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: Review the song “Beggin’” and also practice the new funk beat on the page called “Groove Essentials”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17pjkCZ1jfMdjwRqFBMaPIG_hKMb3gQGz?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Review all the sections of “Beggin’” that we have worked on, particularly the section with 16th notes on the hi-hat. Make sure that you can transition from section to section without slowing down or stopping. Next week we will play through everything with the recording and add some more to the song. Also, work through the main beat and the two variations on the first page of “Groove Essentials.”

Elliot

Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day

What to practice: Review #19 and practice the two-measure beats from “Lesson 5”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10YGpSqgr9Z2SExyhXz7k1evG3C0t2VEc?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Be careful in #19 that the hi-hat pulse doesn’t stop or change at all when you are playing the 16th notes between the bass and snare. It is important that these notes lock in with the hi-hat and that the pulse doesn’t slow down. With the two-measure beats, work through them the same way as we have with the one-measure beats: count the bass and snare rhythm, then play this rhythm without the hi-hat, then add in the hi-hat pulse. You can also practice these beats one measure at a time at first.

Damian

Recommended minutes to practice: 5-10 minutes per day

What to practice: Practice the “12/8 beats” and the new fills from the page I have provided: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jaROP8emrq7yGkV13Mt_Js4NVtEz-sCl?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Focus on fills #1 #2 and #4 (don’t worry about 3 and 5). Practice playing each one in combination with the beats at the top of the page. Remember to always count either out loud or in your head as you play. This is really important so that you know you’re not adding any extra notes or leaving any out.

Nate O.

Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day

What to practice: Practice each of the variations of the two drum beats we have been working on: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lsS6FvGAobS96Y5mFUDE_7L1HGfAK0_s?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Remember to count either in your head or out loud as you play so that you know you are not adding in any extra notes or leaving anything out. The rhythms in these variations are sometimes quite different from the original beats, so follow the notation carefully. Take it slowly at first and play through each beat a few times in a row without stopping before moving on.

Noah

Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day

What to practice: Practice the main beat from “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy and also have a listen to some other songs by Metric: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dga1ZBRWaN_Ka4O1G009w-74c4VaZCj7?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: The hardest part about the beat from “Centuries” is the syncopation in the bass drum. Make sure that each note falls in the right place and that it sounds like it fits with what is in the recording of the song. When you’re listening to music this week, be sure to take note of any songs that you really like and we can add them to our list of songs to learn.

Koel

Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day

What to practice: Review the intro and verse 1 of “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones and also practice the new chorus: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SCS8WVjfR1OZVlYmt8a1r2LTxo2NJOpN?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Review each fill from the verse of “Start Me Up.” Be sure that you make a clear distinction between the rhythm of the second fill and the rhythm of the fourth fill. The second one starts just before beat 4 while the fourth one starts on beat 4. Then practice playing all the way through the first page, including the intro. Once you feel comfortable with this page, then move on to the Chorus.

Sylvie

Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day

What to practice: Practice jazz ride pattern and the foot patterns as well as the different left hand rhythms from the “Lesson One” page: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KGeo9VGh3JOWzwpGhEe1DbXMRuQiG7lL?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Focus on really locking down the ride cymbal pattern with the foot patterns first. It is important that you are able to play this confidently and with a good swing feels (accent on 2 and 4). After that, then look at the four left-hand patterns that we practiced from Lesson One: #4, #5, #12, and #13. Play each of these together with the ride cymbal and foot patterns.