June 14, 2006

So, Hi AgaiN DruMMers Paradise Folks! >>>

Here is Another GREAT Rudiment ExCercise for Y’All to get Your Hands (or Feet!) Around!!! >>>

On June 1st I Wrote a VeRy Popular Blog oN My VersioN of a SimoN Phillips Rudiment Idea whiCh I caMe acrosS oN a Video Cassette “Zildjian Day in LONDON” >>> On this Tape Mr.Phillips demonstrates (at Absurdly FAST Speeds!) soMe Really GoOd Rudiment Ideas oN a Snare Drum infront of a Large Audience of KEEN DruMMers >>>

One of MY FAVOURITE RUDIMENT EXCERCISES OF ALL TIME (!) was Shown oN this PerformaNce.

It is such a Simple Yet effective Idea & as ALL My MaNy Students oVer the Years will contest, iS oNe that I TeaCh, Practice & LOVE!!!!!>>>

“The 9/8 Paradiddle Excercise”

This Brilliant Idea Consists of 1 Pair of Each Type of Paradiddle >>>
2 Single Paradiddles/2 Double Paradiddles/2 Triple Paradiddles, Played TOGETHER as ONE FLOWING Piece, Like this………

RLRR LRLL RLRLRR LRLRLL RLRLRLRR LRLRLRLL >>>Repeating as a Continuous Loop

To make this Smooth & Effective Play it IN TIME with a Strong Accent (Louder Note) on the Leading Hand of EVERY Paradiddle
>>> Something like this :

(R)LRR (L)RLL (R)LRLRR (L)RLRLL (R)LRLRLRR (L)RLRLRLL etc.

(I WISH there was a NiCer LoOKing way of Showing You that oN My Mac!!! SeXy as this Computer IS, It’s difficult to show Accents NICELY!…..Ah Well !!!)

If You are Left Handed, Start the Sequence from the Left Hand. >>>

This Rudiment is iN the Time Signature of 9/8 >>>
This is BeCause the Single & Triple Paradiddles are iN 4/4 while the Double Paradiddle is iN the 6/8 Signature, Therefore the Whole ExCercise wheN Played as oNe becomes 9/8 (as if by MAGIC!!!)

So Go for it Folks!! >>> Get Your FaVourite Practice Pad (& if You Don’t HaVe a DeCent Pad…..Get One!) Grab Your Best StiCks (Trueline make soMe Very NiCe oNes!!!) >>> & GET PRACTICING!!!!!

I GUARANTEE You WILL LOVE this ExCercise as MuCh as I DO!!!

For all You Double Pedal Boys & Girls, How about trying this WITH Your FEET!!!>>>

PeAcE, PasSioN & MORE Inspiring Ideas,

*** <<< Si THE FuNk >>> ***

June 1, 2006

Hi DruMMers Paradise People!

I Hope I find You ALL Well & Happy >>> I’ve Re~Visited a GREAT Rudimentary ExCercise ReCeNtly whiCh I thouGht would be Usefull to ALL You DruMMers & PerCussionists out there! >>>

BeCause of My New Endorsement with TRUELINE DrumSticks, I’ve been Really Enjoying Beating Out Rudiments on My Practice Pad.
To test out the BalanCe & Feel of My New StiCks I came baCk to a Rudiment ExCercise I’ve always liked a Great Deal >>>

It came from oNe of Simon Phillips’ Ideas which I caMe across Years ago oN a “Zildjian Day in London” Video >>>
I Very sliGhtly adapted the Snare Drum Rudiment He Played infront of a Live Audience to make it a little more “Do~able”!!!

So here it is…………”Singles~Doubles~Triples~Quads”

RLRLRLRL (8 Singles) RRLLRRLL (4 Doubles) RRRLLLRRR (3 Triples) LLLLRRRRLLLL (& 3 Quads)

Play this at aN EVEN, FLOWING Tempo as a Smooth Looping Figure. >>> If You are Left Handed Maybe start the Excercise from the LEFT HAND. >>>

I have found also that if You ADD a 4th QUAD the Rhythm will CHANGE DIRECTION & You will be automatically Leading from the opposite Hand!! >>> COOL HUH? >>> Like this…….>>>

RLRLRLRL RRLLRRLL RRRLLLRRR LLLLRRRRLLLLRRRR LRLRLRLR LLRRLLRR LLLRRRLLL RRRRLLLLRRRRLLLL etc.

I’ve put Spacing in this ONLY to make it Read Better!! >>> It is intended to be a Steady Stream of 8th Notes/Quavers. >>>

Playing this at a FiXed Tempo of Your Choice will open up Your Wrists & Help You to Develop More STRENGTH & SPEED in Your Hands >>> Helping the Muscles & Tendons in Your HANDS, WRISTS & FOREARMS to Build better Muscle~Memory!! >>>
WhiCh is ALWAYS a GOOD THING! >>> & with My TRUELINE “Power Grip” Sticks I can practically FEEL My Muscles Developing as I Play!!! >>>

Hope You have a Bit of Fun with this, Maybe try Playing along in Time to Your Current Favourite Track or Piece of Music!
How about Using the MP3 on this Very Site!!! Just a ThouGht!!!

PeAcE & Inspiring Rhythmic Ideas,

*** <<< SiMoN the DF >>> ***

May 18, 2006

On 13th May 2006 BILLY WARD was presented with the Gift of a “DF Wear” T-Shirt, Signs of LIFE Volume 2 Album & The F&R Trio Album “Rainshine” in Croydon in South LONDON by Simon Greenhill the Daddy Funk!!! >>>

Billy Ward’s Drum Clinic Tour,UK Spring 2006 >>>
Panther Kitten, Tim (Fellow Drum~Pro&Ex-Student), Ryan (Fellow OCDP Player&Current Student) & I travelled Up to Croyden in South LondoN in the Funk~PantherMobile! >>>

It was a BriGht, Sunny Saturday & the Whole Day went like Clockwork, Smooth & Easy!!! >>>
Billy was Performing a Drum Master~Class sponsored by the London Drum Company & Organised by
mikedolbear.com Nice oNe People!!! >>>

This was a GREAT little Event, which was purposly small & low key to enable Working Drum Professionals like Myself & a small handfull of keen enthusiasts to have Personal & Direct contact with Billy.

Within Minutes of arriving I met Billy Ward & Presented Him with The Daddy Funk Presentation PaCkage & had a RelaXed Chat about Drumming, Trueline Drumsticks & His British Clinic Tour >>>
I found Billy to be Friendly, Open & Very Funny! >>> He is a Sharp Witty MaN, who was Happy to share some Insights with Me & Generally Hang~Out >>>

I would like to again Thank Billy W for Introducing Me to TRUELINE “Power Ball” Drumsticks & helping Me to Secure My Endorsement with this Great Little Company! (CheCk Out My Previous Blog for MORE DETAILS)

Billy Really is a TOP DOG in the Drum~Community & I’m Very Glad to Count Him Now as one of My MaNy International Drummer Friends >>>

If You are oNe of the Few Who don’t know that MuCh about the Man I STRONGLY Suggest You Seek Out His EXCELLENT DVD “Big Time”. For More info go to His Website billyward.com He also has a GoOD Page oN
drummerworld.com whiCh is Well worth a LoOK!!! >>>

Billy Ward is a Great Drum Teacher, Drum~Enthusiast & Groovy Player. His Style & Approach is Very Similar to My Own & it was a HUGE HONOUR to Hang with Him & be INSPIRED by His FRESH, INVENTIVE ApproaCh to the DrumSet >>>
I found His Answers to My Questions on Studio Recording Particularly InsiGhtfull & His LoVe of Trueline Drumsticks as I haVe already said lead to My Subsequent Endorsment …. They REALLY DO Help to Reduce Hand, Wrist & Forearm Fatigue!! >>> We are both also Zildjian Cymbal Endorsees >>> So that’s a BIG 2 Count RiGht There!!!!! >>>

Have a LoOK at the Photo just to the Left of this Blog of BW & DF >>> & CheCk Out the “Photo Gallery” Page on
daddyfunk.com for MORE Photos of this HISTORIC MEETING!! >>>

Speak to You ALL SoON,
PeAcE & Awesome JazZy Vibes,

*** <<< SiMoN GreeNHiLL the DF >>> ***