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 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! | |
 Clyde Stubblefield |
The Coalition for Clyde Stubblefield Invites You To GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME!In July 2009, funk drumming legend, Clyde Stubblefield, whose sampled beats from his innovative recordings with James Brown have shaped the sound of hip-hop and drum & bass music, suffered kidney failure and began weekly dialysis treatment. In July 2010, The Coalition for Clyde Stubblefield - an artist & industry association of Clyde's supporters - was founded by drummers Stanton Moore, Johnny Rabb and myself to spread word of Clyde's situation and new avenues being created expressly for donating financial support directly to him. Clyde continues to work and perform regularly while dealing with the stress his kidney dialysis treatments demand. Please consider donating to help Clyde and his family find some relief as he braves this journey so they may feel some of YOUR soulfulness as we all come together to help out a brother, an inspiration, our friend. Remember, no contribution is too small and every penny makes a difference. We invite you to join the coalition and help spread the word. You can donate below by clicking on the widget! Your transaction travels directly to Clyde safe and securely through PayPal. Visit our webpage HERE for more information. Thank you for your concern, consideration and generosity. GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME!
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 Bart Elliott and David Stanoch |
David Interviewed by Drummer Cafe at Chicago Drum ShowThe 20th Annual Chicago Drum Show, produced by Rob Cook of Rebeats took place the weekend of May 15 and 16th. I had the true pleasure of making a day trip down to the event in a single propeller Piper Dakota airplane, courtesy of Paiste Cymbals Director of Sales, Ed Clift, who also happens to be a pilot. I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Drummer Cafe's Bart Elliott about my book, Mastering the Tables of Time, and other current events I'm involved with. You can watch the interview HERE. My thanks to Ed, Bart and also to Rich Lackowski and Michael Finklestein of Alfred Music Publishing for supporting my appearance. It was great fun and a really cool experience! | |
 David Stanoch Clinic 2010 |
Videos and Pics Up From 2010 KoSA Winnipeg DrumTalk FestivalThe 2010 KoSA Winnipeg DrumTalk Festival was a great success. I was proud to share the stage with two fantastic young Canadian drummers - jazz artist Curtis Nowosad, pop artist Andrew Stricko (of Faber Drive), KoSA's Also Mazza, Cuban monsters Piloto, Julio Lopez Sanchez & Jean Roberto san Cristobal, and Rascal Flatts' Jim Riley. It was an 8 hour event that held the attention of over 350 people in attendance and their response was terrific. I'd like to once again thank Festival Director, David Schneider, KoSA Academy's Aldo Mazza, and my sponsors, Alfred Music Publishing, Drummer Cafe, Hansenfutz, McNally Smith College of Music, Modern Drummer, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth, and Yamaha Drums. The international support they gave me was incredible, providing beautiful instruments for me to perform on and donating great giveaway merchandise and lots of free swag! It was great fun. Here a clip from the Festival. I'm jamming on a 5/4 vamp, showcasing applications of groove, metric modulation, polyrhythm & solo concepts I break down in my clinic from my book, MASTERING THE TABLES OF TIME, VOLUME I. Here is a short trailer produced by Epic Videography to give you a taste of the vibe and excitement of the event. Head over to the Festival's youtube channel, to see and hear the many other great artists who performed - they're terrific! Lots of great pics have been posted online at their website as well. Have a look!
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 DRUMMER (UK) - Spring 2010 |
New Review of Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I, Featured in Spring 2010 Issue of DRUMMER Magazine, UKI'm excited to announce that exactly two years after receiving my first review for MASTERING THE TABLES OF TIME, VOLUME I (in the UK's RHYTHM magazine, which called the book "A future classic"), a brand NEW review of the book is featured in the Spring 2010 edtion of DRUMMER (UK) magazine. The book recieved the magazine's "**** A Must Have" rating and I'm very proud that the book continues to generate new interest with all of the positive impact it has been having in the drumming educational community. MASTERING THE TABLES OF TIME, David Stanoch, Alfred Publishing, DRUMMER (Spring 2010) "Stanoch's book may have the words 'Mastering' and 'Time' in larger letters on the cover because the diligent student will be much closer to that goal if they work through the material in his book. Stanoch's plain black and white cover is indicitave of the dry layout of the book (no pictures, only the necessary amount of text and plenty of exercises) but its contents are far more exciting if you work through them . The first foundational exercise is a table of time playing from two notes (half notes) to 48 notes (32nd note triplets), but not including quintuplets and septuplets, within a bar of 4/4, both ascending and descending, followed by a host of accent exercises and dynamic control studies. Chapter two covers harmonic (unison hand/foot patterns) and melodic (linear phrasing) coordination along with four-way coordination by presenting ostinatos for each limb that can be combined in countless combinations while further chapters cover all things rudimental, polyrhythms, grooves,metric modulation, jazz independence, melodic linear studies and applying rudiments to soloing. There is no accompanying CD or DVD but examples can be downloaded from Stanoch's website. This book conatins a LOT of material and will definitely repay time invested in it."(Brent Keefe) Thank you to editor Ian Croft, reviewer Brent Keefe and the staff of DRUMMER for their interest my book and their dedication to the art of drumming. I appreciate it!
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David to Appear at 2010 KoSA Winnipeg DrumTalk FestivalThe 2010 KoSA Winnipeg DrumTalk Festival has just been announced. The event takes place on Sunday, March 21st, in Manitoba, Canada. I'm proud to be part of an exciting bill that also includes Cuban drummer, composer and bandleading sensation, Piloto, and Jim Riley, of the hit-making band, Rascal Flatts. Artist line-up, times and ticket information is all available at the website or Facebook Event/Fan Page. I'd like to encourage anyone in the region to come and join us for what promises to be a fantastic day of celebrating the art and power of drumming. There's something for everyone - a lot of diversity! I'd like to thank Festival Director, David Schneider, who is a tireless and terrific educator and head of The Music Cellar, which is a fantastic institution of learning in the Winnipeg, Manitoba area, for his warm invitation, and also Aldo Mazza, who heads the renowned KoSA Academy in Montreal and hosts workshops and events worldwide, for embracing this event and enveloping it with the prestigious KoSA name and standard of excellence. I am so fortunate to have an incredible array of sponsors for my appearance and as important as it is to me to inform you about this event and help promote it, it is equally, if not more so, important to thank the incredible teams of people at Alfred Music Publishing, Drummer Cafe, Hansenfutz, McNally Smith College of Music, Modern Drummer, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth, and Yamaha Drums - my friends who are not only supporting my musical needs, they are also generously providing their literature, swag and a variety of door prizes for the event. It is a real honor to represent and have the support of all of these fine organizations that I am proud to be a part of. It's an honor that's not lost on me. I take all of my performance and educational work very seriously and really enjoy it. Please join us if you can and do say hello! I look forward to meeting any and all who can attend.
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 Modern Drummer, March 2010 |
New Article in March 2010 Issue of Modern Drummer MagazineI'd like to invite you all to check out a new article featured in the Jazz Drummer's Workshop section of the March 2010 issue of MODERN DRUMMER magazine, on sale on 2/2/10, entitled "A Lesson with Max Roach - an Exercise for Developing a Transparent Sound." This article highlights an incredible lesson I had with Max Roach, back in my college days, that is timeless in its value. Max Roach is an icon of modern music and to have the opportunity to study with him first-hand was an experience changed my life forever. This lesson has been featured on my lesson session page and a staple of my own teaching ever since I learned it from Max. I'm fortunate and proud to share it with everyone through MD's vast and far-reaching readership. My thanks to Michael Dawson at Modern Drummer for his support. The 3/10 issue also has great features on my friends Stanton Moore and Jeff Hamilton as well as Paiste Cymbals, whose family I'm proud to have been a member of for over a decade. It's a great issue, check it out!
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NAMM Show Autograph Session at Alfred Music Publishing BoothIf you're attending the 2010 NAMM Show, January 14th - 17th, at the Anaheim Convention Center, please drop by the Alfred Music Publishing Booth, #4822, where I'll be signing copies of my book, Mastering the Tables of Time, and say hello!
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TRIPLICATE Returns For a Rare Live Show at Hell's Kitchen on January 7thJoin us as we reunite for a show @ Hell's Kitchen, 80 S. 9th St., Minneapolis, on Thurs,1/7 @ 8P! Joel Shapira, Bruce "Pooch" Heine and myself are looking forward to revisiting our repertoire and playing for you! Please join us in Hell!
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Frankhouse CD "Thought vs. Emotion" Listed in Top Ten Local Releases of 2009 by StarTribune NewspaperCongrats to my bandmates in Frankhouse for landing in premier Twin Cities jazz writer, Tom Surowicz's Top Ten of 2009/StarTribune list for our CD, Thought vs. Emotion. You can see the full tally here. Our music is now available on itunes, check it out!
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IMPROVE YOUR GROOVE Polyrhythm Tutorial Featured Online at DRUM! Magazine WebsiteExcerpts from Mastering the Tables of Time, Vol. I, are now featured in an online lesson tutorial at the DRUM! Magazine website, as part of the Lessons and Technique section of their Cover Story Practice Pad, all courtesy of Alfred Music and the staff of DRUM! My thanks to the team at Alfred and DRUM! publisher Phil Hood for their interest in the method and support! Check it out HERE!
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 Modern Drummer - January 2010 |
New Lesson Series, Part Three, Featured in Jan. '10 Modern Drummer MagazineBe sure to check out the final installment of my series of educational articles - Mastering Time which appears in the January 2010 issue of MODERN DRUMMER magazine, on sale everywhere on 12/1/09. The series has been based on my method book for drumset, Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I, but the final installment takes a deptarture and offers a preview excerpt from a new project I have in development with Alfred Music Publishing for 2010. The new article, entitled "Part 3: The Stubble-Stroke Roll" pays tribute to the innovative imagination of the legendary Clyde Stubblefield , "The Funky Drummer" as James Brown described him, expanding on a concept I saw Clyde use to great effect during my college days in Madison, Wisconsin, where Clyde resides. As the series wraps up I want to take the opportunity to thank Managing Editor, Michael Dawson, who edited the series, the late Bill Miller, who invited me to contribute, and the entire MD staff for their support and inspiration. It is greatly appreciated.
New Review of Mastering the Tables of Time at Tiger Bill's Drumbeat Website!"Tiger" Bill Meligari has published at great new review of Mastering the Tables of Time at his popular website www.TigerBill.com. Check it out HERE, and my thanks to Tiger Bill!
Win Free Copies of Mastering the Tables of Time Throughout November - International Drum Month - at Tiger Bill Meligari's Website!"Tiger" Bill Meligari is an internationally recognized drummer, educator, clinician, author, and publisher with more than 30 years experience. In addition he is webmaster of his popular drum and percussion website www.TigerBill.com. Bill also publishes a popular monthly video Drum Lesson column for the DRUM! Magazine website. In celebration of International Drum Month, throughout November, Tiger Bill is giving away free copies of my book, thanks to my friends at Alfred Music and yours truly. Register to win here!
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David Joins Artists Roster Endorsing Hansenfutz Practice PedalsI've been using Otto Hansenfutz practice foot pedals for a few years now. I loved them the first time I tried them and they filled a need in our classrooms at the McNally Smith College of Music. It began one afternoon where I was at an incredible lunch date with 4-Way Coordination authors, Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot Fine, and jazz legend and former Tonight Show drummer, Ed Shaughnessy. Marv mentioned offhandedly that he wished we had pedals to accompany the practice pads the students use (along with two drumsets) in our classrooms at MSCM, and Ed said he had just the thing for us and hook me up with Mark Cubranich at Hansenfutz to try out a pair. I was hooked. Lightweight, portable and comfortable. I take them with me and enjoy having them handy on the road to loosen up and improve my foot technique. I was just informed that I'm officially part of the Artist Roster at the Hansenfutz website. Check it out and click on the News and Readers Poll Winners links to see more! My thanks to Otto and Mark for their great product and support.
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Rhythmelodic is Proud to Announce Worldwide Distribution of Mastering the Tables of Time by Alfred Music PublishingAlfred Music Publishing, home to the world's largest percussion print music catalog, and Rhythmelodic Music, are thrilled to announce Alfred's new worldwide distribution of the award-winning educational book, Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume 1: Introducing the Standard Timetable, by David Stanoch. The distribution partnership between Rhythmelodic and Alfred is an amazing opportunity to make Mastering the Tables of Time more accessible worldwide in terms of providing physical copies into retailers and increased online purchase options as well. This will benefit anyone who may want to hold and page through the book before buying in just the same way one would want to "kick the tires" and a drive a potential new car purchase around the block. | |
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The team at Alfred is an exceptional one and I'm proud to have their support. I want to express my special thanks to John O'Reilly, Jr., Bob Durkee, Rich Lackowski, and Ann Miranda, whom have all been absolutely stellar in their enthusiasm about the book! I'm happy to add that this is an association that will continue to bear fruit and I'm proud to now be a member of the Alfred family and feel fortunate to count them among my superior educational outlets for spreading the knowledge and the joy of drumming. Read Alfred's official Press Release here at the Drummer Cafe and watch for advertising worldwide in Modern Drummer, DRUM! and Drumhead magazines as well as around the worldwide web.
Spotlight on McNally Smith College of Music, David Stanoch, & Mastering the Tables of Time at Artistshouse MusicArtisthouse Music is an non-profit organization developed by John Snyder, its Founder and President, that has a fantastic online resource focusing on helping musicians and music entrepreneurs create sustainable careers. John visited the McNally Smith College of Music in March 2009 and was invited to attend a session of my Technique III course for percussion majors which uses my book as its curriculum. The class was filmed and is now featured on the Artisthouse Music website. The film demonstrates my approach for working through a particular assignment with the students in the class individually. If you'd like a look at the particular assignment that the students play their own voicing interpretations of, you can see it here. I hope you'll check it out! My thanks to John and MSCM President Harry Chalmiers for their interest and support.
Mastering the Tables of Time Recommended by American Federation of MusiciansMy thanks to both my local, the Twin Cities Musicians Local 30-73, for plugs they've given my book, Mastering the Tables of Time, early after its release in 2008 and more recently after winning the Modern Drummer 2009 Readers Poll, and the American Federation of Musicians which recommends the book in the October 2009 issue of International Musician - The Offical Journal of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. I greatly appreciate the support of my fellow union members.
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New "Featured Musician" Biography and Article Series at Drummer CafeMy thanks to Nashville drummer, percussionist and webmaster, Bart Elliott, who has posted a new Featured Musician biography page and an article based on a post I made at his fabulous Drummer Cafe website! The bio is a bit different than similar ones floating around the web in that Bart gave me the opportunity to tell my story in my own words, which I appreciate. There is also a photo gallery of me at various stages of my career on gigs and with friends and mentors and there is an accompanying audio montage with a mix of various tracks I've recorded over the years w/Richard Davis, Ben Sidran, Katy Tessman, Sometimes Y, Triplicate, and others. Be sure to check it out! The article is entitled "Art & Craft - A Working Drummer's Diary - Episode One: An Evening with Regis Philbin - A Show Drumming Experience." It chronicles a day in the life of a type of gig I've done for many years that I get asked about a lot. Check it out and I hope you enjoy it. It is the first of a series of such pieces I will contribute to the Drummer Cafe as unique and interesting situations arise.
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 Modern Drummer - October 2009 |
New Lesson Series, Part Two, Featured in Oct. '09 Modern Drummer MagazineI'm pleased to share with you that the second of my new series of articles - Mastering Time appears in the October 2009 issue of MODERN DRUMMER magazine. The series is based on the method in my book, Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I, and will show creative ways to apply the studies to making music. I hope you will check it out and find some inspiration in the effort. The feedback I've received from so many readers worldwide who read Part One in the August 2009 issue has been humbling, mind-blowing and empowering - let's groove!!! My sincere thanks again to MD Managing Editor, Michael Dawson, for his friendship, commitment to education, and wicked editorial skills!
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 Slagwerkkrant - Sept/Oct 2009 |
New Review of Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I, Featured in the Netherlands Premier Drum/Percussion Magazine, SlagwerkkrantIn the afterglow of winning the MODERN DRUMMER 2009 Readers Poll for Best Method Book, a lovely NEW review of MASTERING THE TABLES OF TIME, VOLUME I is featured in the Sept/Oct. 2009 edtion of Slagwerkkrant magazine. It is a very humbling and exciting experience to see a glowing review of your work in a language you can't read yourself! I want to extend my sincere thanks to two wonderful friends of mine from the Netherlands, RenČ van der Stel and Louis Maatman, for alerting me to the review and sending me their translations of it from Dutch to English, which I will share with you below. Thank you gentlemen, your kindness is greatly appreciated! MASTERING THE TABLES OF TIME, by David Stanoch, SLAGWERKKRANT (9-10/09) What is it that we drummers do almost a hundred percent of our playing time? To classify the pulse, the heartbeat of the music in smaller note values. Often the quarter note performs as the pulse which we subdivide in eights, sixteens and/or triplets. Actually one could subdivide a quarter note in every imaginable number, but after the eight the relevance is rapidly lost. Being able to have a good feeling for these numbers and being able to play them is essential to every drummer. This book trains that ability by playing timetables - schemes of a sort where in every measure the number of notes per count increases and - if you want - decreases. The fun thing is that David Stanoch puts every aspect of drumming into timetables. Rudiments, grooves, solo groupings, accent patterns, and so on. This means incredible coordination exercises, and also your technique will be trained thoroughly. Also, of course, subjects like polyrhythms and metric modulation are covered. This is just Part 1 and already there is an incredible amount in it. Enough for a lot of study, where a single exercise addresses many elements. Modern Drummer magazine awarded the book Best Method Book of 2009. I also expect good numbers here. The cover's looks aren't exciting but the content is extraordinary!. Go to www.rhythmelodic.com for much more information and video clips (Mark Eeftens). I want to thank the staff of Slagwerkkrant, and especially reviewer Mark Eeftens, for their dedication to the art of drumming, and the attention they've paid to my book. I am most grateful!
New Interview with David on MinnPost.com.I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Twin Cities writer and jazz fan, Pamela Espeland, about my new book, , and the upcoming Lease/Moriarty Quintet gig (described below). It was a pleasure to chat with Pamela who is a terrific writer and stalwart champion of all things jazzy in the Twin Cities. The interview was posted on July 13th, 2009, and you can read it here. Enjoy!
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 Modern Drummer - August 2009 |
New Lesson Series in Modern Drummer MagazineI am proud to announce the debut this month of my new series of articles - Mastering Time - in the August 2009 issue of MODERN DRUMMER magazine. The series is based on the method in my book, Mastering the Tables of Time, Volume I, and will show creative ways to apply the studies to making music. I was invited in the Spring of 2008 to submit the articles by Editor-in-Chief, William F. Miller, who sadly passed away in December, 2009. I miss Bill and am forever grateful for his support and guidance. I would like to dedicate the series to him. Watch for it over the next several issues and enjoy! Special thanks also to MD Managing Editor, Michael Dawson, who has taken up the reigns of the educational department, for his friendship and expertise.
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A Very Special Lease/Moriarty Quintet Gig to Bid Kelly Rossum FarewellThe Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty Quintet consists of Ellen on piano, Pat on Alto Saxophone , Kelly Rossum on trumpet, Chris Bates on bass and myself on trapset and assorted other percussion instruments. On Tuesday July 14th, @ 8P, we will gather at Studio Z (in the Northwestern Building - 275 E. 4th Street, St. Paul, MN) to perform and say farewell to our friend and trumpeter, Kelly Rossum, who is moving to NYC with his wife Suzanne at Summer's end. A reception to honor Kelly will follow. Please join us. 651-755-1600. $10 adults, $5 students. We will miss them and wish them well. I'm particularly proud this incarnation of the quintet was able to record and document our chemistry. The CD, "Chance, Love & Logic" was released on Innova Records on April 8th, 2008. You can read the press release here and track listing and liner notes here. The sessions, highlighting the original and interesting compositions of Ellen and Pat, were relaxed and inspired and the music is compelling, elastic and provocative. We hope you'll check it out and JOIN US on July 14th for the fun!!
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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!
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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.
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David Joins the "Pro 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!
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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!
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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!
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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. | |
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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!!!
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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!
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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!
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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
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