Well...It has truly been a while!

I can remember writing on this blog last year, thinking I would be on here all the time, always writing and telling of my adventures. Obviously, that never happened. But, I am here now, and hav VERY good news. I have three students, the most I have ever had. I cannot believe it. I am a teacher of a student. But what amazes me more tan that is the want to learn a complexly orchestrated instrument as the drums. I love to play, and I love to teach even more. But what amazes me is that people want to learn and play, and that it's not because their parents told them to, or they have to do something because they cannot do something else. They want to learn the drum set for the pure enjoyment of playing the drums. I applaud my eight-year-old students, and hope that I can write about them before too long.

Music

Hey guys.I have a band that needs a name. I was wondering if anybody could help me with a band name for a fusion jazz group. We are playing stuff like "In a Sentimental Mood" and "All Blues" and "Footprints". I have four members including me and was thinking of making the name correspond with the number four, and for the talent show, the band I played with was called Four Corners, but that was because we had four different nationalities. Not the case here. Plus, I would like it to be original, not a copy of another project's name. I would hope I could figure it out, seeing as how I wanted to create this band, but I'm kind of drawing blanks, so... Any help is good help. Also, anyone who reads this, please spread the word about us. We're not really out to make money, but we do want to platy some shows before the senior high-school player in our band is going to college. I would love for you guys to also spread the word about my lessons, because as hard as I'm trying to do it myself, the word just is not getting out there quick enough sadly. But again guys, thanks for you're help! Peace...

Lessons

If anyone is interested i offer lessons for the set. I have been searching for interested drummers for a while now, but haven't come across anyone yet. I can provide lessons to ANYONE no matter the circumstances. You folks will need a drum pad and sticks, preferably marching sticks of some sort. Other than that, lessons can start right away, and after one to two lessons to get the NOVICE players ready for set, I have no problem with anyone using my drum set for practice. But, ya'll might want to consider purchasing a set soon so that you can practice at home, instead of jus on the pad. But please, don't let that stop you! drumming is about a lot more than who has the nicest drum set. Don't be afraid to go get the 400 dollar set to start. Or, if you're a more serious inquirer, look for what you like or what suits you. A drum set is like a car; either it can et you from A-B, it can be you're dream come true, or most of all, it can be BOTH! There's a lot of options, so choose a set that says "I'm a drummer, and this is my set."

I can do 30-min. or an hour lesson. 30 min. lessons are 20 dollars, and hour lessons are 35 dollars. Don't think the price sounds like the lessons are a fluke. Times are are hard, and i don't want to take advantage of ANYONE here. But, I would love to have the oppertunity to spread the gift of music to anyone who's looking to gain.

Drumming for Me

You know, many people have always liked rock bands for the bass player, or lead guitarists. I always liked the drummer, and soon after watching a music video one day sitting behind my kit, i decided to pursue my dream of playing drums like a real pro. I'm sure everyone who visits has felt this way about an instrument, but more importantly, I want to discuss Drum Sets. Everyone who has ever played a kit knows that if the bass drum doesn't sound right, and the hi-hats aren't crisp and clean, and if the snare is too wet or dry, depending on what's being played, the sound will be messed up. I have a pearl Export Select Series kit (Christmas/Birthday gift lol) that i have made to sound good whether jazz, rock, or hip-hop music is being played. But for those of you who have a lower Pearl-grade set or a Yamaha set know that this can be a quite difficult task to accomplish. Depending on the wood, many find they have to actually warm the shells up for the sound they tuned for, and that it's not easy to do if you don't by the right heads for the drums also. Personally, i have had the same bass heads since i've had the set, going on 5 years now as i remeber it. I have changed the heads on the toms, at least the tops, since i've had it, but only once, since i haven't seen much transport action with the set, being that it's my only one and all. I have played it every day lateley, but from a dry spell early on, and some of you all might have experienced this, i had to re-tune some heads because of how the shells became warm and cold. On another spectrum, I'd love to mention cymnals. As i said before about high-hats, i personaly like crisp, medium-high pitched hats, although the Sabian B8's I have are pretty low pitched for my taste, but lol they will have to do i guess. I like Sabian or Zildjian, seeind as how they're pretty much the same, but have come to appreciate Paiste's for certain loud rock applications, but only a certain type of Paiste, which escapes me. I do find K-custom dry's exceptional for jazz standards, although I don't own one, but have played with them, mind you!!I would like to maybe one day have a ride with bolts on it, but that will have to wait sadly, although i do enjoy them when I have the opertunity to play them. I think more important than a good ride is a good crash, and to me THEY HAVE TO BE SPERATE CYMBALS! I absoulutely cannot stand a crash/ride cybal. I mean, it shows low integrity in who ever made them, which depending on the kit, was probably the same people who made the drums themselves. I do however think that if it's all ya got, it will certainly get the job done. The last part of the kit, which I must say I adore, is the snare drum. I was lucky enough to have aquired, through my brother winning a raffle no less, a DW Copper shell, hand crafted snare drum with an autographed head by Chad Wackerman. My brotherDerrick won it at a clinic Mr. Wackerman did at the Music loft in '04 in Durham. And yes, I was there, too. I tell you, if it weren't for that snare, my view of drumming would be different, inspiration would be different, overall sound of my kit would be different. All the elements i have talked about here is just my take on what drum kits mean to me really. My other drumming aspects are and/or will be here soon.