My first Video Blog (kind of...):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p05VP6pKvXo
Enjoy!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Drum Solo
In my experience the drum solo has been reserved the hold the audience over while the band deals with technical difficulties on stage, or needs a break. John Bonham could kill like 20 minutes with a killer drum solo. I've seen long ones from Neil Peart too. So what is it that makes an awesome drum solo? Is it speed? dynamics? groove? fills? themes and variations? Most likely all of the above and more.
Maybe a drum solo is a bit more complex than most give it credit for... something more profound than just a time-filler. I'm working on some videos, which I may have mentioned in a previous post, so I have the opportunity to experiment and hopefully create the perfect drum solo. Wish me luck! and look out for the result. Maybe my first Video-Post...
Maybe a drum solo is a bit more complex than most give it credit for... something more profound than just a time-filler. I'm working on some videos, which I may have mentioned in a previous post, so I have the opportunity to experiment and hopefully create the perfect drum solo. Wish me luck! and look out for the result. Maybe my first Video-Post...
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Summertime
Had a great rehearsal this evening with a band yet unnamed. We have our first gig together in a week and a few days, so we are learning and running the songs from the set. For the most part the tunes, which are covers, are coming together... still in a learning phase as we figure out arrangements, parts, and transitions.
The highlight of the rehearsal for me was the tune "Summertime" by Gershwin. We play it in a six feel rather than the standard 4/4 swing. Brush on the snare drum, cool-rod on the ride. The dynamics were totally locked in between the drums, bass, and guitar (keys couldn't make this one). Plus our singer has an amazing voice, especially on tunes like this. I haven't experimented too much using different "drum utensils" in each hand, but I found out, at least in this tune, that it really gave me some more flexibility with dynamics. I'll probably try some different combos in the future...
The highlight of the rehearsal for me was the tune "Summertime" by Gershwin. We play it in a six feel rather than the standard 4/4 swing. Brush on the snare drum, cool-rod on the ride. The dynamics were totally locked in between the drums, bass, and guitar (keys couldn't make this one). Plus our singer has an amazing voice, especially on tunes like this. I haven't experimented too much using different "drum utensils" in each hand, but I found out, at least in this tune, that it really gave me some more flexibility with dynamics. I'll probably try some different combos in the future...
The Online Effect
I spent yesterday evening setting up microphones and other recording equipment to record and video my drums. I'm doing this because I want to put some videos on YouTube just to increase my presence. I guess you never know who might stumble on your videos and dig your playing, plus maybe more buzz I can share.
I'm thinking about how the internet has effected the success of a working musician. Like networking, samples, videos, promotion, etc... can all and are mainly all done via the internet i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even this blog that probably no one is reading...haha. I wonder if this makes getting work harder or easier? Its definitely more complicated...
I'm thinking about how the internet has effected the success of a working musician. Like networking, samples, videos, promotion, etc... can all and are mainly all done via the internet i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even this blog that probably no one is reading...haha. I wonder if this makes getting work harder or easier? Its definitely more complicated...
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Cost of Creativity
The death of Amy Winehouse is making me think of creative personalities. Why is it that artists are so vulnerable to excess and other imbalances, chemical or not? I wonder if it is the intensity of their personalities. I read an interview where Amy Winehouse talks about her songs being a bit obsessive, which she then distances herself from regarding her personality. I bet they are more related then she led us to believe.
Then again there is the celebrity aspect to consider. Did Kurt Cobain, Hendrix, Joplin, and the rest who have died young and tragically simply give in to the pressure and use substance abuse to cope or was there more going on? A give and take between genius and unhealthy tendencies... What about Van Gogh? He was poor, unknown, and crazy.
Then again there is the celebrity aspect to consider. Did Kurt Cobain, Hendrix, Joplin, and the rest who have died young and tragically simply give in to the pressure and use substance abuse to cope or was there more going on? A give and take between genius and unhealthy tendencies... What about Van Gogh? He was poor, unknown, and crazy.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Yeah John Legend !!!
John Legend this past week took time away from his tour with Sade to launch the P & G and Communities in Schools GIVE campaign to raise money to improve high school drop out rates. He performed with the MS 390 Choir from the Bronx. Looking more into that I found out that Legend has leadership roles in Teach for America, Education Equality Project, and Harlem Village Academies! How cool that someone as successful as him can be so down to earth and take time to contribute to a good cause.
Being an ex-public school teacher I still feel a bit of attachment to the cause and am glad to see work done to help solve the issues in struggling urban school districts.
Give John Legend and the GIVE campaign some love:
http://www.facebook.com/johnlegend?sk
http://www.facebook.com/pgmygive
Being an ex-public school teacher I still feel a bit of attachment to the cause and am glad to see work done to help solve the issues in struggling urban school districts.
Give John Legend and the GIVE campaign some love:
http://www.facebook.com/johnlegend?sk
http://www.facebook.com/pgmygive
Monday, July 25, 2011
Originals vs. Covers
It all comes down to dough. How can a local musician make money, a.k.a play covers, and still fill their creative void? Its not enough to just find a band that writes originals and play in the drummer's basement on a semi-regular weeknight. To fill the void, for me at least, its about finishing the process and putting the original tunes in front of an audience. Its about the action and reaction. I've got to find some venues that PAY FOR ORIGINAL MUSIC... Is there any other way?
What did the greats do before they had the flexibility and credibility to front their own bands or write their own albums playing original music? There are drummers like Dave Grohl who probably never had to play covers, but then again probably ate tuna fish out of a can with a spork for every meal before (and maybe after I guess...) Nirvana made it big. Then there are those like Dennis Chambers who's been touring with Carlos Santana for the majority of this last decade and probably had nothing to do with writing those songs. He's definitely making some dough though.
Any ideas?
What did the greats do before they had the flexibility and credibility to front their own bands or write their own albums playing original music? There are drummers like Dave Grohl who probably never had to play covers, but then again probably ate tuna fish out of a can with a spork for every meal before (and maybe after I guess...) Nirvana made it big. Then there are those like Dennis Chambers who's been touring with Carlos Santana for the majority of this last decade and probably had nothing to do with writing those songs. He's definitely making some dough though.
Any ideas?
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