Questionable Cover. Indisputably jazzy. Drumming and all that Jazz: Joel Rothman Cost: $15.96 Note: I will refer to ‘Drumming and All that Jazz’ as simply ‘Drumming’ in my review for organizational purposes. Despite the semi-cliche title ‘Drumming and All That Jazz,’ Joel Rothman’s book proves to be a valuable tool for any percussionist looking to gain new insights in jazz drumming. The bright orange cover and Jokerman font gives the book a bright, almost childlike look -- but don’t let that fool you. Start turning the pages, and Rothman’s book gets right down to business. Containing 65 pages jam-packed with exercises, fills, and a broad range of playing genres, working cover to cover through ‘Drumming’ is sure to yield new abilities …show more content…
for a percussionist. Following a brief introduction entailing the concepts that will be covered, ‘Drumming’ immediately begins its repertoire. Coordination between the cymbals and snare drum is the main objective in the beginning pages of the book, with fourteen practice groups of exercises designed to improve a drummer’s ability to try new patterns and tighten coordination between the four limbs on a kit. The practice groups conclude with a set of four-measure solos that encapsulate the practiced material. Something important to note about the style of ‘Drumming’ exercises: they are concise. The beginning groups, contain eight exercises each that are one measure (four beats) long. This is a true asset for the percussionist; it makes it easier to master each individual exercise step by step. The next section of the book will strike familiarity with the previous- with an added factor. In addition to cymbals and snare drum coordination, the exercises integrate the bass drum. This allows for a drummer to utilize all four of his limbs on the kit, and won’t experience much trouble doing so, provided the first part of the book has been mastered. The conclusion of the method book ties in the concepts learned masterfully. Containing advanced fills, time signatures, solos, and diverse genres, the ending pages of the book aim to broaden the horizons of a drummer willing to put the effort into the exercises and passages. Rothman’s book aims to provide drummers with a comprehensive study on most aspects of jazz drumming. It succeeds through the variety of material covered and the organization of exercises that allows for step by step improvement. Percussionists of levels from beginner to advanced can find multiple ways to improve their jazz abilities by drumming through the pages of ‘Drumming and All that Jazz’. To Novice Drumming… and beyond? Nope. Alfred’s Beginning Drumset Method Note: I may refer to the book as ‘Alfred’s’ for organizational purposes. Cost: $20.00 If you’re looking to find a drum set book that covers more than standard, novice level material, Alfred’s Beginning Drumset Method may not be your choice.
That’s not to say the method book utterly fails its job. Used as a resource alongside a teacher or mentor, a beginning drummer will find improvement. However, that’s not how the book is designed- it tries to pass as a standalone tool for learning the kit. In the first pages, diagrams are even included on how to set up a drum set. While helpful, these diagrams may confuse a beginning percussionist who may not yet know this simple principle --there’s not a set way to configure a drum set. The book introduces both rock and jazz to a new drummer, but the latter is superficially taught. One of the key components of jazz is the ‘swung’ eighth note. Attempting to properly teach this beat is tough, and the ‘Intro to jazz’ section of the book tries tackling this task by displaying a measure of written swung notes. Despite the effort, this may prove to be ineffective for drummers who are unfamiliar with the workings of a jazz beat that are independent of what is written on the paper. After all, jazz is an art form best served …show more content…
improvised. A saving grace for Alfred’s, however, is its use of fills in context with various rhythms.
The organization and placement of exercises and fills is laid out nicely, allowing a drummer to learn a fill or sequence and use it in context of a solo or transition to another exercise. This builds good practice methods that help the learner use the exercise in an actual song. The method book contains three full-length songs, two rock and one jazz. Despite the inequality between genres, the songs themselves are effective at summarizing the material covered that they were introduced in. ‘Blues for time,’ the opening song, summarizes the beginning pages with basic rhythmic sequences and simple one-bar fills. It also introduces musical concepts such as introductions and choruses. Used correctly, the full length songs in Alfred's can prove to be a helpful feature. While Alfred’s hardly goes beyond the duties of teaching entry level percussion, it does its job decidedly well of outlining the bare basics of playing a kit. If you’re looking for something more advanced or diverse, this book is not for
you. For best results, use product with a curricular band. Essential Elements for Percussion- Book 1 Will be referred to as ‘EE’ Cost: $16.67 Novice percussionists who regularly play alongside a performance ensemble will find a valuable tool in Hal Leonard Corporation’s Essential Elements for band: percussion book 1. Designed for use in addition to the regular rehearsal of a beginner-level music student, EE challenges percussionists seeking to gain experience in both snare drum and mallet instruments. In total, EE contains two sets of 187 exercises for snare and bells, a total of 374 exercises. The book also comes with a play-along CD containing accompaniment for each individual exercise. Musicians who struggle to produce a certain sound or note without guidance will find this to be a worthy asset. The tracks simulate the feeling of playing in a full ensemble, and they will hold the musician accountable for staying on tempo. The exercises get progressively tougher as you flip through the pages. Alongside notes and rhythms, the book gradually introduces new musical components of a chart, such as DC al Fine, a variant of the traditional end of a song, and repeat signs, which lead the musician back to a specific measure. EE also drops tidbits of history into its music. Introducing ‘Capriccio Italien,’ exercise 187, couldn’t be done the EE way without first explaining the history of composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Designed to enrich the education of new music students, this feature of EE can work to instill a love of music and culture into a percussionist that will keep them playing (and learning) for years to come. Among the EE exercises are various full-length songs. Exercise 118, ‘Hungarian Dance No. 5’, challenges a drummer by introducing the two-four time signature while playing at speeds of allegro. Elements of snare drum such as accents, paradiddles, flams, and rim shots are included in the dance, effectively summarizing previously studied concepts. The one bone-- or drumstick-- you could pick with EE is the page organization between snare and bells. Sections for the two instruments are completely separate, which can prove frustrating due to the excessive flipping back and forth in order to navigate through the two sections. But don’t cancel your EE order over this. The many great services EE can provide a musician outweigh this inconvenience. Essential Elements aims to provide new percussionists with a tool for use alongside curricular band to guide them in their musical endeavors, and it delivers.
I have been thought to be Asian majority of my life, yet my heritage is not remotely Asian. Similarly, Jazz would not be a genre that most would expect to represent Asian culture. Yet as I listened, I am transformed into what I would envision would be the streets of Tokyo. Dan Nimmer’s use of percussion with a wooden block and a gong, instantly resonated sounds that you would associate with Japan. The trumpets used a cup mute to round out their sound. The cup also reduced their sound’s usual force, as it would be too much of a contrast for the scene the music is representing. The drummer’s, Ali Jackson, percussion also produced rapid rhythms and a unique hollow sound which further brought in the listener into another
Percussion instruments are by far the most dominant of the four major instrument families. There are many different types of cymbals and drums, which are ...
The way drum corps members perform is deeper on a cognitive level in the brain. The performer has the music in their head while marching and this requires two different parts of the brain. A way to help with the intensity of cognitive power used is through relaxation training or “insight therapy”. In one study, “both the cognitively based treatment program and the behavior-rehearsal program proved effective in reducing musical-performance anxiety”(Kendrick, Craig Lawson, & Davidson, 1982) . These methods reduced performers’ negative self talk. This gives the members a smoother
...a life lesson. The military style of drum line is what has helped me improve in my schoolwork, my family life, and my friendships; I was trained to never give up even if success seems impossible.
Zorn, J (1989, Nov.). The changing role of instrumental music. Music Educators Journal. 76(3), 21-24.
The word “jazz” is significant to America, and it has many meanings. Jazz could simply be defined as a genre or style of music that originated in America, but it can also be described as a movement which “bounced into the world somewhere about the year 1911…” . This is important because jazz is constantly changing, evolving, adapting, and improvising. By analyzing the creators, critics, and consumers of jazz in the context of cultural, political, and economic issue, I will illustrate the movement from the 1930’s swing era to the birth of bebop and modern jazz.
Kenton, Stan(ley Newcomb)." New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Ed. Barry Kernfeld. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994.
Basically his drums are the war. If he beats good and doesn’t mess up then the soldiers won’t mess up!How you ever read the book Drummer Boy Of Shiloh? This is a short story written by Ray Bradbury and he uses symbols throughout the story to emphasis different meanings. The main character is Joby, he is a little drummer boy around the age 14 years old and he is camping with the rest of the soldiers in peach field. He is afraid of marching into the battle with no weapons only his drum and his sticks. Joby’s and the other soldiers general thought they were too young to fight in a battle. Joby’s job was to lead the soldiers into the battle by the beating of his drums.
Jazz is referred as “America’s classical music,” and is one of North America’s and most celebrated genres. The history of Jazz can be traced back to the early era of the 20th century of the U.S. “A History of Jazz” presents From Ragtime and Blues to Big Band and Bebop, jazz has been a part of a proud African American tradition for over 100 years. A strong rhythmic under-structure, blue notes, solos, “call-and response” patterns, and
Throughout the semester, various styles of music and the aspects of culture associated with these styles have been analyzed. Musical elements such as dynamics, texture, form, timbre, melody, instruments, etc., have been used to thoroughly explore each kind of music from different areas of the world, with an emphasis in music from Africa, India and Indonesia. These aspects of music go far beyond just music itself. Culture also plays a huge role in music and the accompanying musical elements. Each country and culture has a different style and distinctiveness that add to what makes the music of that certain culture unique. Music in Africa may differ dramatically from music in Indonesia or India not only due to those certain elements but also due to how it is interpreted by people and what it represents for those people. In addition to this, what one may consider music in one culture may not be music to another. These differences have been made apparent in the several demonstrations that we have been exposed to in class.
Teachout, Terry. "John Hammond's jazz." Commentary 122.3 (2006): 55+. Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
Upon learning the position of Drum Major has an opening, I did not immediately consider pursuing it. Simply being able to play my instrument in band was enjoyment enough, or so I thought. Pondering the idea more thoroughly, I came upon the realization of all that I could accomplish musically holding the position of Drum Major. I realize that this opportunity has many potential benefits in regards to my future. Being Drum Major would allow me the opportunity to hold a broader leadership position in the band than my currently held position as section leader.
This attention to music has produced two original forms, blues and jazz, and has developed distinctive traditions of others like gospel. Jazz is based mainly on one of these forms, namely –as the title infers- on jazz. This form pervades the whole book and provides not only subject and theme, but also literary technique for the novel. Consequently, Jazz is not only the novel about the jazz era, but also a novel that develops jazz “strategies” and creates a “jazz” of its own. Morrison uses music as both a structural and symbolic element in her work.
This is referring to the drum that is sound before the men go out to
Wegner, Gert-Matthas. Vintage Tabla Repertory: Drum Compositions of North Indian Classical Music. New Delhi: Munshirah Manhartal Publishers, 2004. Print.