Your last day in Drumming
Great strength and determination are the factors that allowes one to improve on our instrument. And where do we all draw that great strength from? The love of our craft. Love for drumming is the great power that will help those that endure the struggles of becoming a great musician. Love of the craft is what keeps you playing through the dark times in your life. This love and passion allows the full range of emotions from the human experience to pour through in your playing. When you play this way it will give the gift of passion through music to anyone that encounters you, anywhere on earth. It is what you as a player and the people that hear you relate to. This is what provides our special great connection to music. That said….
What would you say if you had to measure your life on your last day on earth?
Having been through a career that has spanned over 40 years of music and drumming I can tell you from experience. If you are a musician, if music is your greatest passion…The greatest moments you will treasure are those that involved playing music. So the skills involved in playing music should be always in the forefront of your mind. Yes the skill and mastery involved in drumming is something to be taken seriously. But frankly, the technical side of things will never give you the satisfaction that actual participation in music can. It will also never ever reach people in a deep way. And it will be very very difficult to make a living solely based on technical ability. What gives you the most satisfaction and reaches people in turn?
#1 – The application of your skill through the power of music.
Never forget! Even if you are playing a drum solo there must be music inside it!! Nobody cares about flailing around at super speeds when there is no music inside. And 100% of the time in order to use any part of drumming effectively you have to know how to use it musically.
So I have written out a few exercises that encompass the whole rhythmic view we have taken here in the workshops. Combining these rhythmic elements helps you understand basic musical concepts.
1 – Musical structure
2 – Tension and release
3 – Dynamics
4 – Orchestration on the kit
5 – Phrasing
Let us begin with the basic 4 bar phrase. You will see I have outlined concepts we have talked about through the years here in the magazine. Breaking things down like this phrase by phrase will help to clear everything up. It gives you insight into detailed phrasing concepts and ideas. In this example simply play hand to hand until you have memorized the phrase.
Example 1
Now let’s add tension by variation in the release or resolution phrase. Play hand to hand single strokes again with the accents.
Example 2
Now let’s expand this to play in a basic way on the kit. Using the kit to play a basic time feel. In this case 8th note feel.
Example 3
Now lets use it as solo ideas
Example 4
And now next time you see something that looks kind of simple like this, remember there might be music inside. Deep rhythmic and musical concepts. Creating a language that communicates.
Example 5
When you do these exercises think about the 5 elements I outlined above. Keep in mind the markings I have indicated to make the phrase more effective. Integrate these elements into your own music.
I believe that this type of thinking is what the most ancient drumming cultures pass on in the art of drumming. Places Like India, Brazil, Cuba and some of the countries in Africa. In general, all the drumming Meccas of the world come from a standpoint of rhythmic knowledge that is integrated into the cultures they come from. Not so much from a purely technical side. This result is extremely musical players and some of the most interesting music on the planet! Music that has great depth and meaning.
So my friends…can always reach me here on my lessons site Phil Maturano Lessons and I am always here for you with any questions you might have.
See you out there in the world. Love Phil M.