In this lesson, I discuss 8th Note Triplets and rests - what they look like, what they sound like, and how to count them. FREE “Triplet Cheat Sheet” Booklet
Lesson 9 introduces two ways that composers can create longer duration sounds - Ties and Dots. I'll also cover rarer double dotted rhythms and briefly cover the 6/4 and 7/4 time signatures.
Lesson 8 features 16th note rests and all of the places you can play (or not play) them! We also add the 2/4 time signature to our basket of time signatures.
Here's Part 2 of the discussion on 16th notes. In this lesson I'll talk about mixing 16th's and 8th's to make totally new rhythms!
Lesson 6 is about 16th notes! I'll introduce the Table of Time and the multi-measure repeat sign. This is part 1 of a 2-part lesson.
In lesson 5, I'll do a recap of whole note, half note, and quarter note rests along with teaching about the 8th note rest. I'll also cover the concept of downbeats and upbeats and end with an introduction to the single measure repeat sign.
In lesson 4, you'll learn about 8th notes and how to count them. I'll describe the parts of the note - notehead, stem, flag and beam. I'll also cover the concepts of subdivisions and subdividing the beat.
Lesson 3 is about the half note and half note rests. I also take a minute to introduce the 3/4 and 5/4 time signatures. I'm also pleasantly surprised by a whole note late in the video, so we'll cover that briefly.
In lesson 2, I introduce the quarter note, quarter note rest and explain the 4/4 time signature. We also have a new element of music: the repeat sign.
In lesson 1 of the Rhythm and Reading Series, I'll discuss the first elements that make up music notation. Covered are: the staff, clef, measures, bar lines, double bar lines, time signature, notes and tempo.
I’m launching a YouTube series called The Rhythm and Reading Series. Find out more about what I’ll cover and how you can participate as if you were taking private lessons with me.
In this quick lesson, I demonstrate how to play the “Six-Stroke Roll with Mustard” exercise from page 29 in Steve Gadd’s Gaddiments. I play the exercise at tempo, and then demonstrate each ending slowly to help you understand the tricky notation.
In this lesson, I teach my method for figuring out tough rhythms using the “Six-Stroke Roll with Mustard” exercise on page 29 of Steve Gadd’s Gaddiments as an example. It’s a great lesson if you’re interested in learning this process or if you’re having a tough time with this Gaddiments exercise.
This brief lesson shows you the proper grips for holding the drum sticks. There are two videos; one for matched grip and one for traditional grip. They’re great for beginners or old pros who want to see exactly how the stick should be held.
How to play an ostinato with your feet while modulating between 6/4 and 6/8 with your hands.
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD
My focus this week is smoothing out my left-hand lead and developing my left-handed accents.
This week I focused on getting my hands nice and loose while playing rolls. So, I took an excerpt from Great Hands For A Lifetime and concentrated on staying loose, loose, loose.
Here’s the third exercise in my paradiddle grid. Play accents on both singles of the paradddle and then shift the whole pattern back to create new phrases.
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This is just the second exercise from a book of Paradiddle-based exercises I’ve been working on. These things are simple to understand but difficult to play.
With practice, you’ll gain the ability to create some really cool patterns with the unique combinations of accents and stickings.
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This is one Spooky Halloween Lesson! If you’re like me, you may have trouble practicing on a full drum kit - too loud, too much space, not enough time. Use my simple exercises to make sure your ghost notes don’t join the land of the dead.
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Here’s a teaser for a book of Paradiddle-based exercises I’ve been working on. The thing holding me back is that I CAN’T PLAY THE EXERCISES YET. Here’s where I’m at with the first one.
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This tricky exercise for the more advanced player takes you through three different rhythmic rates while maintaining a paradiddle sticking. Don’t forget your metronome for this one!
FREE Lesson PDF
This combo is a real hand twister. Featuring Flam Taps and Inverted Flam Taps, this exercise wants to be played REAL FAST, but there’s a tricky little bump in the middle that’ll slow you down.
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This warm-up features Flams and taps, with the number of taps increasing from 1 to 2 to 3, etc. all the way up to 8 taps on a hand.
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Here’s a quick way to use paradiddles to play a beginner/intermediate rock beat and an advanced funk beat.
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Lesson 10 introduces the concept of Syncopation. There are two parts to this lesson. Part 1 deals with 8th note syncopation and Part 2 deals with 16th Note Syncopation. Exercise PDFs