Want to jam?
Let us know on the message board, here’s a direct link to this particular discussion topic:
http://mpec.net/smf/index.php?topic=134.0
If you don’t have a log-in you’ll need to create one.
Jam sessions are open to anybody and everybody. You are welcome to play any instrument of your choice. Previous jams have consisted of a variety of instruments. We’ll go with either 3 or 4 people per jam session. If several people are interested we’ll arrange multiple sessions.
Feel free to call or email if you have any questions, would like to know what the jam sessions might include, or if there is any music that you’d like to jam to.
Jamming is tons of fun! If you’d like to participate let us know on the forums link mentioned above.
Prior to this past Fall, we had jam sessions – same location as lessons – about once a month on Sunday afternoons. We will resume jam sessions this summer if enough students share an interest.
One jam session will consist of 3 to 4 people. It can include any combination of guitar, bass, drum set, percussion, and pretty much anything else if you know how to play any other instruments. Jams are completely optional, they are not a part of lessons, and they are for any students who would like to have fun simply… jamming.
If we schedule these jams, they can occur once a month – at least for the time being, unless students are interested in more frequent jams – and each jam session can last anywhere up to 2 hours. If several students are interested, we can set up multiple jams in one day, each having 3 to 4 people.
Jams can consist of pretty much any music of your choice. Our jams most commonly include basic patterns and progressions, such as the 12-bar blues or a simple 4-chord progression (any style), which are fairly easy to jam to.
We can consider this as a potential day/time: (more…)
The fundamental characteristics of reggae music are pretty simple. Even the most complex compositions or arrangements that include a reggae style will, generally, continue to place emphasis on those pure and simple defining elements.
This entry will focus mostly on reggae as it involves the drumset, though these ideas can also relate to other instruments. There is a direct, often times alternating, relationship between the patterns played within the drums and other instruments (including guitar and bass, among others). If you’re interested in knowing more about reggae specifically for guitar, bass, or percussion, please let me know.
Reggae consists of (more…)
When having a jam session, for those in the beginning stages of jamming, perhaps the easiest or most comfortable type of music to jam to is either blues or rock, mostly for the simplistic chord progressions, scales, and rhythm patterns used.
The 12-bar blues is a good example of this.
The guitarist can play just three different chords in the rhythm part and only has to know one scale (pentatonic or blues) for playing a lead part.
The bassist can outline the chord tones in just three chords and also only has to know one scale (pentatonic or blues) for playing a lead part.
The drummer only has to know a swing or shuffle pattern and have a couple fills down, which can be incorporated into playing a lead part.
When you’re comfortable with (more…)
Practicing music is an important part of playing an instrument that is often neglected. Here are some paraphrased ideas that I found online on practicing that might come in handy.
The concept of “practice” is not always the same as “playing”. “Practice” can consist of thinking through things in a more methodical way. “Playing” can consist of a kind of thinking that is perhaps somewhat detached from certain thought processes that would occur in practice. Playing the music can include overlooking any of that “nagging self-awareness” that may or may not consume your practice. What you include in your practice, be it very basic or advanced, should eventually mastered. When practicing (rehearsing) with others, you are incorporating more of the concept of “playing”, where you might make mistakes but you keep going regardless. You take note of those mistakes and work on them later in individual “practice”, and the process cycles onto itself, which also helps you improve your ability to listen for certain things within the music.
In practice, you maintain an awareness of the finer details, notes, rhythms, timing, and other elements that help prepare you for playing with others. After practicing, you present those elements with others who are doing the same, all within a playing environment that is non-intimidating and therefore constructive. Jam sessions are great outlets for this.
Practice consists of (more…)
A while back I came across a website that covers some basic music theory. I’ll include the link here to the original source and to alternate versions in case the original page isn’t online.
musictheory.net (by Ricci Adams)
musictheory.net (on mpec.net)
If you are unable to view the animated music examples, try this:
musictheory.net (previous version)
And… we’re done transferring old entries over from the old blog to this one.
Below are some images/PDFs of the basic rhythms that we learn early on in music.
The last page can serve as a type of “cheat sheet” for reference in deciphering the counting of the various rhythms throughout the first couple pages. (We can fill in the blanks in the cheat sheet with the actual counting in lessons.)
Here they are… (more…)
The following images/PDFs focus on keeping a beat with the feet and a ride pattern while moving the snare drum notes around throughout the measure. The focus in these exercises is mostly on coordination as it entails changes in the snare, though also helps a little with general syncopation.
Note: you are supposed to repeat each measure a number of times, as a separate pattern. I didn’t put the repeat signs in between each bar, so just play one measure at a time (repeated). When you are comfortable with all of the patterns you can combine them and play straight through each bar.
The main difference between the 2 sets of exercises is the left foot.
In the first set, you can play the ride pattern on the hi-hat.
In the second set, you can play the ride pattern on the ride cymbal and the hi-hat with your foot.
I encourage playing the exercises with a straight-eighth feel and a swing feel.
Here they are… (more…)
For information that precedes this, refer to:
Making Progress on Drumset (Part 4)
Regarding a more detailed approach towards what should actually be covered each day on the practice routine, we will get to the details in our lessons, after which a routine will fall right into place. (more…)
For information that precedes this, refer to:
Making Progress on Drumset (Part 3)
Food for thought:
(more…)
For information that precedes this, refer to:
Making Progress on Drumset (Part 2)
Sample of two-week goals:
(more…)
For information that precedes this, refer to:
Making Progress on Drumset (Part 1)
Sample of one-year goals:
(more…)
The Self-Improved Musician:
Practice Routine, Goals, & Motivation for Drumset
Establishing a list of goals, both short-term and long-term, will help in accomplishing what you would like to be able to play on the drums. If those goals are well-balanced and include a mix of material that isn’t too easy but isn’t too hard, then it will be easier to maintain motivation. It has to be interesting too. Some of it might not appear to be the most exciting, like slow-motion coordination on drums, but will help tremendously in developing the ability to play well. When practicing, if you get bored, you can always just start jamming, carefree of what sounds come out of your instrument – that’s always a great motivator. Now, on with a method of setting & establishing a practice routine, setting & achieving goals, and final thoughts on what can help motivate one to maintain focus and interest throughout this whole process.
(more…)
The following is a guide I wrote that provides an approach towards improving your abilities on the drumset. It includes a sample practice routine, sample goals (for 6 months and 1 year), and insight on self-motivation.
The file was originally written in OpenOffice, though I saved it in multiple formats:
Practice for Drumset (Microsoft Word document)
Practice for Drumset (RTF Rich Text Format)
Practice for Drumset (HTML format)
I will include the HTML format, split into smaller pieces, in future blog entries.
I recently came across some excellent sources of info for drums and the material can really come in handy for almost any age/level on the instrument.
Drumset patterns & counting:
http://www.beatofdrum.com/lessons.php
(and optionally: http://www.beatofdrum.com/guest-lessons.php)
Online learning games for drums:
http://www.flashmusicgames.com/index_drums.html
I recently compiled about 100 pages of drumset material (for beginners) that I’ll be providing for drumset students. It includes the following sections:
- Getting Started
- Basic Rhythms
- Dynamics
- Rudiments
- Rock
- Jazz
- Latin
- Double Bass
I previously assembled a couple other beginner books covering fundamentals and essentials (The ABCs of Guitar and The ABCs of Drumset), geared specifically for use with my students throughout lessons, though this new Drumset Basics package should provide a more well-rounded approach to drumming.
More “out with the old” and “in with the new”. The mpec.net forums are once again online, now new and improved. Once registered you’ll be given access to additional forums and categories. One of the main sections is the “Q & A”, which has several music-related posts.
http://mpec.net/smf/
After going to the main forums page, click on the “Register” link at the top right of the screen to gain access to the main forums.