Jan 1st Issue, 2009

In this issue..

1) Worldwide Drummer Search 2009! WWDS is officially open and taking entries. Run entirely online and free to enter!
2) "The Drumming Body" DVD coming soon! A unique look at what happens inside the body when we play the drums.
3) VIDEO: Moeller 16th Beats - using the Moeller technique to get accents of 3 over the top of half time 16th beats.

The Worldwide Drummer Search 2009 is now open!

The Worldwide Drummer Search (www.worldwidedrummersearch.com) is officially launched and taking entries! This open age drum competition is open to literally anyone who can hold a pair of sticks, anywhere in the world, and offers $1,000's in prizes and a worldwide drum endorsement contract with the Sleishman Drum Company. The WWDS is FREE to enter, and it couldn't be easier to do so. It is run entirely online. April 15th 2009 is the closing date for all entries. Click this link to go to the official site and read all the rules on how to enter. But in a nutshell... 1) Film yourself drumming solo for 2-3 minutes (no backing music whatsoever) 2) Upload that video in .MOV format to Youtube.com 3) Post the Youtube video link in our drum forum, and we will note your entry. That's it! We will announce all winners and place getters through Big Drum shortly after April 15 2009.

The Drumming Body DVD. Coming Early 2009!

The Drumming Body (TDB) is the DVD we have been wanting to do for over a year now! And I have finally pinned down Perry Venakis to lend his incredible knowledge on all things "physical" (as pertains to drumming). TDB will take a unique look at what happens inside the body when we play the drums. And then some. More than just a "fitness for drummers" DVD, TDB will look specifically at what happens inside us as we play around the kit; from the specific muscle fibres and muscle groups used, in what order they fire and why, which of the bodies "natural slings" we use, how and when the skeletal, neuro-muscular and nervous systems come in to play and STACKS more. The Drumming Body will also look in depth at:
* Potential problems caused by drumming (postural, skeletal, R.S.I. etc) * Preventative exercises using functional resistance training * Correctional exercises and motions used to correct or fix problems caused from drumming The truth is a lot of drummers suffer discomfort from drumming, myself included, particularly after extended periods of playing. This scientific analysis of purely the physical side of drumming is a much needed resource for drummers.
Now what qualifications do I have as a physical rehabilitation or postural correction expert? ABSOLUTELY NONE! Which is why I've teamed up with one of Australia's most in demand personal trainers/exercise scientists, Perry Venakis. Perry will be running the show, explaining what's happening inside me as I play the drums, and I will be the guinea pig. Who is Perry Venakis and what are his qualifications? Perry is one of Australia's most sought after Personal Trainers / Master Coaches. With over 25 years experience in the fitness industry, Perry's credentials are impressive and varied. Perry has completed the following courses as a trainer: * Completed ALL Kit Laughlin P&F Stretching Courses * Level 1 "Practitioner & Life Coach" through Paul Chek - USA * C4 Personal Trainer * Applied Biologist Despite being highly sought after as a postural correction / physical rehabilitation expert, Perry is also: * Master coach to Sara Picket-Brown (Australia's highest ranked Amateur Figure Athlete) * An ex Australian Tae Kwon Do Champion * Black belt in 2 different styles of Karate Perry's knowledge will blow you away, so stay tuned for snippets of this very unique release!

Today we look at combining 2 common techniques, within the same beat, in the same bar. The Moeller Technique (1 accent, 2 non accents, repeated), and the Push Pull Technique (1 accent, 1 non accent repeated). Both of these techniques are extremely common, and pretty much essentials in drumkit playing. What we'll do is first learn both the techniques, then learn how to use them phrasing around the beat, within a 16th funk groove. Video PART 1 below shows a detailed breakdown of both techniques. If you know how to play these techniques, just watch the PART 2 video which shows how to use them in a beat. THE ACTUAL BEAT. Once you can play these techniques it's time to put them into a beat. The beat below tests your ability to play both techniques in the same bar, and transition between them seamlessly; it also teaches you to phrase around a regular 16th beat with consecutive accents of 3. Here is the beat in full.. If we look at just the hihat line that we're playing an accent on every 3rd note, so it makes sense to use the Moeller Technique during this part of the beat. We play 4 cycles of Moeller, which gives us 4 accents. In the last 2 beats we play an accent on 4 and 4+, so it makes sense then to use the Push Pull Technique.