Many Thanks to the team from Poole Percussion here in Poole Dorset. Austin, Paul and Chris thanks for the Steve White drum clinic on Monday September 11th. The night can only be descibed as a spectaculsr performance from Steve White and his bass guitarist Damon Mincheller.
Special thanks to Tina and Bob from Zildjian Cymbals and George Fredericks from Premier Drums.
Steve White came onto the stage and played a couple of Funky Numbers with Damon, who is a really great player. Between the two of them they captured the audiences attention, then it was time for Steve to do what he does really well to explain to everyone why we were there and what the nights performance was all about. Educating the youngsters in the audience and giving them as much information as possible about the "Clave" patterns on the drumkit.
Steve gave us all a lesson on were the backbeat came from and even went into very fine detail about how the drumming beats were invented. he spoke very highly of Jeff Porcarro, Cozy Cole, Max Abrahms, Art Blakey, Tony Williams and Steve Gadd.
He mentioned the fact that we as drummers should put in a lot of practice on our rudiments and practice things that you cannot do, instead of practicing things that you already know.
This was a fantasic night, and i had a very brief chat to the young man who has just won this years young drummer of the year 2006. I recognised him by the pictures that i had seen in drumming mag's as he always wears the same hat i gave him a warm welcome to Bournemouth. He was sitting with his family, and told me he just wanted to come along and see Steve in action.
There was an interval of which raffle prizes were given out to the lucky winners then it was Steve's turn to get back on the drumkit and demonstrate why he is one of the best drummers in the business, he makes it look so easy and takes it in his stride. Steve also demonstrated his rudiments on a snare drum at the front of the stage (unbelievable) such a great drummer and educationalist. The night finished as it started with Steve and Damon playing different grooves then we were all treated to a superb display of Jazz plus a blinding drum solo.
Steve and Damon were very happy to pose for photos with just about all of the youngsters that were there, and they signed autographs. This was a truly great evening and well worth the £5 entrance fee.
Mike Nicholls from Classic Drums in Pokesdown Bournemouth has contacted me this morning to tell me that he now has, the Joey Jordison black drumkit made by Pearl Drums set up in all it's glory in his drum shop.
Pearl Drums have made the same kit that Joey uses with his band Slipnot. The drumkit comprises of 10,12, and 13inch Hanging Tom Toms, 14 and 16inch Floor Tom Toms plus Two 22inch Bass Drums with the Slipnot logo on them. Plus the Joey Jordison Signature Snare Drum.
The drumkit comes complete with all Black hardware.
The Drumkit will cost you £1200, but Mike has promised me that if you mention the fact that you have drum lessons with me or that you are involved with BASELINE he will give you a 20% discount so you would pay £960.
"I am always trying to get you the best deal possible"
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Classic Drums are also selling Joey Jordison Snare Drum £239
Plus Joey Jordison (Ahead Drumsticks) £ 27
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Complete Drumkits are always in stock from as little as £229
you can have the kit delivered and set up for you at no extra price. With Xmas just around the corner this would make a great Xmas present.
I popped into Bournemouth on Friday night just after work with my son James, we spent a bit of time in the Bournemouth Library. If you did'nt know they have a Music section on the top floor. I was drawn to the Drumming and Percussion section, i was very surprised to find that they only had a very small selection of books on drum tuition. I managed to borrow what i call the drummers bible, The Buddy Rich Snare Drum book of Rudiments. I was delighted to find this to be the original book as it was dated as being printed in 1942.
If you get the chance to pop into the Bournemouth Library, or any library have a look for yourself and see the different types of drumming books that you can borrow. The great thing about the library is, that if they have not got the book in that you want they will order it for you.
It is fair to call Dave Grohl a true rock legend. In 1991 he became world famous overnight as the drummer in Nirvana when their album "Nevermind", and single Smells Like Teen Spirit rocketed sky-high. We can still hear him as a drummer though in his metal side-project Probot, or on recordings by Killing Joke, Cat Power, Queens Of THe Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails. In the near future i will do a feature on Dave and the work he has done with his bands.
I would like to share with you Daves favourite drummers (right now)
KC Gueting
(My Morning Jacket)
Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes)
The patterns he comes up with, he doesn't really consider what he's doing during a verse or a refrain. He writes very catchy hooks and he is very consistant
Jon Theodore (Ex "The Mars Volta")
"Jon is the best rock drummer, John Bonham and Billy Cobham combined"
Joey Jordison (Slipnot)
Vinnie Paul (Damage Plan, ex Pantera)
Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
"Metal drummers are the music worlds Orcs. They were born in mud and have superhuman qualities"
I would like to share with you something that Steve White said to the people who attended his Superb Drum Clinic on Monday September 11th. Steve told the crowd to always practice with a Metronome, as this will help you to play in time. It will also help you, if you start off your practice session very slowly and try to build up your speed.
The Metronome will help you to build up the playing of drum rolls and drum rudiments, you can buy a metronome from any music or drum shops. They are all different, i got one from Poole Percussion about Five years ago for £20, one of my students has just got one for £98. They both do the same job so be careful when you go to a shop or better still ask for some advice from a shop assistant.
Playing drums to a Metronome can be great fun, this will also be very useful for you in the future as when you go to record at a recording studio you will be expected to play to a click track. This will be put into your headphones, and you will be expected to follow the beat. When you are ready to make a recording, whether it is a demo or just a tape to listen to. You will always be required to play along with a click track. Drums and Bass are recorded first then usually guitar is then added, keyboards or Lead guitar are next followed by vocals.
Always wanted to have your own in-ear metronome ? well now you can with the KORG MM-2 Metronome. The new MM-2 is a personal metronome that fits on your ear , allowing you to play to a beat that only you can hear. To get hold of One of these Please go to www.Korg.com or call Korg UK on 01908 857 100 at a bargain price of £11.95p
Steve White
There was an interval of which raffle prizes were given out to the lucky winners then it was Steve's turn to get back on the drumkit and demonstrate why he is one of the best drummers in the business, he makes it look so easy and takes it in his stride. Steve also demonstrated his rudiments on a snare drum at the front of the stage (unbelievable) such a great drummer and educationalist. The night finished as it started with Steve and Damon playing different grooves then we were all treated to a superb display of Jazz plus a blinding drum solo.
Mike Nicholls from 
16inch Floor Tom Toms plus Two 22inch Bass Drums with the Slipnot logo on them. Plus the Joey Jordison Signature Snare Drum. 
It is fair to call Dave Grohl a true rock legend. In 1991 he became world famous overnight as the drummer in Nirvana when their album "Nevermind", and single Smells Like Teen Spirit rocketed sky-high. We can still hear him as a drummer though in his metal side-project Probot, or on recordings by Killing Joke, Cat Power, Queens Of THe Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails. In the near future i will do a feature on Dave and the work he has done with his bands.
Always wanted to have your own in-ear metronome ? well now you can with the KORG MM-2 Metronome. The new MM-2 is a personal metronome that fits on your ear , allowing you to play to a beat that only you can hear. To get hold of One of these Please go to