Yoda. He's saying: "I can play faster than you with just this one stick."
I’ve been around great drum technique for years.
In 1996, I took my first lesson with the great Toronto drummer Vito Rezza.
In 1998, I began an apprenticeship with the legendary Joe Morello (who I’ll probably be mentioning a lot in this space, by the way).
Finally in 2006, I started studying with Jim Chapin and had the honor of being one of the last people to do so before he passed away last July.
Over the years, I’ve seen, taught and most importantly blended all of these techniques and, in doing so, crafted something that is truly my own.
This would make my mentors extremely happy, I’m sure.
Interesting, then, that in the midst of all the important information that I have both assimilated and disseminated, I have come to one very important conclusion:
It’s not that complicated – drum technique, that is. Well, it isn’t to me anyway.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it would appear if you look at the endless, mind-numbing sources of information on technique out there.
There are books, DVDs and CDs, all of which purport to hold that special secret to fast double bass drum technique, or they want to help you become the next “World’s Fastest Drummer” or “Improve your speed in 30 days, guaranteed!”
I think most of this stuff is useless.
Have you ever leafed through Stick Control? Exercise 1 on page five is R L R L. Hmm. Maybe George Lawrence Stone was onto something.
Then there are all the self proclaimed experts that appear on YouTube claiming to understand all about technique, and attempting to prove they can play faster than the next guy.
Great… Who are these guys anyway? Where did they get their info and who have they played with? We probably don’t want to know.
And then there are the heralded “gurus” of the drums (I won’t mention names).
These people have gained quite a bit of fame in the last few years for their efforts to offer a Yoda-like approach to teaching drum technique, complete with imaginary physics models and incoherent babble about basically nothing. And they claim they can fix all your technique probems in an hour long lesson.
These supposedly legendary, reputable figures are creating confusion by talking loud and saying nothing when all most people want to know is: How do I hold the stick?!
Holding the stick isn’t hard. And more importantly, it shouldn’t be confusing. But it’s become that way.
The simplicity with which I was taught is also the way I teach my own students.
Holding the stick isn’t any harder than picking it up off the floor. Then we start easy systematic exercises to build wrists, forearms and we go from there.
This is not to say that it’s all easy, but it is a simple approach. And it has no secrets. The secret is actually practicing the material.
But I’ll always have students that want me to wave a magic wand and make them better. Sorry, but no one can fix anything in a single lesson.
Here’s the big secret: For years I practiced anywhere from eight to 12 hours a day to get to where I am.
Why is it that everything out there seems so shrouded in mystery, anyway? As a teacher, why would I want or need to keep secrets?
If I show you something, you still have to do all the hours of practice until you can do it with the same level of depth that I can. So what would I have to be afraid of? Why would I feel threatened if you could do these things? I know it’s gonna take you a while.
Mssrs. Morello and Chapin never hid anything from me, which is more than I can say for colleagues of mine who have been to the Yodas of the world.
Both men were patient, kind and very forthcoming with all the priceless information they had. And they never told me they could fix all my ailments by talking about sine waves and graphs.
Good grief, it’s a piece of wood that were throwing at plastic covered tubes of wood! Keep it simple and then sweat and toil – for years, many years – then you might have a shot.
Yoda never existed. He’s a figment of someone’s imagination. Let’s keep him away from the drum world.
You said a mouth full Buddy!!!! I sooo agree with you. Especially pertaining to the so called “legends”
As we both know there have been so many GREAT drummers who have slipped “under the radar” & have never received the acknowledgement & recognition that they deserve… The reality is it’s who you know, who likes you (of the so called legends) & how well you play the “kiss up” game. I’ve seen awesome drummers/teachers passed by & or “stunted” for teaching positions & gigs while other average drummers (by comparison in my opinion) are given teaching positions & gigs…ALL because of who they know in the “world of legends” & how well they’re liked by them…more importantly …how much or little of a threat they pose to these so called “legends”
Bottom line, in my opinion….If you get to know a legend or several legends…do a good job of “kissing up”, get them to like you, don’t give them reason to feel threatened by you & your talent…. there’s a pretty good chance that they’ll throw a gig, session, or teaching position ( that they don’t want) your way… Unfair??? Yes!!! Sad??? Yes!!! BUT so very true.