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:

Damian

Recommended minutes to practice: 5-10 minutes per day

What to practice: Take a look at the “basics of rhythm” sheet in this Google Drive folder that I have set up for you: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jaROP8emrq7yGkV13Mt_Js4NVtEz-sCl?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: This page covers quarter notes and eighth notes. Remember that quarter notes each get one count “1… 2… 3… 4…” and that eighth notes, which are attached by one line at the top, are counted “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &.” The eighth notes should also be twice as fast as the quarter notes. Also, when you’re playing on both the bass drum (foot) and the snare drum (stick), the bass drum notes are always drawn below the snare drum notes. We will review all of this next week.

Koel

Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day

What to practice: Practice playing the accent patterns in different combinations and together with a regular drum beat: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SCS8WVjfR1OZVlYmt8a1r2LTxo2NJOpN?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Just like we did in your lesson, practice playing two of the accent patterns together one right after the other. Try these specific combinations: #1 and #2, #3 and #4, #2 and #3, #3 and #5, #3 and #6, #2 and #6, #3 and #8, #4 & #7. If you want to try other combinations too, you can pick your own. Also practice playing each accent pattern individually as a drum fill with a regular beat.

Jonathan

Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day

What to practice: Practicing all the fills from “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock including the first line of the new, long fill that we worked on: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GxopIaGPN0UhwG3zk4gQWTnEaDDL7TWP?usp=sharing

How to practice it most effectively: Pay close attention to the notation of each fill and try to play exactly what is written. It will be helpful to also listen to the song so you can hear each fill in context. Take is slow and try to play each of the first four fills in combination with the beat. Then take a look at the first line of the long fill and see if you work it out.

Andraz

Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day

What to practice: Review the pages from our previous lessons and take a look at the new page with the new rhythm and drum beats: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19R3GmSbTvlCrqfF_BOrD3z8nzgM3vZO9?usp=sharing 

How to practice it most effectively: The new rhythm we worked on this week is an eighth note plus two sixteenths. We typically count this rhythm “1  & a 2  & a 3  & a 4  & a.” There are two different sticking patterns that you should practice with this rhythm (both are written on the sheet). Also, practice the new drum beats that we worked on this week. Remember to take them slow and to always focus on keeping a steady rhythm.