Hi channel members,
Just a bit of fun today, but a key skill and something I make a point of doing with students in their sessions - Can you deliberately and accurately keep a steady count of "1,2,3,4" running while playing basic grooves and fills?
Students often say they understand the importance of counting, but still don't develop the ability to do so whilst playing.
Watch here:
The benefits are...
1) Developing our internal clock - we can understand where we are in the bar rather than just "feeling it" (although feel is still a massive part of playing well).
2) Improving our grooves and fills - We can develop the ability to know where fills start, how long they last and are where beat one is when we go back to the groove.
3) Strengthening independence - Playing while counting trains our brain to to manage multiple things simultaneously.
4) It helps us build our timing. Any weakness will be shown up against the steady, deliverate count!
5) It helps us when learning more complex patterns - If we can understand where 1,2,3 and 4 are, that's a great foundation for understanding the rhythm patterns that make up a groove or fill.
I challenge you! Please send over your videos of counting out loud while moving between grooves and fills, or @ tag me (Mike Barnes Drums) on social media if you do this.
Have fun and give me a shout anytime if you have any questions or if I can help in any way,
Mike