ISSUE #19___\__\__\__\__\__________/__/__/__/__/ JULY 5, 1998 THE TEMPO DISPATCH FREE Newsletter For Drummers and Drumming Enthusiasts Copyright Bill Powelson 1998 all rights reserved. ___/__/__/__/__/__________\__\__\__\__\___ 'IT'S ALL ABOUT DRUMS' Tips * Tricks * Hints * Ads * Freebies * Lessons * Gigs? NOW 1,600 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: drums01@worldnet.att.net ___________________________________________________ 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: SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR PAID 'MAC' STUDENTS: 1. Feature Article: DUMP THE TABS AND JAM! 2. Thoughts & Grins: 'ADVERTISING HUMOR' 3. Advertisements 4. Drum Instructors Wanted 5. Land of Lost URLS ________________________________________________________ |___________SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR MACINTOSH STUDENTS_______| (PAID STUDENTS) A new, more Mac compatible version of the homestudy package is now downloadable from the secret website. If you don't have the homestudy course installed on your system already, download the 'drums.sit' version from the secret website. The lessons are all the same but this file does not contain any pc type files that might confuse you or your system. download & extract the Mac version, open your browser offline, go to the designated folder on your system and click on ' bphome01.htm'. ________________________________________________________ |_____________________FEATURE ARTICLE____________________| NOTE: This months lesson may bore the more advanced 'ear' students. But, as I promised last month, this one is for the beginners who haven't caught-on to the thrills of jamming from the heart. As a token of peace though . . . here is a free, hidden lesson for all you advanced jammers. It is hard to please everyone in one little short lesson . . . Maybe this will help keep the advanced students happy until next month. :>) http://home.att.net/~drums01/ccrtef5.html NOW, On with this months lesson . . . DUMP THE TABS AND JAM FROM THE HEART! My teaching methods are based almost entirely on 'ear' techniques. I am an old 'seat of the pants' player myself. Though reading & writing perfection are both very important to all drum students as a learning tool, it has become obvious to me that the 'art' of playing drums may never be developed properly if beginning students become too concerned and dependent on written notation. I have seen far too many 'would be' drummers flounder and stagnate on a strict regimen of notation when they may have flourished if only someone had encouraged them to put the tabs, books and manuscripts away, then cut loose and play what they feel from the heart! If you are too dependent on notation . . . HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO . . . Get back to the website . . . 1. Memorize the 5 Basic Dancebeats at . . . http://www.catalog.com/drummers/prime01.html Get those patterns to a point where you can play each of them in your sleep! You must be able to play each pattern rapidly and steadily (from memory) for 3 minutes or more, non-stop. THEN . . . 2. Turn on your radio and listen! 99% of any music you hear will fall into one of those 5 beat categories. If you can recognize the basic underlying beat pattern of a song, you will be able to play that song. This means . . . With only a few hours of 'fun' jamming (along with recordings) . . . you will quickly gain confidence! In no time at all you will be playing song after song by only hearing the first few bars . . . and you will be playing by 'feel' or 'ear'. NOTE: Set up a sound system (radio, stereo or CD player) close to your drum set or practice set up. The recorded music needs to be loud enough, so that your drumming blends with the music coming from the speakers. Sometimes headphones will help accomplish this. ................................. The drummer does essentially two things . . . We play beats and rolls. If students know all the common beat patterns and all the common roll patterns . . . it becomes easy to listen to the music. . . analyze the patterns, then jump in playing almost identical to the drummer on the recording. VERY IMPORTANT!!!! Think about this . . . It is important to lend your own creativity to the songs you play. Don't worry about copying the recorded drummer, note for note. It is the nature of the recording medium that causes so much confusion in the musical arts professions . . . 1. When a song is recorded in a studio it is WRONGLY set in stone. The ideas the drummer played on that 'ONE TAKE' become OUR idea of how that song should be played. WRONG!!!!! Nothing could be further from the truth! If we hear the same song being played the very next day in concert . . . with the same musicians, it will probably be very different. Part of the true art of playing is lost when we strive to play everything exactly like the record every time. It is like painting by the numbers. There is little art to that. The pros rarely copy themselves . . . WHY SHOULD WE? MORE CONFUSION . . . (when music is transcribed.) Once a song has been recorded . . . someone else comes along, listens and transcribes the parts to paper. WRONG AGAIN! This sets everything in stone a second time. Then a student comes along reads the transcription . . . thinking it MUST be played THIS WAY and THIS WAY ONLY. All the true creativity and art is lost by doing this. To really get a grip on the artistic perspective it is important that students should strive to IMPROVE on ALL the songs they play. Try to OUTPLAY . . . or do things the original drummer could have, but didn't do . . . THE POINT: Don't worry about playing exactly like the record. Just do what you can do with a song . . . have fun playing along! As you continue to do this . . . you get better at it and soon you discover that you CAN play as the recorded drummer has played, OR you may hear places where you can add MORE to the music than was recorded in the studio. When you are jamming in the garage at home there is no reason to be hemmed-in by self-imposed rules. There are few rules in any art form. Your own interpretation of the song is the BEST interpretation . . . . . . at least while you are in the garage, haha. :>) AUDIENCES OFTEN DEMAND COPIED MUSIC . . . When you put it in front of an un-educated audience . . . they may demand that you play it like the record . . . SO MUCH FOR ART, haha! We DO often end up copying as a means to an end. If we want to eat and pay bills regularly . . . we copy. Otherwise . . . jamming is where it is at! I say . . . jam to learn . . . and copy only when it puts food on the table. TIMING . . . Playing along with recordings is the best 'time' training there is. All songs are recorded in near perfect time. Just follow the drummer on the recording . . . listen for his/her snare backbeat and be sure to connect in unison. Keep your backbeat in-time with the backbeat on the recording . . . Doing this is similar to, but BETTER THAN following a metronome. Why? Because metronomes are boring! With music, you will gravitate to the flow and dynamics of the real thing. You will not only sharpen your timing skills but you will be having a GREAT time doing it. This is where the 'FUN' factor will be found and it is where the true drumming geniuses are created! If you are having true fun, you will practice more frequently and for longer periods. It works! Try it! Jam by the seat of your pants at least one hour per day for a week. You will then know what I am raving about and you will be hooked on it for life! If you really fear you are having timing problems, see the lesson, 'How To Overcome Bad Gigs, Forever' at: http:/www.catalog.com/drummers/z.html OR . . . ask for special help via e-mail. It is what I do best! Don't be afraid to communicate! ........................................ Think about enrolling in my $35.00 course too! * 31 html offline lessons * 17 e-mail (newsletter) lessons like the one above. * e-book: 'Old Drums Into New Money' * Unlimited e-mail help on any drumming topic, any time. The price for this valuable knowledge may soon be increasing! It will never be lower than it is now. That is a promise! ALL THIS FOR $35.00? IT'S A STEAL! TO PURCHASE WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ________________________________________________________ |__________________THOUGHTS & GRINS______________________| *** ADVERTISING HUMOR *** In Mark Twain's early days as the editor of a small Missouri newspaper, he once received a letter from a reader who had found a spider in his paper. He wrote asking if this was an omen of good or bad luck. Replied Twain: "Finding a spider in your paper is neither good luck nor bad. The spider was merely looking over our paper to see which merchant was not advertising so that he could go to that store, spin his web across the door, and lead a life of undisturbed peace ever afterward." Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you're doing but nobody else does. --King's Komputer Treasury of Humor (Stolen) from the 'Clean Jokes Page' at: http://www.cleanjokes.net/joke80.html ________________________________________________________ |_________________*** HOMESTUDY COURSE ***_______________| HOMESTUDY DRUMSET LESSONS $35.00 (Complete Course) Learn from a pro & play like one. STUDY DRUMS FROM YOUR COMPUTER ANYTIME! At home via floppy disk (offline), or study online via password authorization. * Unlimited E-mail questions encouraged & welcomed * DRUMSET TECHNIQUES, Beginner thru ULTRA Advanced. * For ALL ages . . .(almost) * Student sets the pace & the schedule. * Study at home on the computer ANY TIME of day. * Study drums online via secret website. * Or, study drums offline via (2) IBM compatible floppy disks, mailed to your home. * Also includes optional downloadable zip file of entire drum course (for offline study). * THESE PROVEN METHODS REALLY WORK! (38 years in development) * This course in drumset techniques also includes FREE additional lessons via this E-mail newsletter. * No scheduling hassles and no rush hour traffic. Getting to your drum lesson is easy. Just turn on the computer! * Private (E-mail) help too, with your instructor, Bill Powelson. * Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. No hassles. TO SEE THE COMPLETE LIST OF LESSONS IN THE HOMESTUDY PACKAGE, DIRECT YOUR BROWSER TO: http://www.catalog.com/drummers/contents.html __________________HOW TO PURCHASE__________________ HOW TO PURCHASE #1: (Credit Cards) * * * * * * $35.00 (US FUNDS) MASTER CARD OR VISA TO PURCHASE WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ___________________________________________________ HOW TO PURCHASE #2: SPECIAL NOTICE!!! ELECTRONIC CHECKS 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: powelson@america.com. Mention E-Checks to get details on how to pay instantly, electronically with an E-mail check. ___________________________________________________ HOW TO PURCHASE #3: (Regular mail) $35.00 US FUNDS WILL BUY IT ALL!!! SEND CHECK, CASH or MONEY ORDER in US FUNDS to: Bill Powelson 107 Douglas Dr. Holly Hill, Fl. 32117 NOTE: Please include your E-mail address. ___________________________________________________ AD #2: ***BEATBUG*** What is a BeatBug? The BeatBug is to drums, what your speedometer is to your automobile! Finally!!!! Visit the following URL then leave a short E-mail note asking about the BEATBUG. The BEATBUG is the miracle gadget of the 90's for all drummers! It is a high tech answer to the age old problems of tempo & 'BACKBEAT' uncertainty. In this webpage discussion I will show you how to keep ROCK SOLID TEMPO and put an end to the tempo-wars with your band members. . .for good! Http://www.catalog.com/drummers/z.html TO PURCHASE THE BEATBUG WITH MASTER CARD OR VISA NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ___________________________________________________ AD #3 "OLD DRUMS INTO NEW MONEY" (FREE with purchase of Homestudy Course) BUY IT SEPARATELY FOR. . . $18.00 (US) Via Secure Credit Card https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html E-MAIL BOOK & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: This new book is a motherload of buying and selling tips! The music dealers hate me for writing this! Turn old drumsets into fast cash and big profits! Discover how to gain a strangle hold and squeeze BIG discounts from your neighborhood music stores. This book contains too many secrets to mention here. LEARN MORE BY visiting this quick-loading page: http://www.catalog.com/drummers/oldrums.html TO PURCHASE WITH MASTER CARD OR VISA NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html One thing is certain! These lessons will never be priced any lower than $35.00! This price may go up at anytime! SIGN UP NOW! ___________________________________________________ AD #4: *** UNIQUE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY *** The Information Freeway $14.00 (US) $14.00 could put you into a very lucrative internet business! Take it from me, this one works! It is not a MLM! I will provide you with your own information product! You will be in business for yourself almost instantly. Learn how to do it at: http://www.catalog.com/drummers/ifreeway.html TO PURCHASE WITH MASTER CARD OR VISA NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ___________________________________________________ AD #5: *** KEITH'S KORNER *** DRUM SHOP BUY! SELL! TRADE! BARTER! (Constantly Changing) Check it out again!!! *** NEW CYMBAL PAGE *** *** NEW LOW, LOW PRICES *** *** DRUMMERS HELPING DRUMMERS *** http://www.catalog.com/drummers/drumsale/drumset.html OR E-MAIL: Keith Burgess hitide1846@aol.com LET'S TALK!!!! ____________________________________________________ |__________OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MAY ENJOY__________| NL #1 (T?) Making money on the internet is NOT that difficult. And it just got a lot easier... Andy Wallis, 6 Pinewood Complex, Laburnum Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 1DE, U.K. Tel: +44 1624 618419 http://www.bizweb2000.com/d3437.htm or mailto:apwallis@enterprise.net NL #2 (P) ATTENTION DRUMMERS AND PERCUSSIONIST Join the other 10,000 drummers and percussionist worldwide NOW EVERY MONTH. Get the inside stories, tips, concert reviews, industry happenings, interviews and more "Rhythm Nuts" emailed to you each month. To join us email to join@drumz.com ___________________________________________________ NL #3 (P) *** AMAZON ONLINE *** "Amazon Online" FREE E-Zine! Developed to give women working online a place to announce opps/URLs, find tips/tricks/FREEBIES, get help, and make contacts. Find out how to get UNLIMITED FREE ADVERTISING! mailto:subscribe@takeaim.net?subject=Subscribe(disp) http://www.takeaim.net/amazon.htm ___________________________________________________ NL #4 (P) LOOKING FOR MORE MONTHLY INCOME? You can get it w/our 100% e-mail recruiting system. Ask for FREE details from mailto:webmaster@cashconnection.com. Put "E-Mail Income" in subject. ___________________________________________________ NL #5 (P) INTERNET WEALTH SECRETS REVEALED! Free report by Dr. Jeffrey Lant gives you step-by-step details on how to make real money on the Internet now and for years to come. $7 value free for limited time only. Mailto:webmaster@cashconnection.com put "Internet wealth report" in subject. ___________________________________________________ Place your own inexpensive ad in the Tempo Dispatch! Reach a target market of 1,600 avid drumming enthusiasts! (5) 10 word lines/$5.00 (US) per insertion THAT'S 4 MONTHS OF ADVERTISING FOR $15.00 (4th insertion FREE!) ____________________________________________________ |________________THE LAND OF LOST URLS_______________| 'Webpages that are buried on the bottom of the search engine dog pile.' If you have a webpage devoted to drumming, ask for a free plug: drums01@worldnet.att.net __________________ Visit: THE DRUMS AND PERCUSSION PAGE * Drumming Announcements * Message Board * Groove Archive * Mailing Lists * How to Guides * Info & FAQs * Drummer Jokes & more . . . http://www.cse.ogi.edu/Drum/ ________________________________________________________ |____TEACH DRUMS_______TEACH DRUMS_______TEACH DRUMS_____| *** THE DRUM INSTRUCTORS GUIDE *** If you have some stage experience, why not teach drums! Teach my methods in your locality. I WILL SHOW YOU HOW! Great income potential in most areas. Enquire: drums01@worldnet.att.net Bill Powelson ________________________________________________________ |________________________________________________________| *** TEMPO DISPATCH ARCHIVE *** I have put all Seventeen issues of the 1997/98 Tempo Dispatch into a zip archive (viewable with IBM compatible only). It is selling for $5.00. That is 17 of my best lessons downloaded to your computer for $5.00. All PAID STUDENTS can receive this archive FREE . . . just ask. Let me know via e-mail if you are interested. Bill P. Sorry! It isn't on the Credit Card form yet, send a check to: Bill Powelson 107 Douglas Dr. Holly Hill, Fl. 32117 Or, (US residents) could ask for the E-check form and pay for it that way. ___________________________________________________ If you enjoy this little 'e-zine' please show your support by reading the ads and buying the products. The 'Tempo Dispatch' and other freebies may dry up soon if this method of marketing doesn't improve. (I am told that by spamming with bulk e-mail, my sales will increase by a factor of 10.) YUK!!! Please prove them wrong! TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE DRUM SCHOOL PRODUCTS WITH MASTER CARD OR VISA NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ___________________________________________________ Your drumming questions are always welcome at drums01@worldnet.att.net END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #19 JULY, 1998