TigerBill's DrumBeat Community Forums for Free Expert Advice on Drums and Percussion.

To Buddysrich: I was just kidding about Buddypoor, what I meant was that I was not blessed with the talent he has, but on the other hand we are ALL RICH, for enjoying the talents of Buddy and having him and some others around. In the meantime I, for one, will labor over technique for the rest of my life.

I played in a garage bands in the 60s and managed to play out a bit with some rock, but mostly an arm chair enthusiast. I get the urge now and then and am picking up the sticks again. I am SERIOUS about practicing and playing again, though.

A pal of mine from where I used to live who played drums and I conversed for Christmas and are motivating each other with the music thing. Chrismas was quiet but good here.

Iquana: From what you describe, the Moeller thing goes on from the Gladstone thing, both techniques control bounce. Have to dig in to that one, it sounds strange. Sounds like when I really pressed into the drum head when I got on it and forced the sticks into the head, and then it was just controlling the rebounds. The Moeller book is available and I just found an on line source for it and there is a comment about the book that there is one principle in the Moeller technique that most dont know about in that the PINKIE is the only thing that firmly grips the stick. All this is interesting. Guess there is no one techique/grip that is best for everyone. Tell you what, playing without the benefit of an experienced teacher was not good for me, I played with a LOT of tension in the grip. No discipline. When I sat there and noodled and showed somebody something I did some nice things, when I actually played I tensed up with everything including the hands. NO NO. Hindsight is 20/20. Other thing is I tend to hold the sticks back to far. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives.

I get the impression from all the stuff I have read and heard about Buddy Rich over the years that he utilized different techniques. He put us on a lot about things. He says he never practiced but that was in later years, I remember at least one prominent drummer/teacher mentioning that they got to a point where they didnt need to practice. But I heard anecdotes about Buddy back in the early times practicing eight hours a day and the bit about practicing on the pillow, NO BOUNCE. Recently I have read that Buddy mentions that he LIFTS the stick and controls the stick with his hands not let the drum control it. I think what happens in practice is a combination of the strict techniques of Gladstone,etc with the control of the bounce and total control of the hands as in NO BOUNCE.

Got to get me another one of those MOON GEL practice pads! HMMMM but in the mean time I will pick up a Real Feel this weekend.

In going back and reading the Monster Chops series that TigerBill put on the site, I think that the system has merit but needs a lot of discipline to put into motion.

Do I sound more confused than when I started?

Need to find more information about the AMERICAN GRIP. Hope someone can help here.

Hope every one had a great Christmas!