ISSUE #75 \__\__\___TEMPO DISPATCH  ___/__/__/ Mar 5, 2003          Monthly Newsletter / DRUM SET LESSONS   Copyright Bill Powelson 2003 all rights reserved. ________________'IT'S ALL ABOUT DRUMS'______________ * Tips * Tricks * Hints * F*r*e*e Drumset-Lessons * __________NOW more than 13,500+ SUBSCRIBERS__________ IN THIS ISSUE . . . (TABLE OF CONTENTS . . .) (Article/lesson) 1. Teach to learn. 2. PERFECT TIMING?  It's essential to your success.    What's a Groove Guide?    Don't know?  (Click here) http://www.studydrums.com/z.html 3. Humor:  JOKES 4 OLD FOLKS . . . 4. Play the new DRUMMERS TRIVIA GAME. *  NEW:     ***  CHAT ABOUT DRUMS ***    ONLINE CHAT, FOR DRUMMERS ONLY:    E-mail a drummer friend and invite them for an online chat. http://pub9.bravenet.com/chat/show.php?usernum=762461667cpv=1 __________________________________ |_________Teach to Learn__________|    Would you like to discover the number one way to really learn to play drums? IT'S THIS SIMPLE!    *  Find an interested person and teach them everything you know about drumming.    If you know anything at all about drumming, teach it to an interested friend.       It's amazing how much faster we learn when teaching others. It causes us to take the time to think, and as we think, we also learn at an accelerated rate.    It really isn't all that difficult to stay one lesson ahead of the student, yet it'll force you to continually crack the books and study, in order to stay ahead.    So . . . learn the five basic beats first: http://www.studydrums.com/prime01.html    Master those beats and learn to adapt them to the music you'll hear playing daily on the radio.     Then, find an interested student and teach them to do exactly the same thing.    The best potential students are those in the 9 to 14 age groups . . . but any age will do.    I tend to get a lot of e-mail from parents of very small children who want to see their offspring get into drumming at a very young age.    Children below age six can present a very different set of challenges for the teacher.  It can often be extremely difficult to hold the attention of a 4 or 5-year old.    I'd like to offer a few tips concerning that, in this lesson.       TIPS FOR TEACHING A CHILD TO PLAY DRUMS.    Try to get her/him playing along with any medium-to-slow, 8th rock tune asap . . . But, tackle it VERY SLOWLY, the following way . . .    Be VERY patient!  I've taught a lot of children in that age group.  The trick is to plug your ears, take a valium, grab a margarita and head for the hammock (out back), much of the time.    Let the child go at it on their own . . . A LOT! NEVER MAKE THE CHILD TENSE . . . AND NEVER CAUSE THEM TO CRY . . .     Scolding KILLS desire . . .    Inject little short lessons (about 3 minutes) every 15 minutes or so . . . Let them bang and have fun, the rest of the time.    The BANGING is productive too!  They'll be strengthening all those little muscles . . . PROJECT #1 . . .    LESSON #1, for both of you:    *  FOCUS on teaching your child to FEEL & HEAR the BACKBEAT.  Ask for the BACKBEAT lesson, if you haven't found it yet.  I'll send it if you need it. HERE IS HOW . . .   Make a FUN GAME of FEELING THE BACKBEATS . . .    * PLAY RECORDINGS and clap along in-time with the SNARE or repeating BACKBEATS of the music.  Get your child to follow along with you . . . (clapping their hands.)     Mix with abundant hugs, smiling and laughter . . .  :>)    (Some parents tend to become far too serious . . . It makes me SCREAM at the parents when I see it.)    When your child becomes tired or bored . . . BACK OFF.    Do it for a little-while every day, until they can feel the BACKBEAT instinctively . . .    Here is a great past-time when you are riding in the car, and listening to the radio.     Tap on the dash with one hand, and drive with the other as the child claps in-time with you and the music.    Be careful!    WATCH THE ROAD! (And, . . . Let me off at the next corner, haha! :>)       THEN (later) . . . TEST to see if your child can find the BACKBEAT on their own, . . . WITHOUT your help.    FROM THERE . . . Try to get the child repeating the 8th rock beat fairly rapidly . . . http://www.studydrums.com/dapp01.html     You may have already been to the above page once . . . but, this is for your child or sibling.  It may take a month (or more) for the average pre-school youngster to get this beat going, fast enough.     ANYWAY . . . Once your student can repeat the above 8th rock beat, rapidly . . . put on a good 8th rock song, and head for the hammock again, (and another Margarita, haha.)     BOY!  . . . We're having fun, now!     OK.  All you blue-noses can have a coke or glass of lemonade.  I'm gonna go for the Margarita. ANYWAY . . . THE POINT:    Don't coach TOO MUCH as the music plays.  Your child will eventually find the beat when there are FEWER distractions, (we hope.)    The child needs to FOCUS ON THE MUSIC and NOT on our constant coaching . . . (It's even hard for me to pull away at this point, in spite of my experience, but it's the RIGHT thing to do.)    The child's 'ear' will need some time to develop.  It requires DEEP FOCUS and lazer-like CONCENTRATION, ON JUST THE MUSIC. (No distractions.)    It'll sound pretty awful at first . . . but after enough songs . . . everything will eventually begin to improve (we hope.)    THE SONGS the child plays along with, will need to be THEIR OWN PERSONAL FAVORITE SONGS.  Find 8th 4/4 songs that appeal to the students VERY young musical taste . . .    This may be Disney music, or 'Brittney Spears' may be a good place to look. Go with nursery and Disney songs, if that's what your child likes.  Much of the new 'Christian music' is also especially great for the kids. NOTE:  If your child has trouble operating the bass drum, don't worry about it at first.  Focus on just the hi-hat (right-hand) and Snare (left-hand) in the beginning.    Once the young kids get into playing along with music for FUN, they'll tend to progress almost as rapidly as older kids. That's when the 'ear' and 'natural' abilities begin to kick in.     Good luck to you both . . .    If you hit a snag . . . e-mail me.  I've probably dealt with all the same snags at least once in the last 38 years as a private drum instructor.    HERE'S ANOTHER 'FUN' GAME FOR THE KIDS . . .    LISTEN to various songs . . . and make a game of pointing-out the various PARTS OF THE DRUMSET, as the recorded drummer plays.    *  Find the BASS drum in the music . . . try to get the child to listen for just the BASS DRUM in the music.  POINT a finger as you hear each repeating BASS DRUM (downbeat) in a song . . . and have your child pat the right foot at the same time, in-time with the music.    Try POINTING at the floor as you pat your foot along with the BASS DRUM parts . . . while ALSO slapping the left hand on your thigh along with the SNARE BACKBEATS within the recorded music. ...................................................    I'm moving across the room . . . haha, this could get dangerous! :>) ...................................................    When the drummer plays a fill or roll on the TOMS . . . point and say tom-tom . . . Go through the motions of hitting the toms . . . 'air-drummer' style, even when away from the drums.    We don't have to be at the drumset to learn or teach.  Imagination is a VERY important part of the creative process.     Get the child listening and doing all these same things.     It's much more difficult to hear the hi-hat and cymbal parts . . . but when/if you DO hear them in a song, be SURE to point it out to the child.  IN SHORT . . .    Teach the child to listen DEEPLY into the recorded music for each-part of THEIR instrument, and they'll begin living their instrument at nearly any age.    You may just have a working drummer by age 10, this way!  :>)    Good luck!    I'll be in the hammock if you need me.  :>)    Yes.  In Florida . . . March is hammock weather. .......................................................      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 (very low) $49 cost is the same for EVERYONE. DO THIS . . .      Tally the amount of money you'll spend yearly with a private instructor . . . then compare that cost to the (current) $49.00 you'll spend (ONE TIME), here. ........................................................ NOTE:      Not all the lessons are F*r*e*e.  Many of the best hidden lessons do not appear at the public-site at all. They're hidden, and they are not mentioned anywhere PUBLICLY, except on the 'Contents' page at:     Investigate the complete course, here: http://www.studydrums.com/contents.html  To order the $49 course, with your credit card, from anywhere in the World . . . go here:      Enrollment includes password access to all 120 lessons all the time, plus unlimited e-mail help anytime it is needed. https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/ccard.html ................................................ $77 is the next projected price increase, and it is ALREADY occurring in some sectors of my advertising!) ................................................ ___________________________________________ |____PRODUCTS TO IMPROVE YOUR DRUMMING_____| How's your tempo?  Is it perfect? WHAT'S A GROOVE GUIDE? FIND OUT HERE . . . http://www.studydrums.com/z.html *** ANOTHER SPECIAL BARGAIN *** SAVE $49.00 Order your Groove Guide from the school and receive the complete $49 homestudy course without charge (now 120-lessons.) 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! 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. *  It's a teriffic conversation piece. *  It's a great toy (or first drum) for pre-schoolers. FIND OUT ABOUT THE TONGUE-DRUM HERE! http://www.studydrums.com/tngdrm01.html _________________________________ |_____AD SPACE AVAILABLE ________| This ad-space is available.  Reach 13,500+ avid drum-buffs per month, with your music-related ad. INQUIRE:  drums01@att.net _________________________________ |___________HUMOR? ______________| JOKES 4 OLD FOLKS . . . What's the best form of birth control after 50? Nudity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's the difference between a girlfriend and a wife? 45 lbs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's the fastest way to a man's heart? Through his chest with a sharp knife. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why do men want to marry virgins? They can't stand criticism. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and good looking? Because those men already have boyfriends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's the difference between a new husband and a new dog? After a year, the dog is still excited to see you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What makes men chase women they have no intention of marrying? The same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do you call a smart blonde? A golden retriever. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why does the southern bride always wear white? Because it's good for the dishwasher to match the stove and refrigerator. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How do you know when you're leading a pathetic life? When a nymphomaniac tells you, "Lets just be friends." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why did God create alcohol? So ugly people could have sex, too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What did the blonde say when she found out she was pregnant? "Are you sure it's mine?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why does Mike Tyson cry during sex? Mace will do that to you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact? Breasts don't have eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's the difference between a Southern zoo and a Northern zoo? A Southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front the cage, along with a recipe. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's the Cuban National Anthem? Row, row, row your boat. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's the difference between a Northern fairytale and a Southern fairytale? A Northern fairytale begins "Once upon a time." A Southern fairytale begins "Y'all ain't gonna believe this stuff." Thanks to Jim Casey for sending these thoughts . . . vermontdrums.com ....................................... If you enjoy this e-zine, please enroll and help support this service.  _________________________________ _____PAYMENT OPTIONS/METHODS_____| 1. PAYPAL (Credit card) :  THE EASIEST WAY.     Visit the Main page , then scroll down to the PAYPAL ICON.  This is for the $49 course only. 2. CREDIT CARD: VIA MY SECURE ORDER FORMS.    COURSE ENROLLMENT AND/OR GROOVE GUIDE, HERE: https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/ccard.html 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 ONLY: 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 F*r*e*e*b*y. ................................... ASK FOR THIS F*r*e*e 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'. Just ask for this E-book if you need it. Send a note to:          (Mention 'NO-COST E-book') _______________________________________ DRUMMING TRIVIA . . .     Play the DRUMMERS TRIVIA GAME     Try your luck.  It's a fun, educational experience . . . TEST YOUR DRUMMING KNOWLEDGE: http://members.aol.com/bpowelson/d-triv02.html ________________________________________ Removal Instructions For instant REMOVAL, simply hit reply and type REMOVE on the subject line. _______________________________________ DO YOU KNOW . . .     Any use of that word F*R*E*E, (coded here), may cause YOUR SPAM FILTERS to trash the e-mails I've worked so diligently to send to you?  PLEASE SET YOUR SPAM FILTERS TO RECEIVE E-MAIL FROM or these f*r*e*e lessons may soon stop.     Thanks. ..................................................... END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #75 Mar 5, 2003