What DrumHeads
Are Saying About TigerBill's DrumBeat...
|
CLICK FOR
Advertise
With Us
Contact
Us
Link
to Us
Newsletter
News & Press
Room
Order
Info
Permissions & Reprints
Privacy
Policy
Products
Register
for Free
Welcome
Auctions
Books
for Fun
Books
for Education
Business
Buying
Drum Gear
Chops
Challenge
Clinics & Events
Concerts & Tours
Contests
Discount
Drum Shop
Drum
n Bass
Drum
Skills Evaluation
Fame & Fortune
Famous
Drummers
Forums
Fun
With Drums TV Show
Gear & Accessories
Gladstone
Technique
Healthy
Drumming
Hip-Hop
/ Rap
History & Culture
How
To Guides
Interviews
Laugh
It Up
Lessons
for Free
Loops & Samples
Magazines
Member
Links
Merchandise
MIDI
Files
Moeller
Technique
MP3
Newsgroups
Radio
Record
Your Own
Reviews
Schools
Sit-in & Play
Software
Sponsors
Store
Tabs
Tension
Free Drumming™
Ticket
Sales
TigerBill
and Friends
TigerBill's
Bio
TigerBill's
Gear Picks
TigerBill's
Clinics & Events
TigerBill's
Drum Shop
TigerBill's
Lessons
TigerBill's
Place
Tips
and Tricks
Videos
Vintage
Gear
WFD
Tiger Reviews:
Drum Set Crash Course
All-In-One Drum Set Learning System
The drummers that are most in demand - and making the most money - have one thing in common: Mastery of musical styles. (See There's Gold in Them Thar' Rhythms! in the sidebar.) But trying to learn unfamiliar musical styles isn't easy. It often takes years of trial and error before you can develop the proper feel to play unfamiliar musical styles like a pro.
Enter The Drum Set Crash Course, a DVD from Warner Bros. Publications. They say it "offers a very comprehensive all-in-one drum set learning system." It sounded good to me so I decided to check it out.
Based on the book of the same title (also reviewed here), and another book called Transitions, The Drum Set Crash Course is the brainchild of author/drummer Russ Miller. Russ has worked with a wide range of artists including The Fifth Dimension, Debbie Gibson, The Bee Gees, Ray Charles, Jon Secada, Nestor Torres, Slash, and many others. Because of this experience, Russ has been able to boil down each musical style into several essential and easy-to-learn lessons. The DVD, which I cover first, is divided into four major sections.
Section 1: Developing Your
Musicianship
Miller touts the two most important aspects of drumming: Solid time and
great feel. And I couldn't agree more. He goes on to play examples both
of the correct way and incorrect way to play. (These useful right and
wrong examples are what put this instructional video a notch above most
others.) Then, he covers the four basic note subdivisions: Eighth notes,
Sixteenth notes, Eighth note Triplets, and Sixteenth note triplets.
Developing Your Feel
This segment is broken down into three major areas: Time keeping, Dynamics,
and Note Placement. Again, I love the examples of the right and wrong
ways to play. These examples are akin to the proverbial "picture"
that's worth a thousand words.
Section 2: Developing Your
Physical Ability
This section covers facility and independence. Facility is the technique
of moving around the drum set itself. Independence is the ability to coordinate
your limbs so they will be able to play anything your mind can think of.
At the end of this section, Russ puts all of the previously studied exercises
to use in a musical context.
This is another great learning tool and one that is repeated throughout the video. (I especially like the video inset of Miller's bass drum foot, which helps the student concentrate on what's happening with each limb.)
Section 3: The "Crash
Course" Format
This is the main meat of the video. The following musical styles are covered:
- Rock
- R&B: Including Funk and Hip-Hop
- Second-Line: Drumming style from New Orleans
- Jazz
- Swing
- Fusion: Jazz/Rock style
- Jazz Ballad
- Afro-Cuban: Including Salsa and Songo
6/8 Afro-Cuban: Including Bembe and Abakwa - Afro-Brazilian: Including Samba and Baiao
What makes the video so effective, is the way each beat is broken down into five sections:
- Style History - origin of the particular musical style.
- Drum Set Mix - The relative volume levels of the various instruments of the drum set (For example: Kick drum, Snare drum, Hi-hat, and Ride Cymbal). This is especially useful when learning an unfamiliar style, and is the difference between sounding like a pro or an amateur.
- Basic Groove - The most basic pattern of the particular musical style.
- Groove Variations - Exercises to help you develop variations on the basic groove.
- Fills/Solo Ideas - Exercises to develop realistic fills and solos for the particular style of music. These help you develop the sound of a pro, even if you've never heard the particular musical style before.
Following each musical style is a "play-along" section. Here you can practice what you've learned, as you play along with Russ.
Section 4: The "Casual"
Date
This final section covers the beats that a player would use on a "casual
call," meaning a wedding, bar mitzvah, or similar type of gig. The
following musical styles are covered:
- Bossa Nova
- Cha-Cha
- Rhumba
- Calypso
- Reggae: Including Drop Groove and Four on the Floor styles
- Merengue
- Country: Including straight eighth note, country train, and shuffle grooves
The video concludes with Miller playing a solo over the ending credits. The neat part about this is that he's playing on the bare essentials: Hi-hat, snare, kick drum, and cymbals. And he's playin' some nice stuff.
Too many drummers think a drummer's talent coincides with the number of drums he or she uses. But it's actually the opposite. It takes much more talent to sound "good" using just the bare essentials.
The Books: The Drum Set
Crash Course and Transitions
The Drum Set Crash Course book/CD has been out since 1996. It follows
the same format as the video but goes into even further detail in certain
areas, including the addition of extensive lists of recommended instructional
books/videos and recordings for reference. I could not review Miller's
new book, Transitions, as it was not yet available. But I would
assume that it contains information similar to what it is in section 1
and 2 of the video. Watch for a review of this book in the near future.
Bottom Line: Should You
Buy Them?
I was impressed by the format and level of detail found in the 126-minute
Drum Set Crash Course DVD. It truly does make it easier for you
to learn how to play authentic musical styles, whether you've got an
important recording session or a wedding request to cover. It's well
worth the retail price of $29.95.
I would also recommend the book/CD, as the extensive listing of recommended reference recordings is alone worth its price of $24.95. And, as a bonus, you'll get two versions of each of the play-along songs, one minus the drums for your practice. Although the video and book/CD together will cost you about $55.00, consider the price of one drum lesson with a good teacher and you'll realize that it's a bargain. And, when purchased at Tiger Bill's Drum Shop, it will cost you even less.
The Drum Set Crash Course video and book/CD from Warner Bros. Publications is definitely a winning combination.
Click Here to purchase the Drum Set Crash Course DVD at the lowest price on the Web.
Click Here to purchase the Drum Set Crash Course Book/CD at the lowest price on the Web.
Until next time: Stay loose.
Join the largest, most
Comprehensive Drum & Percussion
site on the Web and
Learn TigerBill's Innovative Tension Free Drumming techniques
designed to take you to the next level!
You'll also receive TigerBill's
free, informative Newsletter with Monthly Chances to
Win Valuable Drum
Stuff
& Much More...
All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction without permission is prohibited except as noted.
< Back to Top >
- Take Your Chops to the Next Level
- Enjoy Free Educational Forums
- Learn Pro Tips and Tricks
- Win Valuable Drum Stuff
- Exclusive Free Lessons
- All Free of Charge...
How?
Here's How
* S I D E B A R *
Following are related
links to this week's
feature article.
Related Links on this Site:
Related Links on the Web: