As many of us may realize, music education is not like what it once was - when to be a good music pupil or virtuoso of an instrument, you had to be somehow aligned to a usually old, in-demand, highly skilled, and sometimes expensive educator.
With the advent of DVD technology, which came on the scene in 1995 from the efforts of Phillips, Sony, Toshiba and Time Warner, the quality of and access to multimedia products from around the world has increased dramatically. This invention has certainly catalyzed communication, education, and other aspects of modern life, too numerous to mention.
Drum instruction
One other area which has experienced increased efficiency, is that of music instruction, specifically in the area of drumming. Drummers and luminaries concerned with every aspect of percussion have been published, some in books, some in DVDs and some in packages which include both a book and a corresponding DVD.
Drumming systems and methods
These DVDs are integral in spreading the interpretations and unique insights which an individual percussionist or drummer may have of one of the many established genres of drumming around the world.
This is also very convenient as students may purchase the material and benefit from expert instruction in the comfort of their own homes anywhere in the world. These DVDs are designed so that the learning experience is interactive and step by step in nature.
Quite a few drummers develop their own techniques and drumming systems, which are systematized ways they have come up with for teaching rhythmic and general musical concepts and skills to students around the world.
Modern Drummer Magazine and Modern Drummer Festival
Accordingly, there are several establishments which promote, and are driven by this kind of business. One such organization is Modern Drummer, arguably the cream of the crop of drumming magazines around the world. It usually endorses different drum and percussion releases of top drummers from around the world.
Modern Drummer magazine also stages an annual festival, Modern Drummer Festival, which showcases the talent and musicianship of several hand-picked top drummers and percussionists from around the world who usually do solo and band performances. These are all available on DVDs.
Some drummers, however, produce DVD films which capture mostly their performance of their favourite tunes and rhythms, with also some cursory details about their own playing secrets and approaches.
Drum lessons in video
There is a wide cross-section of genres and aspects of percussion for which there is available DVD instruction. These may range from: snare drum methods, to djembe drums, piano methods, playing the xylophone, double-bass drum techniques, Latin clave techniques, Jazz drumming, reggae drumming, rock, pop, and R&B drumming just to name a few.
Peter Magadini, Jazz drummer
There are several publications that address drumset technique and drum rudiments which are readily available today. I have used several myself, for example, Peter Magadini's critically acclaimed Jazz Drums DVD. I've also used his books, Learn To Play The Drumset, volumes one and two.
They really gave me a high level of exposure to a mixture of the genres of drum kit rhythms that are out there, and are somewhat written from Peter's own rich Jazz and rock influence. As a result, they're ideal for beginner to intermediate level jazz and rock drummers; this is also true of the Jazz drums DVD.
I've also learned valuable, fundamental lessons and skills from Peter Magadini's book, Polyrhythms and the Drumset. This book has also gotten rave reviews from the drumming fraternity, and from individual drummers who have studied from it.
Aaron Spears, hip-hop, r&b, gospel, and gospel-funk drummer
I am currently using a DVD from a rising star in the drumming industry who has played for numerous top music acts, namely: Usher, Alecia Keys, James Brown and American Idol.The DVD is entitled "Beyond the Chops", DVD one. Aaron put it together to shed light on his unique playing style, mind-blowing drum licks and rolls, and his early gospel influences.
He also performs some of his favourite cover and original tunes, and gives an informative breakdown of the things he applies and conceives at each part of the songs.
Buy drum lesson DVDs online
The Modern Drummer catalog and other online sources such as Amazon, lists the plethora of such books and DVDs that are available to you as an eager drumset or percussion student. These are probably available even in your vicinity in a music store or drum shop near you.
There are also some sites that have hit middle-ground between ethics and copyright issues, which offer free downloads of such DVDs.
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