Dave Weckl and the Camera Eye

[five eight]

In many interviews Dave Weckl has talked about his habit of videotaping his gigs and even his practice sessions. I gave it a try. Various bands I worked with were amused by the addition of a piece of gear called drummer-cam. My playing however improved exponentially by watching this often embarrassing footage. But Weckl’s advice, like his playing, is impeccable. I video almost all my drumming now. This is never vanity or an ‘oh oh check me out’ endeavor. All I'm about is getting better. If you’re serious about your art, YOU NEED TO BE YOUR OWN WORST CRITIC.

When I was growing up we’d play Buddy Rich records at 16 RPM to ponder licks, and drum books, if you could read, well, let’s just say once Carmine’s Realistic Rock hit the market in the early 70s there MIGHT have been a dozen instruction books available. There may have been more but not at the music store in the small town where I lived; and parents, then like now, are not eager to surrender the car keys to a 14-year-old.

Neil Peart has spoken about practicing to the point of diminishing returns, an economic maxim inferring you’ve-learned-what-you’re-going-to-learn-so-it’s-time-make-better-use-of-your-time. I felt the same. After drumming for more than 30 years I felt there were no giant steps forward for me anymore. The more I watched videoes of Chambers and Frank Briggs and the Weckster alongside videoes of me the more my image of myself changed. My posture has always been good and my kit set up in an ergonomic fashion; but my grip evolved, my breathing changed, I wasn’t flailing like a Bonzo-in-a-China-closet anymore. Of course, not everything was bad but video quickly and efficiently pointed out where I needed the most work. Video made it easier to spot the chinks in my armor.

As an added bonus, my execution and ideas got hipper, not surprising, I was also soaking up the chops of the great players I’d seen on tape along the way. You’d better believe if I see Dave or Vinnie playing something I like, I’m going to try my hand at it too. Safe to say this method is superior to slowing down record players. Musicians previously my detractors were suddenly approaching me with compliments.

When taping I go so far as to set a lamp on the floor so that the pedals are also visible. Arrange the camcorder where it not only picks up the drums, but the rest of the band too. (I’m here to tell you I have yet to meet a guitar player who didn’t enjoy watching himself.) During playbacks I’ll cringe at pulled time, licks that began but petered out midway, hands in the wrong place at the start of a chorus and on and on and on (seemingly.) Like I said before: it's not ALL bad. When I do manage something nice, it makes it easier to remember, so that feel, that beat, that lick remains vivid enough in mind to recall when I want to use it again. The camera eye has helped me learn the arrangements of songs FASTER and to abolish extraneous fills (particularly an overdone Vinnie lick I subconsciously played as the first fill of every song!) Another problem made itself visible: I saw I resorted to five or six little tricks to excite tunes and propel them forth. My vocabulary needed varying and rebuilding (and can always use enlarging.) Once video made me aware of all my bad drumming habits (and non-judgmentally too) I was able to honestly and realistically critique myself, to make the serious re-evaluation that the camera deemed necessary. No one but a teacher will usually tell you what's wrong with your technique. If your friends are like mine they'll tell you, "You're smokin', duders, don't get yer knickers in a twist." We all love our friends and they mean well but video isn't afraid to get real with you. The process is so simple, tape and watch yourself. The process is simple but I didn't say it wasn't painful. No pain, no gain, right?

Here’s an extreme but hopefully humorous example: I used to work with a guy who picked his nose in front of everybody. It was unconscious on his part. I daresay if he’d seen a video of himself doing it he’d’ve taken immediate steps to correct this social faux pas. Fact: once you start videotaping yourself your drumming will improve. You might even start combing your hair or tucking in your shirttail and ceasing and desisting with all that grimacing. I don't remember graduating from the Eric Clapton School of Face-Making, but it must've been with honors.

So my advice is to take Weckl’s advice. Tape yourself, especially your gigs. AND don’t be shy about buying instructional videos either; they’re cheaper than a $150 hour with Terry Bozzio. Video is a lesson that keeps on giving, as forever as a diamond in that respect. Video is responsible for me reshuffling the whole deck of my technique. After years of diminishing practice returns I was taking giant steps again. It felt great. The old dog had some NEW tricks.

regards to all, Darryl (or my nom de internette 5/8)

Keith Moon: My advice to beginners playing the drums is to play the guitar.

[ptrack]

Great post!!!

[XNavyDrummer]

I've been audio-taping my rehearsals and gigs for many years. It's been a valuable tool in helping me weed out the junk from my playing. The mirror during practice (per Dave's recommendation) has also been a step forward for my playing and for my student's. The video is the next step. Any recommendations for a video camera that doesn't distort at high levels?

Thanks!

[five eight]

Andy, all I can suggest is to move your camera as far from the sound source as possible and then zoom in on what you want to shoot. My drummer-cam is always on my hi-hat side. I bought a Sony Handycam (Model CCD-TR67) with 64X digital zoom in 1999, new for $289. I've been lucky (blessed is more like it) with the condenser mike in it. It never seems to distort even when atop an amplifier at the loudest gigs imaginable or an armslength from the drums. It records beautifully on the stage as well as out in front. I'm not the only one in these bands that has a camcorder and most of the times the other cameras distort the sound bigtime. So I can't say if it's the Sony or it's just one of those rare condenser mikes that works well. For years I had $14.95 jam box that had a condenser mike like that. The ridiculous thing produced hellafied recordings.

[Derek DeFields]

just use an external mic. I use the Sony ECM717 and it never distorts no matter how close to the drums.

This is the setup I "heard" someone used to make the b/w Vinnie vid circulating the boot circuit.

[Randy walker]

he he he

[five eight]

I hope that ominous rumble of laughter means Randy Walker Presents Vinnie Colaiuta Live is due out in stores soon. Hook a brutha up with a preview!!!

[Dazzler]

Great post 5/8, good advice and nice of you to be so frank in your observations. When I was studying at The Guildhall School of Music in London, a teacher told us that for this weeks homework, we were to go home and recoed ourselves practicing - that simple! When we came back the next week he asked us how many of us had done as he asked, how we got on and what our thoughts were. I remeber that out of a clas of 20 or so, only a handful of people put their hands up, to his utter dismay! When he asked why we were so reticent to do this the general responce was "I hate listening to myself play." The point is this, if we call ourselves professional musicians and record albums, demos or whatever, we MUST get used to how other people will hear or view us when playing.
As you have said, it can be bloody painful and show up a multitude of sins, but it's utterly necessary. How can we get a feel of how we sound/look especially when people are paying good money to buy a recording of us, if we refuse to listen and be our own critics.
It WILL be painful, expect it and accept it!! You WILL cringe and think to yourself why did I play that fucking lick then, it sounded shat!! This is the ONLY way to put a stop to all the extraneous stuff we play and to hone our skills.... now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch the video of me and my gitlfriend last night... practice makes perfect!! [img]wink.gif[/img]

[five eight]

Exactly my point, Dazzler. I recently played with some rank amateurs and I videoed the session. When they saw the tape they were agog at how awful they sounded. I asked if they'd ever shot a video before. They said they'd never even heard a tape recording of themselves. Sad, like I said, rank amateurs.

In the heat of the moment you may think you're really burning and when you hear it back it sucks. Gadd said he progressed because in the studios he got to hear himself play a lot. He's a wise man. Listen AND listen to yourself.

[ladanny]

Great advise! As we speak, I'm getting ready for practice (Easter service with full band and choir) and packed my video camera exactly for this purpose!

Gregg Bissonette is also HUGE fan of this technique. As he says, if you stop and LISTEN to what you're actually playing, you will save HOURS of practice time, especially when you're playing something wrong (no, we NEVER do that!). That's why the great studio drummers are so solid: they play, listen, adjust, play, etc. AND get paid! How nice that would be!

Danny