Hi everyone,
Now that we have transitioned 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:
Aidan
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: Exercises 13-16 from Lesson 6. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yJPRmQn7QZuvnmvhe8ji-CCGmJPGLDZi
How to practice it most effectively: Follow the same process that we have used in your lesson. First count the rhythm of the snare drum/bass drum line. Identify the rhythmic value of each note and make sure that you can fit each rhythm into a 16th-note grid. Then, once you can comfortably count the rhythm out loud, then try to play it on the bass drum and snare drum. Once you’re comfortable with that, then add in the eighth notes on the hi-hat. This part should be steady and even.
Will
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: Exercises 13-16 from Lesson 6 and the second line of rhythm from “Syncopation page 29”. https://drive.google.com/open?id=17pjkCZ1jfMdjwRqFBMaPIG_hKMb3gQGz
How to practice it most effectively: Work on the one-measure beats from Lesson 6 the same way we have worked on the half-measure beats. Figure out the rhythms, play them on the bass and snare, and then add in the hi-hat. You can also try mixing and matching these beats the same way we did with the half-measure ones once they start to feel comfortable. For the syncopation exercises, practice moving the rhythms around the drums and playing them as drum fills.
Elliot
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice rhythms 33-36 from page 27 of “Syncopation.” https://drive.google.com/open?id=10YGpSqgr9Z2SExyhXz7k1evG3C0t2VEc
How to practice it most effectively: Make sure that you count the rhythm out loud before you try to play it. Identify which notes are eighth notes and which are sixteenth notes. Write in the counting above the notes if necessary. Practice playing each rhythm four times in a row while also playing the quarter note pulse on the bass drum. Once you feel comfortable doing this, then try moving the rhythms around the drums.
Alexy
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: Exercises 21-24 from “Lesson 5” as well as the rhythm exercises from the second line of “Syncopation” page 29. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MOQ0wuxOjWJ3H46kSSuJleBV6eZMuaZi
How to practice it most effectively: Focus on the four measures from the second line of page 29. Practice each rhythm first on the snare drum and then moving it around the drums. Once you have explored a number of different options, pick one method of moving the rhythm around the drums and then practice doing that as a drum fill in combination with a beat of your choice.
Oscar
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: From the top to the end of the “A” section of “Sonata” by J. S. Bach. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VYJX4ERbTiJ1d8ePZ2h7ldbheEz5yKpq
How to practice it most effectively: Using the stickings that you have now written in, practice all the sections of this piece that we have worked on so far. Focus first on getting the right notes and consistent stickings, then work on playing each line with shape and phrasing. Once you can get past just the reading of the notes, then you can really start to think musically about this music. Next week we will decide whether to continue with the rest of this piece or to start work on something different.
Nate O.
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: The verse and chorus beat from “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lsS6FvGAobS96Y5mFUDE_7L1HGfAK0_s
How to practice it most effectively: With the verse beat, focus on keeping a consistent rhythm between the snare drum and the bass drum. Remember that there are only three bass drum notes in this particular beat. Don’t make things more difficult for yourself by adding extras. For the chorus beat, focus on keeping the eighth notes steady as they move between the crash cymbal and the hi-hat. Also, make sure the bass drum and snare drum notes line up properly with these eighth notes.