Drum Percussion

Here's a great video from a new site we'll be launching very soon. It's over at www.worlddrum.studymusiconline.com. Todd Isler is the instructor, he's a great percussionist and drummer.

He has a book out in our store called 'You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This'. The book is here: www.store.studymusiconline.com/you-can-ta-ka-di-mi-improve-and-expand-y…

Here's a great video on the book by Todd.

I want to acknowledge the life of a teacher and friend who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 last week Saturday May 8, 2010.

I started takeing drum lessons from Terry when I was 7 yrs. old. I continued with him until I was 15 yrs old and had a friendship with him through out my life. Terry was an excellent teacher, always encouraging, supportive and gave me a good reality check a couple of times when I needed it. He was never demeaning, just a regular guy, and a very nice and caring one at that.

Man in general tries to break complex concepts into smaller bite size pieces.
Because of time the results and impact of the proposed breakdown is often not apparent.
I think how we have broken down the chromatic scale causes the learning experience to be longer than needed.

The result of the current system is an overly complex language which impedes reaching the goal(to be able to improvise) more than it should.(I'm not saying it doesn't work.)

I have a challenge for you if you’re game for it.

It’s developing the “Anything But That” method.

I'd love to hear what other people do when they rehearse their bands. I'd especially like to hear about rehearsals with Frank Zappa (if anyone at VW has any experience with that). I heard he rehearsed a lot. I'd also like to hear about rehearsals with "local" bands and rehearsals that David Friedman, Gary Burton and Tony conduct when traveling, and anyone who is doing "professional" rehearsals who is paying their members for their time.

I got a call sometime back asking if I was interested in playing the percussion book for Bye Birdie at my alma mater Upper Merion High School. They're putting on the show March 18, 19 and 20. They've hired a choreographer and the pit orchestra is made up of some good student musicians plus some professionals. I said yes without even thinking because this is a great chance for me to get my hand back in playing multiple percussion, something which I have been doing with a community symphony orchestra I am involved in.

This is a top 30 list derived from the tune list PDF Tony posted.
I was so overwhelmed by 200 tunes I needed to add some focus.
One step at a time :)

-Todd

Hey I'm just getting started on Facebook and thought I'd mention it here... (I need friends and fans). Check it out. You can hear many of my recordings by clicking on the "My Band" tab. (Thanks Michael Pinto).

Thanks for the link update Barry. I posted this quite a while ago so I am not sure if this is the same video or not but its more than good enough!

I happened upon this clip on YouTube from 1998. It features vibes/percussion master Emil Richards, Joe Porcaro on drums and a young conguero, Cosimo Lampis. This is from a master class in Sardinia (wherever that is!). I think this is one of Emil's original tunes. Great stuff!

I happened upon this You Tube clip commemorating Victor Feldman's posthumous induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. A fitting tribute to a musical genius and icon who was removed from us too young.