It's that time of year when high school drummers start preparing for the workout of their lives. It's time to get into shape and your skills honed. Wanna be the best you can be? Enroll with a private instructor in your area.
Diddles, flams, cheeses and rolls are some of the skills you'll need to compete in this arena of drumming. Repetitive warmups to build equal responses in both upper limbs all the while keeping time with the feet.
I'll add one more important step to being the best you can be ... mental attitude. You need to crave, desire, lust, want to be a champion. This is the only way to drive yourself to greatness and commit to practicing.
So, with your goals and a coach/instructor, you can be the best you can be.
Good luck with your goals.
Kenneth Ray Sword Jr
Drum and Percussion writer and instructor for Catoctin High School Band and Walkersville High School Band in Frederick County, Md. Private Instructor at Music & Arts Center in Frederick, Md.
Call the store for available lesson times.
301.694.0007
Showing posts with label drums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drums. Show all posts
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Donate your musical instruments
Donate your old musical instruments for the musical kids of today and tomorrow. We are looking to help young minds grow and music does the trick. Our goal is to give as many children the option to study music and you can help us help those young ones and programs that need help getting what they need, too.
It doesn't matter what condition the instrument is in we will take it, even if it's just for parts. We'll be glad to give you a reciept of value for your donation so you can claim it on your taxes.
We won't turn down any donation, even if it's in pieces. Mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds, drumsticks, music stands, cases, full and partial brass and wind instruments, drum shells, hoops, lugs, mallet frames, resonators, harnesses, marching equipment and supplies, old tympani, xylophones, bells, hand bells, keyboards, recorders, whatever. Help music education to help the youth that don't otherwise have a chance to learn music.
Don't have an instrument to donate? Give us a cash donation of $1, $5, $10 or whatever you can afford to give and remember to write off your donation(s) on your taxes.
Address and donate links will soon be available.
It doesn't matter what condition the instrument is in we will take it, even if it's just for parts. We'll be glad to give you a reciept of value for your donation so you can claim it on your taxes.
We won't turn down any donation, even if it's in pieces. Mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds, drumsticks, music stands, cases, full and partial brass and wind instruments, drum shells, hoops, lugs, mallet frames, resonators, harnesses, marching equipment and supplies, old tympani, xylophones, bells, hand bells, keyboards, recorders, whatever. Help music education to help the youth that don't otherwise have a chance to learn music.
Don't have an instrument to donate? Give us a cash donation of $1, $5, $10 or whatever you can afford to give and remember to write off your donation(s) on your taxes.
Address and donate links will soon be available.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Percussion Night At Frederick Community College
It doesn't get any better than this! 3 clinics. 3 artists. ALL FREE!!!
Greg Herron, Ray Sword and Frank Gonzalez will present many different topics on percussion and they will team up to perform a three movement chart by Armand Russell titled Percussion Suite. You will also get to see and perform with the FCC Percussion Ensemble.
This clinic is supported by Promark drumsticks, Music & Arts Center and Frederick Community College.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Drum Lesson Studio coming to Frederick, MD
High Tech Drum Lesson Studio coming to Frederick, MD
Just imagine ... you show up for your drum lesson, enter the practice room and sit down to an electronic kit that can be tailored to the sounds needed for the lesson. From 80's pop sounding toms to a coctail jazz kit to a kit tuned for the Dave Matthews Band style songs or for Contemporary Christian Rock. Whatever sound you need we most likely have it.
Need to practice a tympani part for your school program? Got it covered here. Plus, with the Aux. Input for mp3's and other tunes playback devices AND the built in songs bank, you have many songs and styles ready to practice to.
Just pop it in hit play and you play along with it. If you are using the song bank that is included with this kit you can silence the drumtrack and you play along and hear yourself with the band.
Once we have this track thing established your next step will be to be recorded. I will be growing your chances of fast advancement with all the high tech tools available. In the coming months audio and video recordings of the students lessons will be incorporated into the lesson plan. This gives the student the opportunity to have on record what the lesson plan was, what things we worked on to fix technique and so on. They will be able to see, without a doubt, what was covered in the lesson and what is expected to be ready for the next lesson.
Come and check it out. I'm located at Music & Arts Center on W. Patrick St right across McDonald's and Giant Eagle on Rt. 40 in Frederick, MD. I have available time slots for students on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the moment. Contact the store for specific times available @ 301.694.0007. Lessons are contracted on a monthly basis.
Ray Sword
Just imagine ... you show up for your drum lesson, enter the practice room and sit down to an electronic kit that can be tailored to the sounds needed for the lesson. From 80's pop sounding toms to a coctail jazz kit to a kit tuned for the Dave Matthews Band style songs or for Contemporary Christian Rock. Whatever sound you need we most likely have it.
Need to practice a tympani part for your school program? Got it covered here. Plus, with the Aux. Input for mp3's and other tunes playback devices AND the built in songs bank, you have many songs and styles ready to practice to.
Just pop it in hit play and you play along with it. If you are using the song bank that is included with this kit you can silence the drumtrack and you play along and hear yourself with the band.
Once we have this track thing established your next step will be to be recorded. I will be growing your chances of fast advancement with all the high tech tools available. In the coming months audio and video recordings of the students lessons will be incorporated into the lesson plan. This gives the student the opportunity to have on record what the lesson plan was, what things we worked on to fix technique and so on. They will be able to see, without a doubt, what was covered in the lesson and what is expected to be ready for the next lesson.
Come and check it out. I'm located at Music & Arts Center on W. Patrick St right across McDonald's and Giant Eagle on Rt. 40 in Frederick, MD. I have available time slots for students on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the moment. Contact the store for specific times available @ 301.694.0007. Lessons are contracted on a monthly basis.
Ray Sword
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Musician's Friend is offering these shipping cut-off dates
Yes, Musician's Friend is offering product shipment as stated below.
So, whatever the musical gift you can get it in time for Christmas.
Use our banner above to place your order quickly and conveniently.
Orders Placed before 2 pm EST on the below dates should deliver by 12/24
- Standard Shipping: 12/18/2008
- 2-Day Shipping: 12/22/2008
- Next-Day Shipping: 12/23/2008
So, whatever the musical gift you can get it in time for Christmas.
Use our banner above to place your order quickly and conveniently.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Big Book of Scales Being Released Today
Badassdrumming.com's creator, Kenneth Ray Sword Jr, has just finished his new book in .pdf format called "The Big Book of Scales for Mallets. Over 300 pages with diagrams of each scale in each key. Over 650 keys.
"This undertaking has been in the works for over 2 months and I am glad to have it finished and ready." Sword said.
Sword handed out rough drafts to colleagues and professors around the US, mostly in Texas, to get their feedback and to test the book with students.
Quoted from Robert Soto ...
"Ray,
I love the e-book buddy! I think it's a great tool, and a must have. I would love to get a copy of the whole thing, how much? This book is similar to Jazz Patterns by Jerry Coker, but I think you've complied more scales and diagrams for your project. I once envisioned doing something like this when I was in high school, but I'm glad you're the one who did it, major applause my friend! ... I think this is a great idea, and it's something to have especially when teaching young jazz musicians.
Robert
Robert Soto M.M.
Bass Trombonist
basstrebor@????????.com
www.myspace.com/rsotomusic"
Robert really understands theory and the importance of scales. He's an educator and performer with Fuego Latino, playing Salsa and Meringue. He is very active in the Jazz scene and symphony scene, too. He received his Bachelor's at UTEP and his Masters at Yale in Music.
The best part is anyone can get this book and benefit. Based on theory studies and yet anyone in music will gain great practice from it.
It's worth looking at to see if it will help you and/or your student(s).
Frank Gonzalez, 2006 DCI Solo Marimba Champion, has been trying it out with his students with much success.
Art Avila, endorsed by Promark Drumsticks, is using it with his frontline players that he teaches in El Paso, TX.
See more about it here. Big Book of Scale for Mallets
"This undertaking has been in the works for over 2 months and I am glad to have it finished and ready." Sword said.
Sword handed out rough drafts to colleagues and professors around the US, mostly in Texas, to get their feedback and to test the book with students.
Quoted from Robert Soto ...
"Ray,
I love the e-book buddy! I think it's a great tool, and a must have. I would love to get a copy of the whole thing, how much? This book is similar to Jazz Patterns by Jerry Coker, but I think you've complied more scales and diagrams for your project. I once envisioned doing something like this when I was in high school, but I'm glad you're the one who did it, major applause my friend! ... I think this is a great idea, and it's something to have especially when teaching young jazz musicians.
Robert
Robert Soto M.M.
Bass Trombonist
basstrebor@????????.com
www.myspace.com/rsotomusic"
Robert really understands theory and the importance of scales. He's an educator and performer with Fuego Latino, playing Salsa and Meringue. He is very active in the Jazz scene and symphony scene, too. He received his Bachelor's at UTEP and his Masters at Yale in Music.
The best part is anyone can get this book and benefit. Based on theory studies and yet anyone in music will gain great practice from it.
It's worth looking at to see if it will help you and/or your student(s).
Frank Gonzalez, 2006 DCI Solo Marimba Champion, has been trying it out with his students with much success.
Art Avila, endorsed by Promark Drumsticks, is using it with his frontline players that he teaches in El Paso, TX.
See more about it here. Big Book of Scale for Mallets
Welcome to BadAssDrumming Blog
Ray Sword here to greet you to our new blog. For all of you drummers we will be bringing you some of the most sought after and less known things about drumming and percussion. It free to join our site and we continue to grow and expand the site weekly.
Just locked in a new endorsed artist - Frank Gonzalez, educator for Promark Drumsticks. He joins the ranks with Art Avila. We also have Ricky Malichi, Jazz drummer endorsed by SPAUN Drums.
All of these guys will be bringing videos, lessons, articles and more to give to you, our drumming friends.
Be sure to join up for free.
www.badassdrumming.com - Are you a bad ass? Join and prove it.
Ray Sword
Founder of BadAssDrumming. com
Just locked in a new endorsed artist - Frank Gonzalez, educator for Promark Drumsticks. He joins the ranks with Art Avila. We also have Ricky Malichi, Jazz drummer endorsed by SPAUN Drums.
All of these guys will be bringing videos, lessons, articles and more to give to you, our drumming friends.
Be sure to join up for free.
www.badassdrumming.com - Are you a bad ass? Join and prove it.
Ray Sword
Founder of BadAssDrumming. com
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