different bass players (Jimmy Haslip and Anthony Crawford). In an informal video post, the band thanks the fans for coming to the shows and making the tour possible.
Virgil: "I'm going to go back home and do a bit more practice."
Anthony: "I've never seen nobody set up the drum set on a tour bus and practice all the way through!"
published by sheldonkreger on Sun, 11/04/2012 - 19:06
Ryan and I had so much fun with the last article on Double Bass Technique, we decided to do a follow-up. I read his ebook and had a few questions, which we cover below.
1. Is it important that the beater comes ALL THE WAY back between strokes? Why or why not? Does this factor change as the tempo increases?
published by sheldonkreger on Tue, 10/02/2012 - 21:34
Double bass drumming is a skill utilized by many drummers today. From basement punk bands to cutting-edge jazz fusion performances, double bass drumming is now a common requirement in many musical situations.
It's no coincidence, then, that so many great books have been published on double bass drumming. If you're looking for drills and exercises to improve your phrasing and technical capacity on the double pedal, we all know that there is an abundance of material available today.
However, even with so many great books and videos, there has been a hole in the literature - up until now. Double Bass Drumming Explained, by Ryan Bloom, explores this art form in a conversational way. Rather than focusing on exercises, the book is dedicated to explaining the mechanics, techniques, equipment, methodologies, and psychology of playing the double bass drum.
