Issue #10___\__\__\__\__\__________/__/__/__/__/ October 97 THE TEMPO DISPATCH FREE Newsletter For Drummers and Drumming Enthusiasts Copyright Bill Powelson 1997 all rights reserved. ___/__/__/__/__/__________\__\__\__\__\___ 'IT'S ALL ABOUT DRUMS' Tips * Tricks * Hints * Ads * Freebies * Lessons * Gigs? NOW 1,200 SUBSCRIBERS!!! ___________________________________________________ "THE TEMPO DISPATCH" is a FREE publication *** Originating From *** BILL POWELSON'S SCHOOL OF DRUMS on the web Where the Drum Lessons are FREE! http://www.catalog.com/drummers/bphome01 E-MAIL: powelson@america.com ___________________________________________________ The focus and intent of this publication is to unite, enlighten, instruct and entertain all the percussion enthusiasts of the Internet. If you wish to receive NO further issues, simply reply to the address at the top of this message and type "REMOVE" on the subject line or body of the message. Your address will be removed immediately. ___________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS What is in this issue? Contents: 1. Feature Article: Jamming! 2. Bar Jokes of the Month 3. Land of Lost URLS 4. Musicians Wanted (Free service) 5. Advertisements ________________________________________________________ FEATURE ARTICLE Spontaeneous Improvisation * Jamming NOW . . . for some really important thoughts concerning 'EXCITEMENT' and Jamming. There is much to be said for 'spontaeneous improvisation'. It is difficult to teach this stuff, but I do have a few thoughts that are aimed in the right direction. What we are talking about here is the 'creativity factor' or 'individual imagination' and how to improve it behind the kit, while playing with a recording or a band. REMEMBER THIS, ALWAYS! "There is no such thing as a mistake if you remain 'in-time". That is a very BIG statement but I am not kidding! Theoretically you may do anything (that sounds good) when you are behind the drumkit. Anything goes, most of the time! That is . . . anything goes, that does not throw you out of sync with the timing of the music. Or . . . result in making you the target of smelly objects like rotten eggs and tomatoes. Sometimes, you may not be playing exactly the intended (classic) patterns . . . maybe you will miss a lick, here and there. That's OK! Just stay in time, focus on the feel of the beat. Occasionally the missed licks may sound better than the intended licks anyway. So . . . that aweful 'mistake' may become a new trick . . . that's all. Just try to remember all the, 'good mistakes' when you make them, and add them to your list of best ideas . . . then do them again and again on purpose. This is a fun way to GROW as a drummer. Sure . . .this is all very easy for me to say, but you need a starting place. Right? OK, there are two separate lines of thought here . . . PARALLEL #1: JAMMING WITH RECORDINGS: Learn to jamm as you play along with recordings. Try to remember that the songs you hear on record are the exact same way everytime BECAUSE THEY ARE RECORDED. It is the nature of the beast! The drummers who play those songs in concert will often change the rhythm patterns and fills from night to night. It is just too boring to play everything the exact same way every time! As you jam with recorded songs, dare to improve on the original drummers ideas. Strive to add your own touch! JAMMING TIPS: 1. Alter the beat patterns slightly, in ways that make the song sound better. 2. Add fills in places where the original drummer didn't play a fill. Often it may be difficult to mimick a recorded fill exactly anyway!. Don't worry about imitating to perfection while you are at home and learning. Just do your own fill, your own way but make it fit with the timing of the song. You will have more fun and it will add to your own arsenal of tricks. 4. Play around with dynamics. Drive hard in places where the recorded drummer is playing with little or no feeling. More on dynamics in a minute! PARALLEL #2: JAMMING . . .WITH A BAND: When jamming with the band . . . listen very, very closely to each individual member of the group . . . memorize their 'best' ideas and rhythm patterns . . . anticipate where/when they are going to use those ideas and be there . . . with them. Try to compliment their ideas (in your own way). You will usually get a nod of approval as soon as they realize you are focusing on their musical statement of improvisational creativity . . . HOLD THAT THOUGHT!!! Not all musicians appreciate this kind of stuff . . . some jerks dispise it. We (lowly drummers) aim to please . . . (even the jerks) . . . so, we play according to each players' individual wish. If the 'nods' are approving then continue to compliment the other players' ideas. But, if what you see is a scowl, then back off and let that player 'suffer' on his own. He deserves to be alone, heheheh. Sometimes it is best to just 'ask' at a convenient time off-stage. The individual band members will usually be very quick to let you know what they like and do not like. A GOOD drummer will always try to please each individual band member, if possible. However, you should never compromise tempo or taste at someone eleses whim. OK! With that understood . . .keep feeding off the other band members as much as possible within the music. THEIR ideas can be YOUR BEST ideas! REMEMBER ALWAYS: Tempo is of paramount importance! This is the major thing that will cause audience pandamonium and excitement! SOLID TEMPO IS HYPNOTIC! It is a fact . . .just think about this . . . How does a Hypnotist induce a trance? Tic . . .toc . . . tic . . . toc . . . Whoops, I didn't mean to hypnotize ya!, heheh. WAKE UP!!!! Do you get the idea, though? Steady tempo can have a very engaging effect on a mass of people. Rather than put them to sleep, it will bring them to life! Think voo-doo . . . it is the tempo and the drums that induce the mesmerizing effects. No drums?. . . no trance! Perfect tempo is the thing that will make a crowd clap their hands, stomp their feet and scream at the top of their lungs. When a crowd begins to respond like that, it can be the drummers (secret) crowning moment of glory! It takes time (perfect time) to make all this happen, so be patient and keep driving home that SOLID beat! See the online lesson, 'How to Overcome Bad Gigs, Forever'. I know it reads like a spam for the 'Beatbug', and it IS (in a way), but it is also honesty from the gut! Now, with all that under your belt . . .there is another very important factor that will set 'crowd pandamonium' or 'excitement' into action when playing with any band. Get ready for another big word . . . 'DYNAMICS', the sizzling-hot-drummers' second most valuable creative tool . . . DYNAMICS, in a band MUST be a group effort! It takes a whole band . . . thinking on the same 'wave length' . . . to play dynamically. By dynamic, I mean 'volume flux' and 'energy flux'. Guess who SHOULD be in charge of band dynamics? If you guessed 'the drummer', you are right! The drummer can initiate 'dynamics' into the band much easier than anyone else. Look for places in the music where you can 'drop out' completely! You may only need to play a very light 'chic' on the hi-hat in many arrangements. Also, learn to build 'excitement' with gradual increases in volume and 'thundering roll techniques' (watch that tempo!) . . . Go from 'soft rain' to a 'thundering hurricane' at every opportunity. Watch for a 'positive' reaction from the band members . . . and the crowd. They will usually LOVE you for being so 'sensitive' to the kind of emotion this normally evokes. A FEW WORDS OF OPPOSITION: There are instances where jamming on stage just isn't cool. Many 'cover bands' are forced by their crowds to imitate popular recordings. It is a bread & butter thing! If you are in a band playing cover tunes for a living, (many of us are) . . . and if you want to eat on a regular basis, (many of us do) . . . Jam at home but be a copy-freak at work! There, I said it, but it wasn't easy, haha! REALITY!!!! I hate it! ________________________________________________________ |________________________________________________________| BAR JOKE OF THE MONTH ------------------------------------------------------ A Mushroom Walks into the bar and the bartender says: "We don't serve your kind here." And the Mushroom says, "WHY, I'M A FUN-GUY!" (fungi . . . get it?) 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(5) 10 word lines/$5.00 (US) per insertion 4 MONTHS OF ADVERTISING $20.00 4th insertion FREE! ____________________________________________________ |____________________________________________________| THE LAND OF LOST URLS 'Webpages that are buried on the bottom of the search engine dog pile.' _________________________________________________ *** GALAXY DRUM *** SELECTIVE DRUM RING * NO MORE SEARCH ENGINES Bringing you the "creme de la creme" of percussion on the 'Net * Drumming oriented websites with content * Check us out . . . http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6826/galaxydrum.html Leave us a note! Give us your thoughts! ________________________________________________________ |________________________________________________________| *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** (FREE SERVICE) This is your platform! If you have a drumming related announcement to make, you can make it here, FREE! Just send an E-mail note to powelson@america.com. No Spams please! Think in terms of public service announcements. Like this . . . ___________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENT #1 If you enjoy this little 'e-zine' please show your support by reading the ads and buying the products. The 'Tempo Dispatch' and free drum school will soon die without a few sales. ___________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENT #2 SPECIAL NOTICE!!! US residents! Now you can pay by check via E-mail. Any of the drum school products or services will be on their way to you in minutes! Send an E-mail enquiry to: ifrwy@mykabot.net, to get details on how to pay instantly, electronically. ___________________________________________________ TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE DRUM SCHOOL PRODUCTS WITH MASTER CARD OR VISA NOW, GO TO . . . https://www.realtimecommerce.com/powelson/ ___________________________________________________ END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #10 October, 1997