When composing a drum score, the composer has many important choices to make during the process that will determine the musicality of the drum score. The examples below show two sets of musical choices and the differences between those choices…
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What is "Lift"? Part V: Creating Lift in a March
Now you know where to find the beats, backbeats and offbeats in simple time and compound time, let's begin the process of putting this knowledge to use when writing a drum score. This week we'll be looking at the march…
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What is "Lift"? Part IV: Understanding the Offbeat in Compound Time
Compared to offbeats in simple time, offbeats in compound time are much simpler. Compound time uses beat groupings of three notes and the offbeat is located on the second note of these three note groupings. There are only three rhythmic…
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What is "Lift"? Part III: Understanding the Offbeat in Simple Time
We've already discussed beats and backbeats in simple time. Today we'll be looking at the part of the beat that, if emphasized, provides the most effective way to get "lift" into your drum scores: the offbeat. The offbeat is…
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What is "Lift"? Part II: Understanding the Beat and Backbeat in Compound Time
Last time we discussed the differences between the beat and backbeat in simple time. This week we'll be discussing those differences in the context of compound time (sometimes referred to as "triple" time). Whereas simple time uses subdivisions of…
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What is "Lift?" Part I: Understanding the Beat and Backbeat in Simple Time
The word "lift" has been appearing on pipe band score sheets for decades. It is a mysterious and confusing word! What is lift? How can a drum corps achieve it? In the next several weeks I'll be discussing the issue…
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"REPS": Let's get real about repetition
The word "reps" is thrown around a lot in every pipe band. Every practice we hear...
"Get some reps in"
"We need to rep that some more"
"Don't forget to rep the second part"
What Does this Word Mean?
The…
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Video Blog: How to Improve Your FOCUS
The word "focus" is thrown around a lot. I hear often hear it in rehearsal and even more often on competition days. What does it mean? Is it possible to practice focusing? If so, what does that look like?
Check…
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#pipebanddrumming
This week I'd like to discuss the subject of #hashtags. Hashtags are commonly used on Twitter to categorize posts so that others can follow those hashtags and comment, share and otherwise interact. They are incredibly useful! I use them all…
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Backyard FAQ: How Do I Get My Rolls Faster?
Today marks the start of a new video series on PipeBandDrummer.com: Backyard FAQ. My plan is to answer frequently asked questions I receive from subscribers to PipeBandDrummer in video form and then post them on the YouTube channel for everyone's…
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Five Long Minutes of Cut Fours (Slow)
Welcome to the fifth instalment of the "Five Long Minutes" blog post/video series: Five Long Minutes of Cut Fours!
When I was first taught to play a cut four (four stroke roll) there was a disconnect between the way…
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Five Long Minutes of Drags
This week: Five Long Minutes of Drags! For most pipe band drummers drags are one of the most difficult rudiments to execute properly. Drags are composed of a principal note (big note) and a two smaller notes (two 32nd grace…
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Five Long Minutes of Flams
Continuing with the "Five Long Minutes" video series, this week: Five Long Minutes of Flams! Flams consist of only two notes. They look innocent enough but they are actually fairly difficult to explain and even more difficult to execute. Flams…
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Five Long Minutes of Accented Rolls
Continuing with the "Five Long Minutes" video series on the PIpeBandDrummer.com Youtube Channel, this week we'll be focusing on accented rolls. Accented rolls are found in each of the five pipe band styles and can range from simple "tap buzz…
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So... You Want to Be a Lead Drummer?
After reading an article recently by Pipes|Drums called "The Drummer's Dilemma" I got to thinking about the issue of lead drummers passing on their skills to younger players. This is a difficult and complex issue but it begins…
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New Video Series: Five Long Minutes
Have you ever been frustrated when life gets in the way of your practice time? Sometimes, with a busy schedule, it is impossible to find a whole hour to sit down and run through your entire practice routine. As a…
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How Slow Can You Go?: Breaking Down the Massed Band 6/8
Welcome to the third part of a three part series on slowing down the North American massed band scores. I've saved the 6/8 for last because it has some very tricky parts in it.
- The very first note of…
How Slow Can You Go?: Breaking Down the Massed Band 3/4
This week we'll be discussing the North American massed band 3/4 drum score. The 3/4 is the easiest of the three massed band scores to play but there are still a couple of sections to keep an eye on.
- …
How Slow Can You Go?: Breaking Down the Massed Band 4/4
This week on the blog we'll be breaking down the North American massed band 4/4 drum score. The massed band scores have been around a while and they have quite a history. Dave Coleman, from the Fredericton Society of St…
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I Hate Competing Solo... So why do I do it??
I have a confession to make that I've never told anyone: I hate competing solo. There. I said it. When it's just me, a piper and a judge, I get nervous, my memory fails me, my hands turn to stone…
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