Class #8 - Nov 28

Coordination and Ka Exercise

* K K * K K * K

Doumbeks: Replace * with Dum, Tek  (mix it up)

Framedrums: Replace* with Dum, Tek and Cha, and play Ka with ring finger only, or with ring then middle (or vice versa) (mix it up)

New Call

Reset - Stop playing while the caller counts in new tempo

Practice Suggestions

• Do the Coordination and Ka Exercise above with and without a metronome. Follow the sequence layed out in the first basic coordination exercise.
  
  
• To also practice your notation reading and writing skills, write a list of variations to play, and play them in that order, for example:
  

D k k D k k D k
D k k T r m D k
T k k D k k C k ... etc.

• Tap your foot whenever you hear music. (Are you tapping ON the beat?)
  
  
• Practice calling Reset and counting yourself in to a new tempo
  

Left-Turn Rolls

Waiting for the green arrow again? “Click-click Click-click” goes your turn signal. Practice time!

Put on your parking break, and use the first click of each “Click-click” to guide you.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 .

T K T K T K T K T K T K T K T K  -->
TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTK -->

Alternate between eight beats of T K and eight beats in of TKTK

Concentrate on getting good, even timing. 

Happy practicing! 

-- Tara Severns

Straight Roll Drill

Speak the pattern below. Once you can say it several times in a row without getting tongue-tied, pick up your drum.

Speak and play the pattern slowly until you can do so with confidence several times in a row.

Set your metronome to a slow tempo and speak and play the pattern.

When you feel steady, stop speaking and just play. Concentrate on getting an even sound, with each stroke crisp and at the same volume.

If you sound like tennis shoes in a clothes dryer, slow the metronome a little, check your form (posture, drum, hand positioning, relaxation) and try again.

When you can play the pattern at the current tempo with even timing, even stroke volume, and you're relaxed, turn up the tempo by one or two bpm and play it again.

When you begin at a tempo just outside of your comfort zone, you may feel some tension (and possibly an impulse to speed up or drag the beat) after a few minutes, you will begin to relax as your body becomes accustomed to the new tempo.

1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . -->
T . . . K . . . T . . . K . . . -->
T . K . T . K . T . K . T . K . -->
T K T K T K T K T K T K T K T K -->
TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTK-->
T K T K T K T K T K T K T K T K -->
T . K . T . K . T . K . T . K . -->

 Happy practicing!

Coordination Practice

First task: Set your metronome to 60 bpm, step from side to side on the pulse, and SPEAK the rhythm below, one note per beat. When you can speak it flawlessly, on time, five times in a row, you’re pau with this part, and can move on.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K .

Second task: Turn off the metronome and pick up your drum. At first, go as slow as you need to, and don’t worry about timing. This task is about helping your hands learn to move between left and right strokes, and between tek and dum strokes. Once your hands know how to get to the right place on the drum in the right order (regardless of how bumpy the timing is or how yucky the sound is), then you’re pau and can move on.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K .

Third task: Set your metronome at 60 bpm – and play the rhythm one note per pulse. Concentrate on getting your hands into the right place for the right stroke on time (don’t worry for now about how it sounds). Once you can play it through five times in a row right on the beat, you’re pau, and can move on.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K .

Fourth Task: Play as before, but concentrate now on your sound. Notice how each stroke sounds, and strive for the next stroke to sound better. You may find checking your form (posture, hand positioning, drum position, relaxed, belly breathing) to help your sound improve. Practice for at least 5 minutes or until your muscles get fatigued. Notice how your sound, timing, or form may decline as you get tired. This is OK. The next day, do the four tasks again, but try to have the last step go one minute longer. Repeat daily.

Growing Your Coordination

Once comfortable with this very basic pattern, move on to other patterns. For example:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
T . K . D . K .
D . K . K . T .
T . K . K . D .

... and so on.