Hi everyone,
With the transition to ZOOM video lessons, I am no longer able to write down notes and musical material in the students’ books/binders. Instead, I have created PDF documents for each of you and dropped them into a Google Drive folder. The link to your documents is listed in the What to practice heading under your name below. You should be able to access the documents simply by clicking on the link. Here are your practice assignments for this week:
Will
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: Finish off the second page of “Beggin’.”
How to practice it most effectively: Focus on the new material at the bottom of the page. Play it slowly and pay close attention to the rhythms on the hi-hat. Once you’ve got this part down, then try to bridge it together with the earlier material. Be sure to keep a steady pulse throughout. If you can, try to play through all of page 1 and page 2 together.
Elliot
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice beats 5-9 from the page “Syncopated Bass Drum Beats” and page one of “Can’t Stop”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10YGpSqgr9Z2SExyhXz7k1evG3C0t2VEc?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: It is really important that you are able to read the rhythms in these beats on your own and figure out how to play them based on the notation. First look at the horizontal lines connecting the stems of the notes. This will well you whether they are sixteenth notes or eighth notes. Remember that the eighth notes are slower than the sixteenth notes and that we count eighth notes “1 & 2 & (etc.)” and the sixteenth notes we count “1 e & a 2 e & a (etc.).” By counting the rhythms out loud, you should be able to figure out what the beat sounds like and then work on playing it.
Nate O.
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: The bridge section of “Never Lost” by Cece Wiinans: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lsS6FvGAobS96Y5mFUDE_7L1HGfAK0_s?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: It is important that you are able to feel the groove of the beat in this section. The rhythm of the floor tom and snare drum notes are really important because they are what create this groove. Listen to this section of the song a few times to get the sound of the beat ini your ear before you practice it. Once you really have a handle on the floor tom/snare drum part, then add in the triplets.
Noah
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice the one-measure beats (#13-20) from Lesson 5: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dga1ZBRWaN_Ka4O1G009w-74c4VaZCj7?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Practice each beat a few times in a row at a slow speed first. Then, once it starts to feel comfortable at a slow speed, try it a little faster. As you increase the speed, double check to make sure the rhythm is still correct. See how fast you can go with these beats using this process.
Koel
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice the beginning of the new section of “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SCS8WVjfR1OZVlYmt8a1r2LTxo2NJOpN?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Have a listen to the song a few times before practicing it. I think the best way to learn the rhythms in this song is to get them in your ear first. Focus on practicing the transition between the triplets on the snare drum and the slower triplets that move around on the toms. Once you feel comfortable with this, then work on the transition into the shots on the snare and floor tom. Then, finally, try to put it all together.
Sylvie
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice from the second bridge section to the end of the song: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KGeo9VGh3JOWzwpGhEe1DbXMRuQiG7lL?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Pay close attention to the rhythms in each bar of this song. If it feels like it’s not fitting together quite right, set down the sticks for a minute and count out the rhythm. Once you’re sure of the rhythm, then try playing it slowly on the drums while still counting out loud. As it begins to feel more comfortable, then transition to counting in your head and gradually speed it up. This process really works and will help you through the difficult parts of this song.