four things #11 (for drummers)

drums and drummers and people who love them

This will be a kind of “series within a series” where I will choose a theme, and share things only related to that theme. This one is about drums.

Drumming is one of the most important aspects of my life. I have been playing for quite a while. I feel part of a community when I talk about it. To me it meets the trifecta of important functions in a human’s life: mind, body, and spirit.

If you are, or you know any drummers, I believe you/they will surely benefit from this.

And if you’re not a drummer, you might find something you enjoy anyway.

Music:

The Wonton Song by Led Zeppelin. I remember learning this song in middle school. It took me weeks to learn. A deep cut, it features intricate footwork from John Bonham, placing doubles with finesse in odd corners of the song between distorted guitars, a deep bass groove, grinding staccato riffs, beneath the chasm of Robert Plant’s powerful rock n’ roll vocal engine. It’s a masterfully written drum part. Listen carefully to the sly placement of his licks. Masterful without trying to be.

Course:

Getting Out Of Your Own Way by Dave Elitch. For better or worse I didn’t grow up in the YouTube era. One of the pros to this was that I wasn’t inundated with an infinitesimal amount of choices and distractions. So when I purchased an instructional video or book, I used the junk out of it. Overplayed video tapes developed discolored lines which buzzed across the screen, the same way a trail develops when you take a path over and over. Pages of books were full of grease marks from dirty pizza fingers and had to be taped together from constant use. I got really good at playing those songs and learning the techniques of those drummers (names such as Neil Peart, Carter Beauford, Chad Smith, and John Bonham).

Fast forward to today, we are blessed with living, breathing courses of instruction available on demand. Sifting through an endless ocean of videos, I’ll do you a favor and take out the guesswork. Get this course.

This is the course every drummer needs. Dave is a drum teacher’s teacher. Your favorite drummer has probably hired him. He has played with the Mars Volta, Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, the 1975, film soundtracks, and more. Studying body mechanics, meditation, breath work, and many other fields, he uses his findings to create a unique approach to teaching and playing the drums, one which harnesses knowledge in a way that makes you a better, more musical, and more efficient musician and player. The best part: when he comes across new information he updates his course. Buy it once, and you have it forever. (Bonus: Here is his appearance on Tim Ferris podcast).

Book:

A Drum Thing by Deirdre O’Callaghan. This is a book of photographs and essays/interview from some of the world’s best and most famous drummers. The photography is outstanding, and the essays capture a profound depth of intimacy between drummer and drums, artist and artform. It has moved me to look at drumming and music from different angles and shades, as if I am viewing them from inside another person’s brain. It’s out of print and difficult to find, so pick it up fast if you find one.

Video:

Love is the Message by Yussef Dayes & Alfa Mist (featuring Mansur Brown and Rocco Palladino). My ol’ buddy (since the 6th grade), LA director/editor Matt Boman sent me this YouTube video the other day. It features Yussef Dayes, an extraordinary drummer out of the UK with impeccable feel. His music is probably filed under jazz, but it’s got elements of funk, rock, ambient, salsa, reggae, fusion. When people talk about how good music is dying, I show them people like Yussef. If you think music is dying, you just ain’t looking hard enough.

- - - -

The best way to support The Cannon Dispatch is to:

1. “Like” the posts.

2. Leave a comment (even if it’s “hi!”).

3. (Most importantly) share with someone who you think might like it.

4. You can buy me a coffee by using this button:

Thanks for reading, see ya next time.

-Tyler