Coordinated Independence Study
Fellow Drummers, this is the beginning of a wonderful study I did when I realized I could not perform eighth notes with my HH while playing different patterns with my other limbs. This mode of study began when I realized I couldn't play a certain Bernard Purdie groove.
These exercises, and those upcoming, all come from a book I found entitled Berklee Method of Drumming by Alan Dawson. Weird, that I cannot find this book anymore. It's not the relatively new Alan Dawson book either.
I was taught to play these exercises as swing grooves, with the jazz ride pattern and 2&4 in the HH. You should definitely do this. Come on....you know you should! After learning them this way, I modified the exercises to fit my needs.
The Ride Pattern and HH pattern in the fourth example is what I used to develop Coordinated Independence. You perform the exercises while playing the Ride and HH, of course. These should be done slowly with the goal of perfect placement of every single note.
Please drop me a line to let me know your comments and questions.
As Always, Enjoy!
