The Big Beat 2010

The Big Beat 2010

*Big beat events benefits the Mr. Hollands Opus Foundation and in some cities the addition of a local charity, as well. founded in 1996, MHOF donates new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide, in an effort to give youngsters the many benefits of music education, help them to be better students and inspire creativity and expression through playing music. Since its inception, MHOF programs have benefited more than 500,000 students and have enabled hundreds of dedicated teachers to provide a better learning experience in school.

The Big beat is an event that takes place in multiple cities Nation wide. It now up to 15 cities across the USA and Canada. From Seattle, to Toronto, to Houston, to Plainview, to Hollywood, just to name a few cities. Every city has a bunch of events throughout the day. I personally attended last month November 7th 2010 and participated at the one in Hollywood, Florida. There was a high school drum line competition, and Fushu Daiko a Japanese Tiako drumming group. Other famous drummers were there performed and participated in the event.

Drummers such as:

Lil' Dave Chiverton, He has drummed with Lil' Wayne, Queen Latifah, Digital underground, Issac Hayes, Keith Sweat and John Legend.

Jody Hill, He played with KC and the Sunshine band, Bootsy Collins, Gloria Gaynor,Betty Wright, and Ja Rule.

Pattrick Johansson, plays with W.A.S.P., Stormwind, and Swedish guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen.

Jason Bittner, plays with of today's top metal bands, Shadow Fall.

Willy Stewart, a gospel drummer.

Lancelot Hall, of the reggae band Inner Circle.

There were also contests , prizes and raffles throughout the day. The high light of the day at 5:45pm EST, ALL drummers from ALL 15 cities, roughly 1200-1500 drummers nationwide played the same groove in unison. This also was achieved through video Internet connection, with the conductor in each city, following the conductor in Seattle.

* Five Star Drum Shop

Stanton Moore - All Funked Up

Jeff Lee, Thanks for hosting a great drum clinic and bringing Stanton Moore to South Florida!!

Stanton Moore, born and raised in New Orleans. He is one of today's most influential New Orleans Style drummer Or as Modern Drummer Magazine called Stanton's trademark sound "infectious, jazz-meets- Bonham, nouveau second- line."

At the clinic he came out and started playing "Pie Eyed Manc." Stanton mentioned he "borrows" a lot of ideas from Joseph "Zigaboo" Modelste such as the groove to "Cissy Strut" off the "Groovy Lady" album. He went on demonstrating that you use two hands on the hi -hat. He explained the beat is 88 beats per minute using a metronome. The left hand is doing 8th notes, while the right hand is morphing. Zig was into Stanley Ratcliff from New Orleans. The "Ratcliff Groove" is the foundation of "Cissy Strut" along with a few other songs such as "Hey-Pocky A way," and "Fire on the Bayou" from the band "The Meters." Moore plays with his band "Galactic" and also the "Stanton Moore Trio."

This past April, Stanton released "Groove Alchemy." It includes an instructional book and a DVD of the same name. It's designed to explore the roots of funk drumming by exploring the work of pioneers like Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield. and Zigaboo Modelsite -each of whom made their mark at different times throughout the 60's as the engines driving James Brown's and the Meters' legendary rhythm sections-and in turn tracing their influences back to the rhythms coming out of New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century.

Stanton started taking questions from the audience. One question was who taught him to play traditional grip? That would be his band director Marvin Hearly. Use match grip for power and use match grip for the finesse stuff. It's all about sound and feel. Another question was what kind of warm ups do you do? 5 things he warms up with everyday- triple stroke roll, triples, doubles, and singles and end with double paradiddles. Stanton mentioned he also developed playing traditional by loosening up his grip and playing Eastern European Jewish Folk music. He'd play a Polka then throw in a New Orleans pattern and then throw in a mambo bass drum pattern.

Stanton uses Gretsch Drums-Round Badge (60's): 5x10 Maple Snare, 12" LP Pandeiro, 4x14 Gretsch Custom Snare or 4x14 Dunnett Titanium, 8x12 tom, 16x16 floor tom, 14x20 Bass drum and 12x26 Bass drum. For Cymbals Moore uses Bosphorus: 14" Traditional Hi-Hats, a custom designed (by Stanton) Ride cymbal it is 22" with a lower bow with skip lathing which gives it a lower sound. Stanton calls it "the wide rider" beacuse it can be used for a wide range of music. He also uses a 20" trash crash and a 20" Pang and a LP Cowbell.

Thanks Stan for Funking around on the Bayou with us!!!

Check out Stanton Moore on You tube!

YouTube - Stanton Moore Trio Drum Solo

I also want to say Thanks to my long time friends Dennis Ricci, Jerry Ricci, and Phil, from the Long Island Drum Center. Thank you for going out of your way and finding me Cases for the Yamaha DTXtreme III kit. And Jerry Thanks for all the Years of lessons. I miss all of you..

Having a Blast with Derrek Roddy

Once Again, I'd like to thank Jeff Lee of Resurrection Drums for putting together another amazing drum clinic with Derrek Roddy!

Originally from South Carolina, He grew up around a musical family and is mostly a self taught musician. Derrek started playing at the age of 5 years old and by the of age of 8 or 9 years old he was playing gigs with cousins who played guitar at his family church and his mothers ladies group functions.

Derrek today is known for his Blast Beat style of Heavy metal drumming. He has played with many metal bands such as: Hate Eternal, Nile and Divine Empire just to name a few. However, Derrek's drumming talent goes beyond Metal music. Roddy has played professionally with a variety of musicians with music that range from blues, jazz, and country music. Derrek currently is writing and recording music with his own band Serpent's Rise based out of Deerfield Beach, Florida. Derrek uses his music and videos in his clinic performances.

Derrek, although he loved Sonor Drums, it was hard to get parts for. Today Derrek is playing on a beautiful Maplewood DW drums custom made special for him. He likes to keep them tuned just "finger tight for that low pitch or as he said," tuned low like people nailing on coffins."

His kit consists of (2) 20" x18" Bass drums, 10" x 8" Tom, 12' x 8" Tom, 8" x8" Tom, 14" x14" Floor tom , 16"x16" Floor tom, 10"x5" Snare, 13"x5" Snare, 14" x 6" Snare, and (2) mini "foot controlled" Timbales. He uses Meinl for his cymbals. The cymbals consist of 8" Souncaster Custom Splash, 10" Soundcaster Custom Splash, 20" Mb20 Rock China, 13" Byzance Brilliant Fast Hi-hats, 16" Generation X Filter Chinas, 17" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash, 16" Soundcaster Medium Crashes, 12" Generation X Filter China, 10" Generation Filter China, 18" Mb20 Rock China, 21" Byzance Signature Custom Ride, 18" Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash, and a 10" Byzance Traditional Medium Hi-hat.

For Drum heads, he uses Remo single ply for top and bottom and Remo Coated Ambassadors on his snare drums. For Sticks , Derrek has his own signature stick designed by Vater. Derrek uses a total of 7 pedals between his 2 Bass drums, 2 Hi-hats and Accessories. For his Bass Drum he uses a Signature petal designed for him by Axis percussion and the others are DW5000. And Finally but not least he uses Roland TD10 Drum Triggers.

A funny story he mentioned, His friend couldn't get down Double bass smoothly. While his friend was playing, Derrek walked up behind his friend and noticed his wallet was bulging out of his back pocket. Derrek snagged the wallet out, next thing you know, he was playing as smooth as as you can be. According to Derrek," your butt Cheeks got to be even."

One Rule that Derrek goes by is, "the 10,000 hour rule." You have to play for 10,000 hours to be sufficient in anything.

Derrek always played fast music, a question was brought up last night, "How do you play so fast for so long without falling over? The answer Breath!! Controll your breathing. Breath in a measure, breath out a measure and most of all drink a lot of water!! Blast beats are extremely fast, I guess you need a lot of water to put out the fire from all the blasting...

Thanks Derrek for putting on a great clinic, You really are a "Blast."

YouTube - (Derek Roddy DVD) Serpents Rise - Halls Of Cerberus

Micky Hart.. Alive and the heart beat of "The Dead"

Micky Hart... One of the most influential percussionist, musicologist, and drummers around.

His parents were champion rudimental drummers.

Micky became interested in percussion in grade school. A Nigerian Drummer by the name of Babtunde Olatunji performed at his school and all the students got to try out the drums. Hart later played in the High school and in the Air force marching band. Micky became very interested in World Music.

Micky later worked for his father who owned a musical instrument shop in San Carlos, California. He later met Bill Kreutzmann one evening. In 1967 one night he sat in with Bill and The Grateful Dead and joined the band. The two of them were known as the Rhythm Devils. Their poly rhythm excursions were highlights of the Grateful Dead shows. Hart was always introducing new percussion sounds from around the world into music of the Grateful Dead. His constant study of world music and world travels led Micky to Collaborate with great Percussion Masters.

Besides working with the Grateful Dead, Hart developed into a solo artist, percussionist and wrote many books,He has composed scores, soundtracks and themes for movies and television.

In 1994 Micky was inducted with the Grateful Dead into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Today through July 4th, 2010 the New York Historical Society in Manhattan is is presenting an exhibition titled "The Grateful Dead: Now Playing At the New York Historical Society." Among the many Grateful Dead artifacts are two Items from Mickey Hart, a Zildjian gong and a set of Gon Bops congas.

Micky, you make "The Dead" come alive... Now.. If you can only bring Jerry back....

YouTube - Touch of Grey - Grateful Dead (87.08.16.S)

Kenny Aronoff Drum Clinic

Hello Fellow Drummers,

I must say last night,Thanks to Jeff, The Proud Owner of Resurrection Drums was amazing. Jeff got one of today's most influential Rock/Pop Drummers, Kenny Aronoff to put on a Drum Clinic for South Florida.

Jeff drummed for 25 years. He taught at Resurrection Drums and loves drumming so much that he bought the place!! He Started the "Big Beat Event," which is a Charity Event to help keep Art and Music programs in the schools.. The next Event is November 7th, 2010. Go volunteer and help support the Arts...

http://www.rezdrums.com/.

Kenny Aronoff was amazing. He grew up in Massachusetts. Kenny is self taught. He had one year of drum lessons. Later on he attended and graduated from Indiana University with a Classical music degree and specialized in Timpani and Marimba. He later went on to play and study with the Boston Symphony. Later, Aronoff decided to specialize in drum kit playing and moved to New York to take lessons with Gary Chester, and then back to Boston to study Rudiments with great Jazz drummer Alan Dawson. In the words of Kenny, "He was known for making Rudiments Musical."

Kenny later moved back to Indiana and played in some local Jazz/ Fusion bands. In 1980 he joined John Cougar Mellencamp. For the several years he recorded multiple albums and Toured with Mellencamp. By the mid 80's Kenny has become a successful Studio Musician. He worked and toured with several Artists such as: John Fogaty, Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Alanis Morissete, Melissa Ethridge, Elton John, Conway Twitty, and Bombastic Meatbats, and Buddy Rich Big Band (In tribute to the late legendary Buddy Rich) just to name a few!!

A funny story that he told last night, Kenny was in the studio doing a session with Alice Cooper, and the next room over was Paul Mc Cartney. Kenny was on his phone talking to a producer and Paul McCartney knocked on the door and Kenny said to "come in".. Paul kept knocking until he finally walked in and Kenny's mouth just froze, he told his producer on the phone that Paul Mc Cartney just walked in. The Producer said the other one is better. Kenny said,"Yes I know, but He's dead."

Kenny, last night also did Demos of his different styles of playing, playing along with his original studio work from John Fogaty, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, John Mellencamp, and from the Tribute to Buddy Rich he played "Straight No Chaser" and ended with his own drum solo... It was breath taking..

Here is the original version featuring Buddy Rich.
YouTube - Buddy Rich Straight No Chaser

I personally want to Thank Kenny for taking time out of his very busy schedule to come and do this clinic for South Florida. Kenny had just flew in taking the Red eye from LA working with John Fogarty the night before. And thank you Jeff from Resurrection Drums for hosting and putting this clinic together.

Kenny plays on TAMA Drums, beautiful Bubinga African wood shell drums with die cast hoops. He Uses Remo 2-ply drum heads and Clear power stoke 3 on the bass drum. Kenny uses Zildjian Cymbals; 15" newbeat Hi-hats, 19" hybrid, 2-18"crash,and 21" Rock Ride. Aronoff also has his own TAMA signature snare drum based on the classic Ludwig "Black Beauty," and has his own Signature Drum sticks from Vic Firth.

THANKS Kenny- YOU ROCK!!

Nylon tips V.S. Wood Tips

Nylon Tips or Wood Tips? That is the Question.

Are you a Jazz Drummer, a Rocker , Do you play on acoustic or electronic drums?



Most Jazz Drummers prefer Nylon tips because they can educe more sound from the cymbals.



However most Rock Drummers prefer Wood tips because when playing too hard, Nylon tips are known to damage cymbals. Wood tips also create a warmer sound.



For those of you who play electronics as apposed to acoustic kits Nylon tips are safer to use being that wood tips may splinter and damage the drum pad.



In choosing the right drum stick for you, there is a lot to choose from. For Example: Size of the stick, the weight of the stick, the type of wood the stick is made from... But this is open for a whole other discussion. This is just the "Tip" of the iceberg.

The Corporate World of Congas

Natal Percussion has been around for years. They have come such a long way since the 1950's. It was founded by British Percussionist Alan Sharp. It was a few years later they Introduced Fiberglass Congas which many legendary Rock bands Loved. ie: Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Santana just to name a few.

Just recently Marshall, a British global Icon in the music industry manufacturing amplifiers bought Natal Percussion.

Check out this article. I thought it was very interesting.


http://www.drummagazine.com/musikmesse/post/marshall-amps-buys-natal-percussion/

Zildjian Z3 Cymbals

I thought this was interesting. Me personally I love Zildjian Cymbals. Today There are so many different kinds and levels of Zildjian cymbals to choose from, ie: "K" or "Z 3". It sounds like you're buying a car. Me, I'm old school I have classic Zildjians which I love. I use 13" new beat Hi- Hats, 16" Medium Crash, 18" Thin Crash, 20" Ping Ride, and an 18" Swish with Rivets.

Product Test: Zildjian Z3 Cymbals

Dennis Chambers

I thought this was an interesting article. I thought it was amazing by the age of six he was playing in nightclubs, He's is all self -taught, played with all amazing artists and now tours with amazing artist Carlos Santana.

http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001869/Dennis%20Chambers