ISSUE #68 \__\__\___THE____/__/__/ Aug 5, 2002 _______________TEMPO DISPATCH ___________ Newsletter For Drummers and Drumming Enthusiasts Copyright Bill Powelson 2002 all rights reserved. ____________'IT'S ALL ABOUT DRUMS'_______ Tips * Tricks * Hints * Ads * Freebies * Lessons * _________NOW more than 13,000+ SUBSCRIBERS!__________ IN THIS ISSUE . . . FEATURE ARTICLE: 1. RANDOM DRUMMING TIPS:  Coordination / Age / Tuning, etc.    2. TRIVIA:  What's a Groove Guide?    Don't know?  (Click here) http://www.studydrums.com/z.html 3. WHAT'S A 'TONGUE DRUM'? 4. Humor: Worst Air Disaster in Rock n' Roll! 5. Play the new DRUMMERS TRIVIA GAME.  http://members.aol.com/bpowelson/d-triv02.html _____________________________________ |__________FEATURE ARTICLE___________|      This months feature article is based on some of the MOST COMMON questions that students tend to ask via e-mail.      TIP #1.  Coordination . . . Why do we all tend to think we are much too uncoordinated to ever play drums?      The following thoughts may hopefully offer the encouragement some of you are needing . . .          * After ENOUGH repetition, ALL the moves will become second-nature . . . just like driving, dancing, dribbling a basketball, swimming and all the other things we do . . .    Determination and persistence are the key issues when it comes to developing coordination.    I had a little 9-year old polio victim prove this point to me back in the 1960s.  Though the kid could barely walk . . . he became a PRO-drummer much to my own amazement!  I had serious doubts about accepting him as a student back then, because of his very serious coordination problems.  I felt like we might just be wasting his parents money.    His mom convinced me to give it a try anyway . . .    That little guy was DETERMINED to become a drummer! It was very wise and dual-reasoning, on his part.     He knew it would be the therapy he needed, and he really did WANT to become a working drummer!     It took us nearly 4 years to get him to the same level that MOST students will reach in a year or two . . . but HE did it!  He was playing in a professional band by the end of his 4th year.    That little guy may have taught ME the most valuable lesson of my own career . . .    *  Persistence and determination are the governing factors when it comes to developing coordination. He proved that to me without a doubt!    TIP #2. AGE:        Many older folks often write in, asking if they are wasting time because of their age.  (One youngster, aged 16 was even concerned about it.) It's very common for EVERYONE to think it's too late to begin playing an instrument.    Here's my reply to all . . .     WE'RE NEVER TOO OLD!  My oldest student to date was a guy who picked-up his first drumsticks at age 72.  Within 6 months he was playing Big Band music from the 1940s for money, on week-ends.     That band was HAPPY to have him too!  He was exactly the drummer THEY were looking for, though his experience was limited.  He was the RIGHT AGE AND MIND-SET FOR 'THAT' PARTICULAR BAND.      There's a market out there for nearly every age group and every music style.     JUST LIKE WATER . . . we should seek our own level.     Search out your friends.  Find people within your own age group who want to make THE SAME KIND OF MUSIC YOU WANT TO MAKE.  They're sitting and waiting right now, wishing SOMEONE would ask them to be in a band.     It's all a matter of making the right contacts and friends . . .     Don't try to get into situations you aren't capable of handling. In the beginning, don't try to play music that doesn't suit your 'ear' and musical taste.  Search for 'like minds and talent'.  Then get them all together under one roof.  Everything else will just follow naturally.     MEANWHILE . . . jam with your favorite recordings every day, but keep both eyes open, and one ear to the ground for other people who would be thrilled to get together and play that same (or similar) music style, just for FUN.     Right after the FUN . . . comes the money. It happens in that same order almost every time, no matter what age we begin . . .     Find the fun . . . and the rest will just happen.     You can do it!  Go for it!     TIP #3.  TUNING TIPS:  I sometimes feel as if I should add another 10 pages to my tuning lesson at the password site.  http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/tuning.html     As you begin tuning your drum set, aim for a uniform pitch AROUND THE WHOLE DRUM SET . . .     In other words, flip the snare-strainer lever to the off position so that the wires beneath the snare drum are no longer making contact with the bottom snare head. TUNE THE SNARE AS A TOM, THEN TUNE ALL THE TOMS TO MATCH: Tune the snare to be the highest pitched drum in the set and tune all the other toms so that they are progressively lower pitched.     Try to 'hear' all the tones (all toms) in your head . . . then aim for those tones . . . starting with the snare. (Example; bip, bop, bong, boom . . .)     IMAGINE the tones, IN YOUR HEAD, 'first . . .' then tune the whole set to the tones you are 'thinking'.     This is really the only way YOU'LL ever be satisfied with the tone of YOUR drums.  We're all a little different when it comes to tone.  The price of the drumset won't make much difference, and having someone else tune your drums for you, probably won't work very well either.     Once the proper pitches are attained . . . then go about adjusting just the right amount of muffle on each drum.     By doing it this way, you'll probably be happier with the final, OVERALL sound of your set.     REMEMBER . . . the actual snare sounds are largely controlled by the strainer and the amount of 'contact' the wires or 'snares' are making underneath the drum.  If the snare is tuned to adequate tension . . . the rest of the tuning job for the snare is largely dependent on the amount of muffle, and the tension on the snares (or wires) underneath the drum.    A snare is really a tom tom until the wires (snares) make contact.  If we don't like our snare tone . . . we should blame the wires BEFORE we blame the tension of the lug-screws.    Excessive ringing and overtones can also be a problem. MUFFLING, may be the secret to finding the exact tones you are wanting to hear.    Go around the drums, experimenting for the tones you want . . . the following way . . . TESTING FOR TONE. TRY THIS TRICK!     Place your left-hand (fingertips and/or palm) in different places on each drum as you STRIKE the drum with your right stick.  Experiment!  Move the left hand to different positions . . . and vary the resulting muffling pressure in each place . . .      SEARCH for the tone you want that drum to produce.     Once you find the tone you like . . . find a way to MUFFLE the drum permanently in that same way, and with about that same amount of pressure as when your left-hand was doing the muffling.      That's what I mean when I talk about PULLING the wanted sounds from a drum.     In the studios, they use duct-tape . . . to localize the muffling.  I don't know if I like that . . .     The commercial '0-rings' will help a lot.     There's also a new putty-substance that is sold in music stores . . . It works ok too, but sometimes it comes unstuck from the head and begins bouncing around in mid-song.     It's like play-dough.  Ask about it at your local music store.     Be sure to study the online TD#8 about muffling . . . It'll offer some additional tips too . . . http://wwwc.catalog.com:82/drummers/hsdrum/td8.txt      Why not become a full-fledged member?  The password site is FILLED with hundreds of tips.      Enroll NOW, while you are thinking about it! The price of this 100-lesson course may go up at any time. https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/ccard.html      See ya next month! ....................................... Now, here's some special help for, BEGINNING STUDENTS OF DRUMSET: FOLLOW THIS LESSON-PLAN, FOR BEST RESULTS:     The drum lessons at are arranged (from the top-down) at the web site in such a way as to allow you to achieve the BEST possible results, in the LEAST amount of time, while enjoying the MOST POSSIBLE FUN  . . .     We would follow this exact same plan if you were to enroll as a private student at my private teaching studios.  I use this lesson plan because it works!     You'll be WISE to follow the plan, FROM THE TOP DOWN, in the (early-beginner) stages of study.     MEMORIZE the BASIC DANCE BEATS at: http://www.studydrums.com/prime01.html ADVANCED STUDENTS . . .     Skim lightly over any material that seems too basic or too simple . . . BUT DIG-IN AS THE LESSONS GET MORE DIFFICULT.   Almost every lesson in this 100-lesson course is intended as one-week of study for the average student in private study.  Some students move faster while others, slower.       Here ONLINE . . . Many of you may find it easy to absorb SEVERAL lessons per week, while others may need several weeks on each lesson!  That's the advantage of online lessons!      The cost is the same for EVERYONE. ........................................................ NOTE:      Not all the lessons are free.  Many of the BEST hidden lessons do not appear at the public site at all. They're hidden and not mentioned anywhere except on the 'Contents' page at: http://www.studydrums.com/contents.html      This 100-lesson course provides the knowledge you'll need as a working-pro when playing in a band.     My sole objective as a teacher is to help get you playing in a live band, as soon as possible.  These lessons have been structured and streamlined to accelerate that possibility. ........................................................     Set your own pace . . . and dig-in for the long-haul!  Think of the whole thing as PRIVATE DRUM LESSONS, online. That's exactly what it is, but YOU set the pace!  :>)   ---------------------------------- SPECIAL NOTE:      Be sure to visit the 'contents' page to get a complete idea of the complete contents of this unique, one-of-a-kind $49 homestudy course.      The CONTENTS page is at: www.studydrums.com/drummers/contents.html PURSUE YOUR DREAMS WITH PASSION!  BEGIN THIS ONLINE DRUMMING-CORRESPONDENCE-COURSE TODAY! ORDER THIS COMPLETE, 100+ LESSON, ONLINE DRUMMING COURSE, FOR ONLY $49 In US funds, while the price lasts. To ORDER NOW, with your credit card, from anywhere in the World . . . go here: https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/ccard.html ($97 is the NEXT PROJECTED PRICE INCREASE and it may occur ANY DAY!) I am currently and always adding new lessons. Buy the course now and get everything (including all FUTURE UPDATES) at this limited one-time low price . . . (or wait and pay more.) _____________________________ |_WHAT'S A GROOVE GUIDE?_____| FIND OUT HERE . . . http://www.studydrums.com/z.html ORDER YOURS NOW AND GET MY 100-LESSON COURSE IN DRUMSET TECHNIQUES, FREE: https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/ccard.html  _________________________ |____Train yourself to___| 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. TO ENQUIRE: Mention The Instructors Guide in a note to Bill Powelson _________________________________ |________TONGUE DRUMS? __________| WHAT'S A TONGUE DRUM? IT'S THE PERFECT GIFT FOR DRUMMERS WHO ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING! FIND OUT HERE! http://www.studydrums.com/tngdrm01.html _________________________________ |_____AD SPACE AVAILABLE ________| This ad space available.  Reach 13,000+ avid drum-buffs per month, with YOUR drumming related ad. INQUIRE:  drums01@att.net _________________________________ |___________HUMOR? ______________| SPECIAL NOTE:     This was originally an ETHNIC joke . . . (but I don't like to use ethnic jokes here.)  So, my friend Doug Biernacki helped me reword it. We've turned it into a bass player joke.     It's ok to pick on bass players.  They pick on us all the time!  It's all in good fun. .....................................         WORST AIR DISASTER IN ROCK n' ROLL HISTORY The world of Rock n' Roll's worst air disaster occurred today when a SMALL "2" SEATER PLANE crashed into a CEMETERY this morning. A Pair of Local Bass Players conducted a search and rescue. They've recovered 826 bodies so far, and expect that the number will climb as the digging continues into the night.   Badip, boom, crash! (Cemetery!  Get it?) _____________________________________________ Doug also asked some of the great tuning questions that led to this months tips too.  Thanks for the help Doug. _____________________________________________ _________________________________ _____OPTIONAL PAYMENT METHODS____| 1. CREDIT CARD: Via our secure servers: https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/ccard.html 2. PAYPAL (Credit card) :  Visit the Main page , then scroll down to the PAYPAL icon.  This is for the $49 course only. 3. TO ORDER BY REGULAR MAIL . . . 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. FOREIGN STUDENTS: Visit your local bank and have them prepare a check or money order for $49 in US funds to Bill Powelson, then mail it to the above address. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS! ................................... NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER FREEBY! ...................................      'CHRISTMAS OR ANYTIME' SPECIAL. ASK FOR THIS FREE E-BOOK, YEAR-ROUND!    HOW TO ASSEMBLE A NEW DRUMSET 'Out of the Box and Under the Tree" 'Assembling a New Drumset / Out of the Box'. I've decided to keep this 'Christmas Gift' available at NO CHARGE, all year long.          COMPLIMENTARY E-BOOK           * SPECIAL GIFT *             VIA E-MAIL: Just ask for this E-book if you need it. Send a note to:          (Mention 'NO-COST E-book') _______________________________________             MORE FREEBIES! 1.  Play DRUMMERS TRIVIA GAME     Try your luck.  It's a fun, educational experience . . . http://members.aol.com/bpowelson/d-triv02.html ________________________________________ Removal Instructions For instant REMOVAL, simply hit reply and type REMOVE on the subject line. _______________________________________ TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE DRUM SCHOOL PRODUCTS WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD, CLICK HERE   *  What's a TONGUE DRUM? http://www.studydrums.com/tngdrm01.html      Don't forget to check out the FREE WEB PAGE LESSON, "Spice Up Your Fills", at: http://home.att.net/~drums01/fillsc.html END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #68 AUG 5, 2002