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: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice lines 5-8 from the page of comping rhythms: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17pjkCZ1jfMdjwRqFBMaPIG_hKMb3gQGz?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Same as last week, start by reading the rhythms on the snare drum with the left hand. It is very important that you interpret these rhythms in the context of swing. This means that eighth notes which land on the beat are long and eighth notes that land off the beat are short. If you remember this “long short long short long short long short” pattern, it will be much easier to fit these rhythms together with the ride cymbal pattern.
Elliot
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: Focus on playing all the way through pages 3 and 4 of “Smoke on the Water”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10YGpSqgr9Z2SExyhXz7k1evG3C0t2VEc?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: You’re very nearly finished the song now. You just need to make sure that you can get through these final two pages without slowing down or stopping. Start each practice session by running through these two pages top to bottom, then focus in on the spots that you found most difficult, then finish your session with another run-through. If you feel comfortable enough, then try playing together with the recording.
Aidan
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice playing all the way through “Drum Corps on Parade”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yJPRmQn7QZuvnmvhe8ji-CCGmJPGLDZi?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Focus your practice this week on the sections with flam accents, flam taps, and flam paradiddles. Start each practice session with playing 30 seconds straight of each of those three rudiments. This will help you to develop the comfortability and consistency needed to play these rudiments in any context. Then practice playing them within the context of the piece. Finish each practice session with a full run-through of the piece.
Noah
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: Record your performance of “Smoke on the Water” for the recital and, if you have time, take a look at #46-50 on the new page of accent patterns I have provided: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dga1ZBRWaN_Ka4O1G009w-74c4VaZCj7?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: The song sounds really great! Remember to try to stay relaxed when you play and don’t worry about achieving perfection. You know the song very well and after you’ve done a few takes I’m sure you’ll be able to pick one that you’re happy with. I look forward to hearing it next week!
Nate M.
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: Print the sheet music for “Red Barchetta” by Rush and practice up to rehearsal letter “D”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UJYz7hx_AeAM7Std0aj1Y1IyVd-8f86S?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Listen closely to the recording of the song as you work through it and also use the sheet music as a guide. It is important to be able to match what you read in the sheet music to what you hear in the song. That way you can play each bar accurately and in time with the music. Practice section by section and then see if you can put it all together and play together with the recording.
Nate O.
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: Review all pages of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and practice playing it together with the recording: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lsS6FvGAobS96Y5mFUDE_7L1HGfAK0_s?usp=sharing
How to practice it most effectively: Make sure that you have all the pages before you start. I have put them all into the Google Drive folder in case you can’t find some of them. Listen closely to the song and follow along reading the music. Make sure that you can match what you play to what you hear in the recording. Take it slow and go through it section by section. After it starts to feel comfortable, then try playing it top to bottom.