Drum Kit Secrets

Matt Dean is a professional drummer who records and tours with artists in numerous genres, as well as writing for music publications around the world. He is author of The Drum: A History (Scarecrow Press, 2011) and publishes a blog through his website, www.mattdeanworld.co.uk.

A professional drummer, Dean offers a practical, succinct guide for drummers and other instrumentalists, and also for educators, composers, arrangers, and recording/production professionals. This book is part of the 'Music Secrets for the Advanced Musician' series, which has also dealt with clarinet, oboe, and saxophone. In the present volume, most of the 52 'secrets' (a chapter is devoted to each) pertain to drumset-specific concepts: practicing, techniques, accuracy, equipment, recording strategies, and soloing. Other chapters will be helpful for non-drummers as well (though the author approaches the subject through a percussive lens). Topics here include timing strategies, health strategies (posture, hearing protection, relaxed playing), career planning and preparation (finances, audition tips), marketability and entrepreneurship (self-promotion, versatility), and various performance-related issues (e.g., stage fright). Dean has a knack for explaining techniques, concepts, and methods in a style that is accessible, concise, and to the point. For example, he describes effective practice methods in terms of 'SMART' goals, i.e., goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. Other helpful topics include chart-writing skills and fluency, techniques for balancing/aligning the hands and feet ('locked limbs'), and concepts/methods for creative metronome usage and inspired phrasing. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.

• PrefaceAcknowledgments1 Practice StrategiesSecret 1: Time ManagementSecret 2: Practice Diary Secret 3: Record Yourself Secret 4: Rhythm Then Orchestration Secret 5: Add a Note Secret 6: Looping Secret 7: Don’t Forget to Breathe Secret 8: Best Sticking Secret 9: Avoid the Rut—How to Find Inspiration Secret 10: Play More with Less 2 Technique Strategies Secret 11: Play without Tension Secret 12: The Bounce Secret 13: Which Grip? Secret 14: Fundamental Bass Techniques Secret 15: Nature’s Way 3 Timing Strategies Secret 16: Developing Your Internal Metronome Secret 17: Master of the Metronome Secret 18: Find Your Achilles’ Heel Secret 19: Swinging Secret 20: Odd Time 4 Accuracy Strategies Secret 21: Locked Limbs Secret 22: Speed Bursts 5 Equipment Strategies Secret 23: Choosing Drums Secret 24: Choosing Cymbals Secret 25: Choosing Drumsticks Secret 26: Tuning—The Black Art Secret 27: Eliminating Snare Buzz Secret 28: Getting the Right Snare Sound for Each Song Secret 29: Essential Equipment Secret 30: Embracing Technology6 Health Strategies Secret 31: Protecting Your Greatest Instrument Secret 32: Looking After Your Back Secret 33: Optimizing Setup and Seat Position Secret 34: Potential Health Risks 7 Preparation Strategies Secret 35: Writing Charts Quickly Secret 36: Nailing the Audition Secret 37: Financial Planning 8 Marketability Strategies Secret 38: Learn All Styles to a Passable Level Secret 39: Focus Your Efforts Secret 40: Promoting Yourself Secret 41: Maximize Your Employability Secret 42: Keeping the Gigs—Beyond Drumming 9 Recording Strategies Secret 43: Play Less Secret 44: Playing for the Song Secret 45: Achieving a Great Tone Secret 46: Mix Yourself 10 Performance Strategies Secret 47: Warm-up and Gig Preparation Secret 48: Stage Fright Secret 49: Believe in Yourself 11 Soloing Strategies Secret 50: Soloing with a Theme Secret 51: Odd Numbered Groupings Secret 52: Jumping into the Abyss—Improvising BibliographyIndex About the Author