Singlestroker
 
Posts: 423
Joined: Apr 7, 2010
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No. 2 Posted on Oct 18, 2012 3:56 PM
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Stillkicken likes to quote the phrase “keep it simple stupid”, and there’s a lot in that, I believe. There’s nothing to be gained by having it go wrong on you, and it’s silly to saddle yourself with something that, at any stage in your development, you can’t yet handle. Do I sound like someone who has made that mistake and has learned from it? I’ll let you guess!
If you know your existing abilities and play within them, then you WILL sound good. You know what works best from your current “palette”. Put something quite short together from that palette and practise it. On the night, keep to it and they’ll love it. You can vary it between gigs, and after it becomes a bit easier, you can bring in some more moves. Eventually, the spontaneity you're looking for may well come.
Steady as she goes!
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HuskerFan
Yay college
Posts: 1828
Joined: Oct 24, 2008
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
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No. 4 Posted on Oct 18, 2012 8:09 PM
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My advice is:
Lose your spot - Keep internally focused on the beat of the song and be aware of where the "1" is. If you get lost, it's okay to take a moment and come back in cleanly on the one, resuming the ride rhythm.
Ending - don't try to "go crazy." A clean flourishing roll into a crash, played with exciting and appropriate dynamics could very well be all that you need. If you're worried about what to do there, definitely don't try to do a lot lest you overthink it.
Stick drop - keep your stickbag in a comfortable position, such as tied against the floor tom. Make sure the sticks easiest to grab from there are the same size as the ones you're using.
Break a leg!
Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz in Copper Sparkle
Zildjian, Dream, and Wuhan cymbals
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OldFart
Mapex
Posts: 6611
Joined: Apr 2, 2007
Location: Peoria, AZ
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No. 5 Posted on Oct 18, 2012 9:31 PM
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Ditto : Stick Bag close by, easy to access by reach and feel alone. Having to turn your eyes to it is counter-productive.
Also, in the Stick Bag, keep only the sticks in the size you like ( and possibly just the one brand that plays best for you ) . You would thereby minimize failure.
If you need to reach for Mallets or Brushes put those in an easy to access place, too, but not where your most used sticks are. You could think you're grabbing sticks when, in fact, you're getting Brushes ... know what I mean? If you're not playing any music requiring Brushes or Mallets, put those aside such that all you have at your disposal would be only what's needed to succeed for that one event.
Lastly, loosen-up and move with the groove ( in a manner of speaking ). Chances are the ensemble will relax enough to put out their best in sync with the drums - as it ought to be. If you can move fluidly, but with self-control, I doubt you'll drop a stick. And don't forget to breathe ...
OldFart edited on Oct 18, 2012 9:34 PM
Mapex Saturn * Paiste
Terry Bozzio Single-Ply Coated
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technique2012
Posts: 207
Joined: Aug 11, 2012
Location: Illinois, USA
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No. 6 Posted on Oct 19, 2012 12:45 PM
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HuskerFan wrote:
My advice is:
Lose your spot - Keep internally focused on the beat of the song and be aware of where the "1" is. If you get lost, it's okay to take a moment and come back in cleanly on the one, resuming the ride rhythm.
Ending - don't try to "go crazy." A clean flourishing roll into a crash, played with exciting and appropriate dynamics could very well be all that you need. If you're worried about what to do there, definitely don't try to do a lot lest you overthink it.
Stick drop - keep your stickbag in a comfortable position, such as tied against the floor tom. Make sure the sticks easiest to grab from there are the same size as the ones you're using.
Break a leg!
But my band director always says my ending is "too short", "lacking in energy, "to go crazy", and "suspending the cymbals isn't enough." What should I do from there?
"Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple."
-Charles Mingus
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technique2012
Posts: 207
Joined: Aug 11, 2012
Location: Illinois, USA
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No. 12 Posted on Oct 26, 2012 2:38 PM
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So, instead of dropping a stick, ruining everything, and failing at the end, I apparently impressed just about everyone when my solo section came around. When I filled, I was very tasteful with clean rolls and better ideas than had previously occured to me before the concert. However, I WAS pouring sweat by the end (seriously, it was getting on my glasses). My friend said I looked like I was high when I walked back to my concert band section (Keith Moon anyone?). I hit the rim once, and came in late for a measure (not that anyone noticed too much), and missed a couple crashes, but I had quite a good first performance on the drum set. Of course, the highlight of the night was in the concert band section when my same friend tossed a stick in the air and didn't catch it (so much for practicing it). I just might enjoy performing this year. It seems under huge pressure, I get some fairly good fill ideas because I'm nervous about being to flashy. The eighth grader actually sped up and made more noticable errors than me. But, I still kept my stick bag half a foot away from me with a couple Pro-Marks sticking out. My hands were drenched before the actual performance, so you can't be too safe Thanks for the advice (especially the "keep it simple")!
"Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple."
-Charles Mingus
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StillKickinIt
Poopeye
Posts: 1949
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Location: Orygun - The Beaver State - USA
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