Drum Lessons,Drumset Instruction,Funk Lessons,AfroCuban Drumming,Brazilian Drumming

This lesson mirrors my last lesson to my Latin Funk Connection class at Musicians Institute. In this class, during the 10 week quarter, we focus on the similarities between "Latin" music and Funk. In this particular class, I gave my students a very basic assignment to develop their groove and, at the same time, their coordination.

Do you have the book Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone? You should! Many feel that this book is a cornerstone of learning to play snare drum and drum set. These exercises are based on pages 5-8 from Stick Control.

The following ostinato, a repeated rhythmic figure, is to be played with your bass drum. This rhythm is one that you, as a drummer, must be able to feel and play with conviction. It can be heard the world over, from the United States to the Netherlands, Japan to Brasil, Cuba to the Ukraine. For beginners, just play the pattern. For intermediate players, play the pattern and play the hi hat on quarter notes or
eighth notes.

Here are the first four patters from page 5 of Stick Control. They are written as 16th notes. Play these, on the snare drum, over the bass drum pattern. Make sure that the notes all "line up" correctly, with no flamming. For those intermediate students, you may play these phrases as 32nd notes as well.

Once you have these first four patterns mastered, then move on to the next patterns in Stick Control. In our next lessons, I will provide these and other patterns for you.

If any of you would like to record yourself and send the recording to me, on CD, I'll put the sounds up here!
(Please do not send sound files via email. Thanks.)

Chuck Silverman
Post Office Box 572962
Tarzana, Califoria
91357-2962
USA