|
|
 |
 Dave in the booth at |
Greetings and Welcome to the Rhythmelodic (rith'eme-lod'ik) News PageI'm happy to have a Web home where I can fill you in on the many special projects I'm involved in. You can click up above for the gig calendar page where you can check out all of my playing activities, bio and press pages where can can learn more about my background and work, and a links page with connections to many friends and inspirations of mine you should definitely check out! Actually you'll see great links scattered throughout the entire Web site. I'm also excited to share my lesson session page with you. It contains free online lessons which I hope you will find fresh in perspective, as well as inspiring and useful. This page will be updated continuously. I'm fortunate to do what I love for a living and support my family. I'm constantly in the company of world class musicians from many different cultures and musical directions. I try to soak up as much as I can, enjoy every minute, and turn around and mold it into something I hope you'll dig too. As busy as I am, I'm always open to new musical adventures and opportunities. You can correspond with me via the contact page. I look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy a look also around our expanding Global Network as well at: myspace, Facebook, Drum Tube, and youtube, where you can check out live clips of my work with Richard Davis, Sometimes Y, Randy Sabien, Dave Stoler, Katy Tessman, TRIPLICATE, Frankhouse, a few surprises, photos, connections to many talented cyber-friends, and much more as well. Thanks for looking in! | |
|
Mastering the Tables of Time Voted WINNER: #1 Method Book in 2009 Modern Drummer Readers Poll!The July '09 issue of Modern Drummer magazine is on newsstands now and the results are in! I'm proud to announce that Mastering the Tables of Time was voted #1 Winner in the Method Book catagory of the 2009 Modern Drummer Readers Poll! Winning the Modern Drummer Readers Poll is a tremendous honor. Being an independently produced book, I had hoped to possibly place in the poll, as I knew it would help to raise awareness of the book's method, but to win was something else. Let me express a most heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote and support my work! It is greatly appreciated. I would like to take the opportunity to mention that it truly takes a village to make something like this come together. The interest, reviews, support, and endorsements from so many stellar artists I've been fortunate enough to receive have made all the difference. Everyone at Vic Firth, Paiste, GK Music, Gauger Percussion, McNally Smith College of Music, Drummer Cafe, Hudson Music, as well as Bernard Purdie, Elliot Fine, Marvin Dahlgren, Mark Powers, Jeff Peterson, Katy Tessman-Stanoch, and so many more individuals than I could possibly list here have offered their time and resources and it's all been wonderfully effective. There are no words for the respect and appreciation I have for them all. To see all this happen, after ten years of working hard on this book, is very exciting for sure but what I'm most pleased about is the feedback I'm getting from so many people who are finding the method useful - that's the most gratifying thing of all! Do stay tuned for still more exciting news still to come with Mastering the Tables of Time, including next month's issue of Modern Drummer (Aug 09) which kicks off a multi-part series I was invited to contribute expounding on the book's method and different ways to apply it!
| |
|
David Spotlighted in Hudson Music's Teacher Integration ProgramThe mission of the Hudson Music's new Teacher Integration Program (or T.I.P.) is to further and enhance drum education by encouraging the use of New Media by drum educators (in both private and public settings) and by offering suggestions and methods for incorporating these tools into their teaching practices. It's a cool idea from the originators of the video drum instruction concept and a leader in the industry. I was flattered to be interviewed as the featured educator in their "Teacher Spotlight" during the month of April 2009. If you are a drumset educator looking to enhance your resources, check them out! It's free to join and they have an excellent program, forum and team, with an Advisory Board that features Ed Soph, from North Texas University, John Ramsey and Skip Hadden of the Berklee College of Music, PAS President Steve Houghton, and more, all led and organized by New York dummer/educator Mike Sorrentino, whom I thank very much for his interest and support of my work.
| |
|
David Joins the "Expert Corner" Inside the Drummer Cafe Website!After receiving a stellar review of my book by Nashville drummer, percussionist and webmaster, Bart Elliott, I am pleased to share the news that he has invited me to join the ranks of his "Chef de Partie's" (or "line cooks" - I had to look that up. My junior high French studies were not that extensive...) in the "Expert Corner" at Bart's fabulous Drummer Cafe website! One thing I really dig about the website is that Bart offers more than just news and chat, which is great and fun in and of itself, but also rare and out-of-print video and print lessons of many of drumming's greats. There are also regular contributions and interaction from his members which include noted players like Billy Ward and Chris Whitten, stalwart thoroughbreds, Frank Briggs, Doug Tann, David Crigger, Keith Cronin and up-and-coming talent, Hannah Ford, as well as Bart himself. One difference about the site compared to most others is that it asks a yearly donation of $27.50 for Premium Access to all content but that also includes "lifetime VIP Membership" to its Community Support Forum, which I have very much enjoyed my visits to. That's not a sales pitch, but if you enjoy this type of thing on the web and could also benefit from educational materials and perspective, this is an excellent site to keep in mind. It takes a lot to make an endeavor like this work and I'm thankful to Bart for his support. In my opinion, he does an incredible job. Stop by and see for yourself!
| |
|
New Frankhouse CD Release Party for "Thought vs. Emotion" Wed., June 10th @ The Artists' Quarter!In the spring of 2007, I began work with my friend, trumpeter/composer, Dan Frankowski, for a new band project and CD featuring Dan's interesting and melodic orignial compositions. The new CD, Thought vs. Emotion is now available on CD Baby, itunes, and other online retailers. Here is a new review from the StarTribune: "Recorded in 2007 and finally hitting stores, *Frankhouse's debut album,"Thought Versus Emotion," features loads of fine writing and impressive group dynamics. On a generous 16 tracks -- 12 by trumpeter/leader Dan Frankowski -- this young quintet shows off post-bop chops and genre-bending curiosity. Near-pop melodies mix with a bit of funk, while fire and especially lyricism both get their due. With guitarist Karl Koopman, bassist Graydon Peterson, tenor saxophonist Shilad Sen and drummer David Stanoch, this group seems ready for prime time." (T.S.) The CD Release Party takes place on Wednesday, June 10th at The Artists' Quarter, 408 St Peter Street (in the Hamm Bldg), St. Paul, MN, 651-292-1359, from 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM with a $5 cover. We invite you to join us for a fun evening of creative music! We'll preview the party with a live television appearance on KARE 11's Showcase Minnesota, Monday June 8th from 10:00-11:00 AM, CST. More shows are forthcoming, visit my gig calendar page for details.
A Special Week of Gigs, March 25th - 29thIt seems for most musicians I know, with this dismal economy as of late, our calendars are not as busy as usual and every opportunity to play feels more special. I'm mindful of that as I look forward to an exciting series of gigs this coming week, where I'm working alongside three percussion legends and a variety of other incredible musicians. | |
 Marv & I with Elvin & Keiko |
1.) The Marv Dahlgren Quintet is an ensemble made up of fellow faculty members of the McNally Smith College of Music. The group features Marv's compositions and arrangements as well as his incredible work on vibes and drumset. Marv has been a great friend and mentor to me since I was a teenager and I've had the true pleasure of working with him on the Percussion Faculty at McNally Smith for almost twenty years now. Working with Marv continues to be as exciting and informative for me as for any of our students. Respected worldwide, Marv was, for 48 years (!) principal percussionist for the Minnesota Orchestra. He ran his own drum shop in Minneapolis during much of that time and has been a prolific author of several leading percussion method books including (with Elliot Fine) the classic texts 4-Way Coordination and Accent on Accents. We play Wednesday evening, 3/25, at The Artists' Quarter is located at 408 St Peter Street (in the Hamm Bldg), St. Paul, MN. 651-292-1359. We'll hit at 9:00 PM and there's a $6 cover. Please join us for a fun and memorable evening. 2.) Randy Sabien is a premier mid-western violinst, respected worldwide for his incredible sound, imagination and musicality. I first started working with Randy in my college days at UW-Madison, an association I'm proud to say continues to this day. I'm excited that Randy has just taken the position as the new McNally Smith College of Music String Program department head, where it'll be a true asset to the program to have him onboard. | |
 Dave & Clyde recording |
His long running group, The Fiddlehead Band, is a funky, bluesy, swingin' powerhouse of a group that features drumming legend Clyde Stubblefield as the driver of this big engine. Known as "The Funky Drummer" for his legendary work with James Brown, Clyde was a mentor to me during my college days at UW-Madison, where I came to know the nuances of what makes a great R&B and funk drummer through Clyde's example. I'm proud to say we've been friends for years and our opportunites to perform together are rare but always a real gas! I'll be playing percussion and double-drumming with Clyde on this gig, and working with a stellar band. I'm grateful to Randy for the invitation to participate and looking forward to the grooves! This concert takes place on Friday, 3/27, at the Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, located at 8000 75th St. North, Mahtomedi, MN; 651-653-9877, and we hit at 7:30PM. Tickets: Adult: $15; Student/Senior (62+): $12; Family of 3+ (Parents w/Children 18 & Under): $42. 3.) Finally, on Sunday, 3/29, I'll be performing with two of my favorite musicians, pianist Phil Aaron, and bassist, Tom Lewis, under the nom de plume, Trio Rhythmelodic - a version of a new flexible group name for upcoming projects I 'm organizing with a variety of artists in the coming days, be it duo, trio, quartet, etc. (you get the idea). Phil and Tom are members of the Phil Hey Quartet, a staple at the The Artists' Quarter, and, along with Jay Epstein, made up the Phil Aaron Trio which worked for many years at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington. We will be performing at Orchestra Hall, located at 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, with a pre-show set opening for the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour, featuring the incredible Lewis Nash on drums. I first saw Lewis in my college days playing with Betty Carter - just tearing it up in the hippest and most tasteful way, have loved his playing ever since and am looking forward to hearing him again with this all-star group! Our pre-show set takes place in the Orchestra Hall lobby from 1:00 - 2:00 PM, and is free for everyone whether you stay for the Blue Note group or not although I'd strongly recommend you do! So, if you're in the Twin Cities area this coming week, do come out and share some great music. Each one of these gigs is guaranteed a winner and I hope to see you out and about!
| |
|
New Video Lesson Series at Vic Firth WebsiteI am proud to announce the debut this week (02/12/09) of my new Video Lesson Series now online at www.vicfirth.com. This nine-part series focuses on studies explored in my new book, Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I. The series adds a new lesson each week. The content is drawn from the free Audio/Video Companion for the book available at my website. I became a member of the Vic Firth Educational Artist Program at the invitation of Dom Famularo, the program's Ambassador, last Fall and was integrated into the program at the Percussive Arts Society's 2008 International Convention in Austin, Texas. The invitation to contribute to the program is a real honor for me. Vic Firth has the greatest commitment to education of any instrument manufacturer in the industry, as one visit to the website will illustrate. There is an incredible wealth of video, audio and print lessons available - free, with no strings attached - from a multitude of the world's finest drumset, classical and marching percussion artists. Having the support of the entire Vic Firth organization behind me to spotlight and share my work with their vast worldwide audience is exciting, humbling and affirming. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Internet Director, Mark Wessels, who week after week does incredible work on the website; Educational Director, Neil Larrivee and Assistant Director, Olin Johannessen, who tirelessly oversee this incredible program; Dom, and, of course, Vic, for their class and true commitment to the percussive arts and education. Thank you all. I would also like to thank Peter Erskine, Stanton Moore, Steve Smith and Clyde Stubblefield, all world-class artists on the Vic Firth roster, for their friendship and support "behind -the-scenes," and last but certainly NOT least my creative team at Rhythmelodic Music, Mark Powers, Jeff Peterson and Katy Tessman Stanoch, for making all this possible in the first place. I hope you'll drop in every week to see what's new. Thanks and enjoy!
| |
|
New Reviews of Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I, from PAS, Modern Drummer & More!2008 has been a banner year at Rhythmelodic with the release of MASTERING THE TABLES OF TIME, VOLUME I. Acclaim for my new book has been outstanding upon release, from artists and industry alike, for which I am most grateful. The holiday season has brought more gifts with new reviews, from which I'll share excerpts, from the Percussive Arts Society, Modern Drummer magazine, and more. The December 2008 issue of Percussive Notes, the Journal of the Percussive Arts Society (which BTW is for percussionists what the Journal of the American Medical Association is for doctors), published an in-depth review of the book, by Tom Morgan, that was (I must say) the stuff dreams are made of. As a long-time independent entrepreneur in this DIY age, I've come to appreciate the value of the right quote, or tag-line, for marketing and advertising purposes. The praiseful PAS review concluded with the following: "This book should become one of the perennial methods for drumset along with other books like Ted Reed's Syncopation, Jim Chapin's Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, and Gary Chester's The New Breed. It is completely open-ended because there is no end to the applications that are possible to the creative student." Woah. I almost fell over after reading that. Here's the thing...As a musician, I know there was music before there was music paper. I know "book-learning" is not for everyone, and I appreciate that. Listening and practical application are serious components of musical study. But, as Sir Francis Bacon so succinctly put it, "Knowledge is Power." I also believe the ability to read music is vitally important to a contemporary musician to increase their own marketability, at the very least. And I've personally benefited greatly from information I've learnt from a number of percussion method books. Those books Tom Morgan compares mine to [in his review] are three of the (...maybe six?) most important and enduring drum method books of all time. Lofty praise indeed, but, whether he's right or not, the truth is people like Gordy Knudtson, Elliot Fine, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Hamilton, Ignacio Berroa and Johnny Vidacovich all actually told me, when I showed them rough drafts of my concept, the same thing. With this in mind, I decided to aim for that standard. Why, in an over-saturated market, I figured, shouldn't I? The wonderful thing about the PAS review is that they are the authority, and final word, in this business, when it comes to a work like mine. At the end of the day what I put into this effort is not as important as what YOU can get out of it, and for me it was wonderful to see that they truly understand what I've learned the method could provide first myself, then my students, and now many others, to improve on the most important aspects of our foundation as drummers, from a fresh perspective. That said, it is humbling to be so recognized, and I sincerely thank the Percussive Arts Society for the review. | |
|
The February 2009 issue of MODERN DRUMMER is just hitting the newsstands with a cool review of my book as well, by Will Romano, biographical author of "Big Boss Man: The Life and Music of Bluesman Jimmy Reed," and "Incurable Blues: The Troubles and Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin." The highlight: "Dive in; you'll find that these exercises will help build upon and improve your independence, creativity, timekeeping skills, and musical phrasing." The review also praised my FREE online Audio/Video Companion, as "motivational" in how it provided clarification for the more demanding aspects of the book's text. I appreciated that. MODERN DRUMMER, BTW is not only, as they say, "The World's #1 Drum Magazine," it is also THE original. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank MD's Editor-in-Chief, Bill Miller (for whom I had already submitted several articles, most of which had already been published in MD before my book's release), who invited me to contribute a multi-part series based on the book's concept. I worked all summer and fall with Bill on this series, completing five of six articles before Bill passed away the weekend before Christmas after a long and quiet battle with melanoma. I had no idea how ill he was and am still shocked by his untimely death. I learned so much on writing about our art from Bill. He was powerful and passionate in his position. He was inspiring and encouraging, matter-of-factly frank, but never brutal, with his criticism, and genuinely enthusiastic about everything he liked. We were exactly the same age and he has a son the same age as my youngest boy. Damn. My heart goes out to his family and everyone at MD, who must be reeling again as they were after the passing of MD founder Ron Spagnardi not so long ago. I will miss you Bill and I thank you for everything you taught me. A great man, husband and father, gone too soon. There is also a new review of my book posted online at mikedolbear.com, a leading website for drummers from the UK. The review is very positive, which I appreciate, but also, amusingly, chock full of minor inaccuracies. No worries - "As long as they spell your name right," as they say in show-business! Highlight: "This value for money 139-page book covers a unique combination of coordination, rudiments, polyrhythms and musical phrases in a system of alternating notes in various groups...The book is well laid out and easy to follow in a musical way and gives you a good and easy method to follow and learn from. Although there is no CD with the book there is a free online companion showing audio and video demonstrations available on www.rhythmelodic.com." Thanks Mike and kudos on a website I look to for great info on all things British! Lastly, thank you... - To the McNally Smith College of Music, where I've been a faculty member for 19 years; - Paiste Cymbals Sounds & Gongs, with whom I'm celebrating my tenth year as an enthusiastic endorser; - My new friends at Vic Firth, with whom you'll be seeing some cool new collaborations in the near future, and Dom Famularo, in particular, who invited me into the family. - And a special thanks to my team at Rhythmelodic: my beloved wife and partner Katy, my Finale/print guru, Mark Powers, and my video/web guru, Jeff Peterson. I couldn't do this without you. You're the absolute best and have my eternal thanks!!!
| |
|
New Reviews & Recommendations for Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume IThe first review of Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I appeared in the September 08 issue of RHYTHM, "The UK's Best Selling Drum Magazine," as follows: Five Stars ***** Mastering the Tables of Time - A Future Classic? "Fascinating, challenging possibilities through sticking, time and rhythmic concepts. Easily understandable. You can feel yourself improving." ~ Colin Woolway, RHYTHM Magazine (September, 2008) RHYTHM is a long standing and highly respected publication and Colin Woolway is a renowned educator in the UK, so this was not only thrilling news but humbling as well. My thanks to Colin, Amy Hughes, and the entire staff of RHYTHM magazine. | |
|
In early October, a recommendation of the book appeared in The "Look/Hear" new releases column of the September/October edition of a great new drum magazine, published here in the USA, called DRUMHEAD. I was proud to see my book placed in the company of the fine new releases by Pete Lockett & Johnny Rabb, both of whom are among a stellar group of artists endorsing Mastering the Tables of Time, and Dom Famularo, who recently invited me personally to join the Vic Firth Educational Artist roster. My thanks to Heather Smith and Johnathan Mover at DRUMHEAD for their support of my independent, grassroots publication. In addition to the fine folks listed above, I have been fortunate enough over just the past few months to receive wonderful endorsements and testamonials from a variety of the world's most respected drummers that are listed here. | |
|
In late October, the November 08 edition of DOWN BEAT hit newsstands with its annual drum feature with no less than the legendary Tony Williams on the cover, and another recommendation of my book inside the Toolshed column including a lovely graphic showing a copy of Mastering the Tables of Time atop a stack of great new products for drummers and percussionists. This recognition is very special to me for a couple of reasons. First of all, Tony Williams was a major inspiration to me in the development of the whole idea of the book's methodology, as you can read in the book's preface. Secondly, before the days of MODERN DRUMMER, and all of the similar trades produced in its wake, DOWN BEAT was my main resource for "getting into the heads" of many of my favorite drummers through interviews and exposure to jazz music in general. My sincere thanks to the staff of DOWN BEAT for the support in bringing my book to the attention of their world-wide readership. Along those lines I was also touched recently by the kindness of an old friend and inspiration, drummer Bill Stieger, who also works as a writer these days and was so taken by the book's studies that he offered a literary review of his own, just to help me get the word out. I appreciate his sincere thoughtfulness and investment of time in helping me introduce my book into the market as much as I did when he provided me with one of those unforgettable watershed moments musicians have, when you get the advice you need at the right moment in time, which - in my case - was Bill telling me not to play the bass drum on "one" so much at a be-bop gig I was sitting in on as a teenager. You can read his post in the forum at DRUMMERWORLD. Thanks again Bill, I greatly appreciate your support!
| |
|
|
David Joins Vic Firth Educational Artist ProgramA nice surprise came my way the other day in the form of an invitation from "Drumming's Global Ambassador," Dom Famularo, to join the Vic Firth Educational Artist Program. Mr. Vic Firth is a greatly respected artist, who held the tympani chair in the Boston Symphony Orchestra for many years. His drumstick manufacturing company is the world's leading one, renowned for their excellent pitch-matching process. Vic himself also sent me an inspiring personal letter, for which I am most grateful, and you can read an excerpt from here. Becoming a Vic Firth endorser was an easy a decision to make, just as when I was fortunate enough to be invited to become part of the Paiste Cymbal family many years ago, the reason being I already use the marvelous products they create. My stick bag carries a multiude of models which I choose to "let the stick do the work" on various gigs & rooms, including the American Jazz 5B & Steve Jordan models, which each have a great taper & feel; the Stanton Moore & Peter Erskine models, which each feature unique tip designs for great cymbal sounds; the Jack DeJohnette model which is solid & "beefy," and also the new Steve Gadd brushes, with their smooth sound & design, and the Steve Smith "Tala Wands" with their "unplugged" qualities. Becoming part of the Educational Team is a real honor and gives me the opportunity and platform to share my drumming concepts with a wider global audience than ever before. Vic's commitment to education is a hallmark of his company's reputation. Check out the website and see for yourself - it's incredible!
| |
|
New Book Release from Rhythmelodic ~ Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume II am proud, after almost 11 years of development, to announce the publication of my first full-length book as an individual author, Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I. The studies in this book uniquely combine the foundations of rhythm and the foundations of trapset drumming using a common system to assimilate the disciplines of timekeeping, coordination, rudiments, polyrhythms, and musical phrasing. The table of time provides an inclusive framework for combining these exclusive areas of study to benefit players of any skill level, be it beginner, intermediate, or advanced, with an interest in developing a musical foundation with crystal-clear focus for complete freedom of expression in any direction. These studies promote this awareness and promise a new confidence and conviction in your playing that you can carry into any musical scenario you choose. I'm very proud of this work and believe it has real value in improving a drummer's overall musicality with a strong emphasis on time, groove and feel. I hope you'll check it out. Learn more about the book, read what some of the world's most respected drummers are saying about it, and order a copy online using the new Rhythmelodic Store, through which you can also purchase CD's from Rhythmelodic Records, as well as - coming soon - live online lessons!
Read previous stories in David's News Archive
|