I will warn you that this video is not that exciting. I want to log my progress with my drumming and will use Hive and 3speak for that.
One of the fun parts of the Drumeo online drum school is their 'challenges' where you have an exercise to play each day for a couple of weeks. You just play along with the instructor who will talk you though it. This time it is on 'doubles' with John Wooten. Doubles are where you get two hits of the drum with each sweep of the arm by using your fingers and the bounce of the drum. It is a good technique to get high speed beats. Doctor Wooten is an expert on the so-called drumming rudiments that are used a lot in marching bands, but apply to other styles too.
I have done seven of these lessons that add different patterns each time. I am just working through what is known as The Grid where you double up different combinations of beats in each set of four. I find it hard when more than two of the beats are doubled up. I should note that I am doing this at 80% of the full speed as I just cannot keep up otherwise. Of music is not a race and speed can be worked on.
I have found the course useful as it has got me thinking more about my technique. I have done some other challenges where you just try to keep up a given tempo with doubles for a given time, but it is more interesting to mix it up. This instructor also emphasises varying the volume as you need those dynamics. He actually uses the same practice pad as me, but then I got it when I joined Drumeo.
This week I finally ordered some new cymbals that should be an upgrade from what I currently have. I shall report on those when they arrive.
Rock on!
▶️ 3Speak
