March already?

I've been reading the latest issue of What Is Enlightenment magazine (thanks to Christina for the gift subscription!). For anyone who thinks that the western capitalist system is inherently wrong, bad, or just broken, it raises some interesting points about the possibilities of the system. There's a lot of potential for good out there, if only we'll choose to make use of it! Especially interesting to me - an article pointing out that "less destructive" is NOT "constructive". Talking about instead of creating less waste, making out waste beneficial to the environment at large. An example, which has apparently been developed, yet not implemented - ice cream wrappers which turn to liquid after they've been taken out of the freezer, which also contain seeds for rare plants and flowers, actually making "litter" a good thing! Now that's how we need to be thinking!

Classical Voice of North Carolina gave a very good review of the last DSO concert. No mention of my triangle, of course, but what's good for all is good for one, or something like that!

Here's an interesting workshop coming up...

Subject: Black Banjo, Then and Now Gathering Black banjo conference aims to revive a waning musical tradition What: "Black Banjo, Then and Now Gathering" Where: Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina When: April 7-10, 2005 Contacts: Tony Thomas, organizer, 305-981-2562 Email: blackbanjotony@hotmail.com Sule Greg Wilson, co-organizer, 480-491-9348 www.drumpath.net Afi-Odelia E. Scruggs, media relations, 216-291-5681 Email: aoscruggs@hotmail.com For a list of presenters that includes contact information, go to www.blackbanjo.com. Navigate to the "About the Gathering" window and click on the performers and presenters link.

I'm sorry to announce that I've left the Will McBride group, and from what I've been told the group itself will be dissolving after the currently booked gigs have been played. It was a nice little run, but all good things must end, I guess. On a positive note, however, I now have much more time for composition, and the Harlem Timeshare is now kicking into high gear to write some material and get on the road! More info will be forthcoming.

It's always nice to have some evidence that all the practice is paying off! At the last Raleigh Symphony concert I was filling in on Timpani, and they sprung Sibelius' Finlandia on me - big, big timpani part. I can honestly say a year ago I wouldn't have been able to pull it off, but through the grace of God and a very understanding conductor, I actually made it through! Kinda makes all those hours in the practice room seem worthwhile! Check out the recording on the sounds page and let me know what you think!

Like Christmas and your birthday all rolled into one, that's right kids, it's the North Carolina PAS Day of Percussion!!! Saturday, March 26 at UNC-Charlotte was a drum-fest of monumental proportions! Jeff Queen (DCI snare champion, PAS snare champion, Blast! snare soloist, etc.) gave a clinic with several good practice ideas, so I thought I'd share them with you here. Easily applicable to whatever instrument you're working on, but specifically geared toward rudimental snare drumming...

• the most important skill to practice is "patience". No matter what you're working on, it's going to take time, it's going to take work, and shortcuts end up working against you in the end. Keep your goals in mind and keep working towards reaching them.
• For a one hour practice session (adjust for more or less available time):
  • take a few minutes to shake out and stretch your hands, wrists, and arms. Drumming is a very physical art, and not being loose enough can cause a lot of damage. Easily overlooked, but necessary to achieving your goals.
  • 5-10 minutes - basic warm-up exercises - 8 on a hand, double strokes, triple strokes, etc.
  • 10-20 minutes - take a rudiment and break it down stroke-for-stroke, one stroke every metronome click at 50-60 bpm. Lock in exact stick heights, strokes (up- or down-stroke, stacatto, legato, etc.) and stickings. This is training muscle memory very intently, so really take the time to do it right (remember that patience thing?). "If you do it now, you'll never have to do it again." Pick a rudiment a week, slowly inch up the tempo every day until it's up to performance speed (110 to 120 is usually considered standard for rudiments).
  • 20 minutes - work on whatever etudes/solos/exercises are on your practice schedule
  • 5-10 minutes - "chop out", play, whatever - have some fun to reward yourself for all the hard work!
• If you only have 5 minutes to practice (you know you have at least that), warm up. If you don't at least warm up, you're losing facility, and the next time you practice you'll have to work to get back to where you were last time. If nothing else - maintain!

Now go hit the shed and get to work!

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