Drummer plays notes!

[TBE]

Hello chaps.

In my new role as music lecturer I seem to be hitting the same problem with my students.
They are rock musicians so they have learnt by learning licks and songs.
Many of them seem to have real problems in equating what they play with basic harmonic theory.
A lot of the video tutors seem to miss out the real basic concepts that form the fundamentals of music theory.

I have started on quite a big project to produce a number of simple vdeos that try and explain the basics of music harmony.

I have just posted three up on my blog if you fancy a look.

http://andyedwardsmusic.blogspot.com/

These are primarily for my students but I hope they will be of use to other musicians too.
If these work I will be doing some more in the future so your views are welcome.

all the best

TBE

[catherine]

Thanks Andy - I shall road test these on my younger son (who has ambitions to be a rock guitarist) and see how he gets on!

[Bokkie]

That's great Andy, it's always good to keep my knowledge sharpened. Looking forwards to the next one.
Speaking of notes, do you tune your kit in a specific scale? Or do you match your tuning to the resonance of the shell? I play drums for 26 years now, but i still have trouble to decide how to tune my kit.

[Gandalf1986]

Many many thanks Andy! That helps!

[TBE]

Thanks chaps

I don't tune to notes, I try and tune to shell resonance.
I'm doing a clinic this year on the Bath Rhythm course it will also feature the drum tuning guru, Martin Randscombe. He knows everything about drum tuning and I would suggest his DVD for anyone who wants their kit to sound good, I've learnt so much from him.

I will film some more of these in the holidays and then I'd like to do some on rhythmnic theory.

Ta x

[Pajter]

That sounds very interesting. I'm already looking forward to it!

[RacingHippo]

Unlikely I'd be able to get down to Bath, although I'll keep an eye on your blog for dates just in case I can combine it with a business trip
I've been itching to see Martin Randscombe in action ever since you mentioned him in a clinic you did with him last year.

Didn't realise he had a DVD out! I must find it and purchase it forthwith...

[Bokkie]

Thanks for the dvd tip Andy, going to look into that.

Tonight i'm going to a clinic from Zacky Tsoukas. Never heard of him. Does anybody knows him?
He's Creek, i hope he bring the Ouzo

[Bokkie]

Ok..i'm back from the clinic. Zacky was awsome. He played very fast singles and very hard. I think his sticks were almost as thick as my thumb. He gave us lots of tips and trick to practice. It was a great evening. And now i have to practice..practice..practice..

[FantomG]

Zacky is cool..

//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmklw-sGSkg&feature=related


Thanks for the vids TBE....great to hear a different approach to describing 'what's going on' in music ...refreshing.....first time I've seen you play gtr...nice work sir

[Pedro]

Nice work Andy.
Brilliant idea - to capture the basics. Not an easy subject to put across without using the "jargon" before you've explained it!
I guess the tie-in with the note distances ("intervals") and the black/white keys on a piano is the most "visual" evidence of the "in-between" notes.
Thought you might have got into why the Octave is so named (Oct=8) when it contains 12 notes.

Loved the "hobbitty" reference in there - very inclusive of you!  

Can't wait for more!

BTW Always wondered if it possible to prove that anyone *can* sing once they get to understand how the pitch of their voice can be controlled to match the pitch of a note they hear and how they can make the note-distance adjustments to their own voice.
Alternatively, could it be proved exactly why some people cannot sing? Is there always a good medical/physical/neurological reason why they cannot *hear* notes - the so-called tone-deafness?

Wish my music teacher had been one tenth as insteresting/engaging....

[JohnB]

Andy,

That was a really great way of looking at it from the very beginnings of scale theory. You're a really natural teacher.  

Altogether now, after 4 in Ethel#Maj....

JB