Ben 22/11/18

WArm up: groove at c for spark the flame. Start super slow making sure that your left hand is hitting with enough force to get a good clean bounce off the snare. 

Spark the flame: 

Groove at c2 looking much better. Now start increasing the tempo a little. 

D start playing out the phrases for the drum solo. Count the bars carefully; accent the ensemble figures .  When this is comfortable play a simple set up on beat 4 going into each ensemble figure. 

Sam 22/11/18

Warm up: keep practicing the bounce catch ex from last week! 

Fallin: have a look at the fill in the last chorus. Just watch the length of the dotted 1:4 note on beat 3! 

Song 2: practice thus two bar phrase for next lesson! Well done Sam. 

Phoebe 22/11/18

Warm up: have a go at the freebound exercise. Four on each hand dropping the stick and letting it rebound as many tines as possible. 

Paradiddle ex: have a go at the fill using the paradiddle sticking that you mastered this lesson. Really well played today. 

Untitled: well played today. Just practice a bar if six before you come in! 

My name is: practice the transition from bar 12 to var 13 fir next week! 

Archie 22/11/18

Knock on wood: recap the intro and the first two lines of the piece for next week. Make sure you read the bits you are unsure of while you play to give your self a chance to learn it!

Good to see you this week Archie

Rex 22/11/18

Warm up: keep practicing the 8th and 16th notes. Start to relax as you play and increase the tempo. Use the grooves and fill ex from last week to practice these. 

Another one bites the dust: practice the transition in to the fill in bar 16 fir next week. 

Again make sure the tempo is consistent from the groove to the fill. 

Ben 15/11/18

Warm up: practice your double strokes catching the stick on the bounce with the back fingers. 

Focus on the first two lines of the first technical study. 

Spark the flame: groove at c2 needs some work. First task to get the 16notes between the floor tom and snare fluent. Second Task to be able to go straight into the groove at 130bpm with authority and feel. Use a click! 

Rex 15/11/18

Warm up: add a bass drum on the 1/4 when you practice your 8ths and 16th notes around the drum kit. When this feels comfortable try mixing up the subdivisions eg two beats if 8th notes and two beats of 16ths (1+ 2+ 3e+a 4e+a)

The three grooves below are sounding really good! This week focus on the 2nd and 3rd one especially. 

Practice playing three times in a row and then add a fill in the last bar! 

Huge improvement in your technique and control this week! Keep it up. 

Sam 15/11/18

Warm up: bounce bounce catch exercise to practice for next week. Really well done Sam. Remember not to hit too hard on the first strike!

Fallin: great work on the fill in bar 21. Now practice the whole transition into bar 22. 

Also have a go at the fill in bar 25 up to the flam on beat 3! 

Phoebe 15/11/18

Warm up: 

Doubles are looking good. Check that you are holding the stick keeping the thumb and first finger in contact with the stick to get the most bounce! 

Paradiddle: keep practicing this as a sticking. If you feel confident with it try a bar of groove and then RLRRLRLL as an 8th note fill. 

How does it feel: practice the groove in 6:8. Then try playing to the original track or see if you can okay along to "dangerous woman" by ariana grande. 

Keep working on my name is! 

Henry 15/11/18

You need still need to practice the bridge for no one knows. It is coming together well but occasionally you make a mistake with your sticking. Start by playing each line separately to remind your self how it sounds and to reenforce the correct sticking! 

Lewis 15/11/18

Your ficus this week is the two fills below for another one bites the dust. Remember to count especially if you think you have made a mistake! When you get these correct they are sounding really great. 

I have also attached the whole piece so once you are happy with the fills start to play through as much of it as you can. 

Phoebe 08/11/18

Warm up: with double stroke ex RRLL 

Also start working on the paradiddle sticking RLRR LRLL 

Practice the three bar groove 1 bar fill ex. See if you can vary the bass drum pattern in your groove by adding an extra bass drum after beat 1 or beat 3! 

Really good improvising this week. 

Sam 07/11/18

Warm up: you have made great progress with the freebound exercise. Keep practicing this over the next week. 

Fallin: practice the grooves on the first page. Especially focus on the transition into the chorus where your right hand switches to the ride. 

Also below if the fill on page 2 that you learned. Be careful that your sticking is 100% accurate as you practice this. 

Cian 08/11/18

Come together fills just need memorising fir next week. Check your videos on your phone if you need to! 

Have a go at the second half of the instrumental section. Start just playing 8th notes for the half bar fill. When this feels comfortable see if you can start to develop them. 

Rex 08/11/18

Warm up: 

8th-16th as singles around the drums. Remember to let the sticks rebound off the drum head. 

Below are three groove examples you can play for 3 bars and then use the fill from today's lesson in the 4th bar! Make sure you Play the groove at the same tempo you will play your fill. 

Henry 08/11/18

Look at the bridge fir no one knows for next week! 

You have the chart emailed to you. As you practice just be mindful you are using the correct sticking! 

Henry 25/10/18

Well done for remembering your time this week. 

Below is the chart for no one knows. You gave a video of me playing this section on your phone if you need a reminder! 

Practice this for next lesson 

Phoebe 25/10/18

Keep working on the excecises from last week. Start out counting each one before you play it. 

Loop the whole line at least four times then move on to a different one. 

My name is: 

Transitions are nearly there! Counting is the key to building the coordination to play these effectively. 

Try not to rush learning each stage if this. Don't loop it too soon or try to play too fast. 

Sam 25/10/18

Warm up with the freebound ex (hold the stick between thumb and first finger and let bounce) 

Look at ex 14 and 15 

Fallin: first page everything can be played. Practice all the transitions especially onto the rude at the chorus. Well done today! 

Ben 25/10/18

Warm up lesson 10: 

Pick and exercise. Play the entire line 6-8 times at 130bpm focusing on keep your grip as good as you can (watch your thumbs especially)and the sticking bouncing up towards you off the drum. 

Repeat with 2 more exercises.

Spark the flame: intro fill looking much better this week. As you practice slowly make sure your left hand doesn't tense up and anticipate the stroke. 

Groove at C needs the same kind if aproach. Stay relaxed and tryst your left hand! Even doubles with a light airy feel is the goal! 

Mason 25/10/18

Warm up: 

Ex 14 and 15 as fills around the kit. 

Continue working on I want to break free. When you okay a little quieter your timing is much better! 

Start practicing the groove to "yeah" by usher from thus lesson 

Cian 25/10/18

Excellent lesson this week. 

Your focus for this week will be the instrumental section of come together on the second page. 

Be sure to cover the transition into the section as well as the fills that occur through out. 

I have emailed the track and chart to Mrs glover for your recording tomorrow. 

Ben 18/10/18

Flam accent : better this week. Remember to adjust your right hand position so your wrist is not being pulled inwards towards you. Thus allows your thumb and index finger more relaxed support of the stick. 

Spark the flame: intro much better. Technical head room is the aim of the game here. Use the exercise below to develop your signed stroke fills. 

See if you can work the entire intro to the tack for next week. 

Cian 18/10/18

Great work this week well done. 

Practice the first part of come together. Focus on a clean transition from each different groove. 

Archie 18/10/18

This week focus on the intro fill for knock on wood. Take care counting. Check the video in your phone if you need reminding! 

Well done this week Archie. 

Lewis 18/10/18

Warm up this week with the first fill below. Count carefully and see if you can play it a little faster each time! 

Another one bites the dust: practice the fills below. Your reading and playing were really good this week. Just take care when you practice the transitions that you start slowly and keep counting to start with. 

Phoebe 18/10/18

Warm up: below is a page of exercises using 8th notes (1+ 2+...) and 16th notes (1e+a 2e+a). Pick three of these every tine you practice. Play through each one 4-8 times counting carefully to start with to make sure you are playing it correctly. When it feels concur table try pushing the the tempo. 

My name is: go through each section of the piece. Make sure you re-cap the grooves in section A and B separately first. Count them carefully out loud as you play! Your reading and playing to tracks was excellent today. Just be sure to learn each part accurately as you go!

Mason 18/10/18

Warm up: one bar of groove and a one bar fill for next week. Focus on your sound.a tight closed hi-hat and a confident bass drum are key to getting your grooves tight and in time. 

I want to break free: practice the groove fir this song to the track. Make sure your bass drum is correct playing +2 and NOT 3+! 

Rex 04/10/18

Warm up: groups of 2 and 4 around the drums focusing on starting with the Right hand! 

Billie Jean: excellent progress this week! Finish off the transition between the verse and prechorus. Take care with the crash! 

Also look at the fill going into the chorus. Start slowly and read the hi-hats v carefully! 

Phoebe 04/10/18

Warm up: 5-8 below. Try playing around the kit when you feel confident with each pattern 

Your challenge for this week is to be able to play the groove from last week and the new one from this week (below) to both tracks looping each one at least 4 times. 

Also practice the groove to fill transition we finished with guys week! 

Ben 04/10/18

Warm up: flam accents focus on keeping the back fingers supporting the back of the stick (especially in your right hand) and use the stick heights to create your flam dropping the sticks in to the drum. 

Use flam  accents to practice this. 

Start working on paradiddle diddles: aim for en even flow of notes and feel the shape of the phrase as you play it.

Speak the flame: intro fill is more confident but I want you to focus on being able to play it at slower tempos but much more relaxed as this will help build your control when playing at faster tempos! 

Use RLB ex around the kit to help develop your mechanics! 

Learn the groove at C2 for next week. 

Mason 04/10/18

Warm up: 8th notes around the kit keeping a good grip for the whole exercise adding a bass drum on the 1/4 (with the right hand). 

Tracks: practice counting out loud while you play. Play through all of your debut pieces to the tracks (find them on you tube if you need to) don't worry about playing from the book just jam along BUT keep counting all the way through and try to stay in time as much as possible. 

Sam 04/10/18

Warm up this week: 

Practice your double strokes for next lesson 

Also the warm up from last week. Really try to push the tempo as much as you can! 

Fallin: intro and transition were really good this week. You need to practice the verse a little more though so it feels comfortable and familiar for next lesson. 

Cian 27/09/18

Good start to the term this week. 

Use the warm you looked at to work in your technique, groups of 2 notes 4 notes and 6 notes around the kit (when you have access) 

 Come together: 

Have a go at the intro below 

Rex 27/09/18

Warm up: 8th notes around the kit. Also add the bass drum with the right hand. 

Billie Jean: good work this week. Remember when you practice to focus on quality and not always on speed! 

Have a go at the fill below 

When this feels comfortable try the transition in to the next bar (adding the crash on beat 1). 

Archie 27/09/18

Warm up: 

Keep looking at the 16th nite excercise from last week. Keep the tempo quite high (90bpm+) 

Also practice the three bounce excercise you learned in today's lesson. 

Knock on wood: 

Try to combine the first three bars. Don't worry if you nee to start slow! 

Also have a go at being able to loop the verse groove below. 

Phoebe 27/09/18

Practice ex 1-5 below. Count carefully and when they feel comfortable try paying around the kit. 

Keep working on the groove for last week: 

1) play slowly to "slow dancing" and see how many repetitions you can do before you need to stop. 

2) have a go at playing to "vultures" by John Mayer. This time aim for only one or two reps but keep it tight and in tine with the track.

Ben 27/09/18

Rudinent work much better this week. 

Flam taps and accents are mechanically sound but your grip and technique now need to be secure. 

Start working on RH flamacue. 

 Spark the flame: 

First fill is sounding better and up to tempo. 

Fill in bar 9 to practice.if your technique is relaxed and correct it should be fluent to play and have a full sound. 

Mason 27/09/18

Really nice to meet you today! Please re-cap your debut pieces for next week and we will start finishing your preparation for your exam. 

Have a go at playing along to the backing tracks with out using the sheet music. Focus on keeping really in time with the songs and finishing with the track. 

Ben 20/09/18

Flam taps and flam accents to practice. Keep an eye on your thumb and index finger and use your back fingers to control your stick heights. 

Also two bars of 8ths into 2 bars of 16ths excercuse to build hand speed. Aim for good technique at 100-140 bpm. 

Spark the flame intro fill and first groove to 140bpm by next week! 

Lewis 20/08/18

Here is the new track we started. The groove was sounding great. Try working in the fill in bar 12 for next lesson 

Sam 20/09/18

Warm up this week with ex 14,15. This is a basic pattern but I would like you to work on developing your hand speed! 

Here is the first part of fall in to finish for next week. Fantastic reading this week Sam well done 

Archie 20/08/19

Warm up ex's are ex 11, 14 and 15 

Work in even fast 16th nite single strokes. 

Also here is the first 4 bars of your new grade 2 piece. Focus on the groove in the first two bars to start. Excellent reading today well done! 

Phoebe 20/09/18

Great first lesson Phoebe. 

Below are the two reading ex's we started with. Take your time and make sure you can play them evenly with a good sound. 

Also here is the first groove you learned and started playing to "slow dancing in a burning room" by John Mayer. 

Get used to the first half a bar (counting 1+2+) before trying the whole bar and then looping it. 

Charlie 12/07/18

Keep working in the fills from sweet emotion. You can play all of them well but loose confidence to the track. Try to practice each one at least 10 times, listen to the rhythm and the feel, see if you can play it with out looking at the music. This will help you internalise them and build your confidence in your ability. 

Sam 12/07/18

Open hi-hat ex from last week still needs practice. Lift your toe to create the open hi-hat sound! 

Doubles ex: much better. Check your grip and aim for 10-20 repeats at each tempo! 

The weight: this us ready for you to finish for next week now. Your improvised fills were really good. Nice work Sam! 

Henry 14/06/18

Intro to chop suey is really good but needs some practice to keep it in time now. 

Make sure you remember the transition fill in bar 7! 

Have a go at the next groove for next week. 

Well played today 

Katie 14/06/18

Drags: practice the left hand drag (big left hand small right hand) for next week. 

 Come together: have a go at the improvised fill for the outro of this track. Take your time and remember to start simple to begin with (just 1/4 notes or 1/8 notes). 

Lewis 14/06/18

Apologies for not seeing the post wasn't up last week! 

This week keep working on the ex's from lesson 10 (pic on last blog post) now you are confident counting and playing try pushing the tempo! 

Uptown funk: groove is sounding spot on! See if you can increase how many bars you can play for at the tempo of the track! 

Have a go at the fill for the chorus fir next week! 

Sam 14/06/18

Warm up: have a go at the double stroke ex. Focus on your grip! 

Below is the new open hi-hat technique we looked at 

Uptown funk: played really nicely today without the chart! Just recap the last chorus and outro fill for next week. 

Archie 7/06/18

Warm up: 20 ex bar still needs some work. Take care to read it as you play! This will really help your hand speed for the fills in uptown funk! 

 Uptown funk: last line was much better this week. Remember it's control you need so do t practice too fast too soon! 

Billie Jean: recap the first page focusing on the fills in particular! 

Henry 17/05/18:

Technical ex: paradiddle fill but take the right hand fir a walk around the kit!

The intro groove to chop suey by SYstem of a down! Bring your phone next week so we can video the parts you need to practice! 

Henry 17/05/18:

Technical ex: paradiddle fill but take the right hand fir a walk around the kit!

The intro groove to chop suey by SYstem of a down! Bring your phone next week so we can video the parts you need to practice! 

Archie 17/05/18

Warm up with the first three lines on the 20 bar excercise. Count out the rhythms if you need to. Once it is comfortable try increasing the tempo or playing around the kit! 

Another one bites the dust: well played today. Just recap the fills and transitions. Remember that you identified that the flow is key to making it sound good! 

Katie 17/05/18

Drags much better this week. Aim for a clean single stroke for the accenting hand (thus hand should have a bigger stroke) use the back fingers to control the bounce!

Can't get enough: up to bar 29 to finish for next lesson. Focus on the transitions especially. Play through slowly making sure you are confident of the placement of the crashes 

Niall 17/05/18

Warm up with the sticking ex 1-4 below. COUNT each rhythm first then okay in the snare or pad. Remember that the sticking for the first beat of ex 1 is R  RL! 

Practice this groove for next week: take your time try not to over hit the snare on the 16th notes 

Sam 17/05/18

Warm up with ex 1,3 and 5 from syncopation below. Remember to count and clap the rhythm first. The. Work on the snare part before adding in the bass drum last. 

Uptown funk: first three lines if page 2 can all be played. Now they need to be joined up, so work in the transitions. 

Below us the fill from the third line but looped, which should help you get used to start ping in the right hand everytime! 

Lewis 17/05/18

Good to see you again this week Lewis! 

Warm up: play through the four exercises below. Start with just the sticking pattern and add the bass drums in when it starts to feel comfortable! 

Bille Jean: your task this week is to be able to play the first two fills on the first page smoothly first time every time! 

Uptown funk: work on being able to play the main groove four bars in a row by next week.