Hand Technique

[PocketPlayer]

I am interested in some feedback regarding hand development videos. I?d love
to take weekly lessons but can?t muster the $50 a pop right now, so thought a
good video would create focus.
The four videos I?ve narrowed down are;
1) Jim Chapin- Speed, Power, Control, and Endurance
2) Henry Adler- Hand Development
3)Joe Morello- Natural Approach
4) Dave Weckl- Developing Technique
I?ve read a lot regarding these videos and know they feed off each other, but wondered if
one communicated more clearly than another. I have come to understand the three primary
muscles used in drumming are found in the are, the wrist, and the fingers.
* Does one video emphasize one primary muscle over another?
* Can someone who has viewed and thought through the teaching found on these videos
summarize them in a simple style stating what each teacher emphasizes?


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[Randal Walker]

I think either the Weckl or a video you did not mention, Joe Porcaro on drums. Joe's video would be a great choice, the Chapin video he tends to ramble just a bit.

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[drumkid8888]

Hi
i found the Chapin video quite helpful. it does describe the moeller technique in detail although he doesnt apply this technique to the drumkit,(shame) he sticks to the pad throughout(no pun intended LOL) and funnily enough, the synopsis at the end states that this technique can possibly be developed without a concious study of it. Chester thompsons master licks vid is pretty good, infact brilliant, he seems to play with the fingers more than the three in one moeller thing, whilst achieving amazing speed around 1000 notes per min i think. chapin does seem to ramble on at times but the vid is still worth it.it's a video which you will have to rewind a good few times to get the message. a booklet is included in the price. this breaks down the technique, making it easy to digest.Anyway, if you would like some more info just post a message or E-mail me [email protected] and i'll write down a more comprehensive list of the things you should learn from either vids.

[davfrancis]

The Chapin vid contains some excellent info on grip and motion, ovbviously focussing mostly on moeller. Dom Famularo's book is also useful for this stuff.

Weckl's vid is very interesting - particularly when contrasted with the information in his earlier Back to Basics. He obviously revised his whole approach as a result of studying With...

The legendary Fredddy Gruber - who makes a briefappearance on the tape.

Morellos video is useful as it has a number of actual exercises in the booklet - though this is mostly stuff similar or identical to Stick Control and Master Studies.

One tape you haven't mentioned which I found very useful is Murray Spivack with Louie Bellson. This again deals with grip and motion - the fulcrum discussion is very interesting and the tape is priceless due to Spivack continually correcting Bellson - "No Louie! **** YOUR WRIST!" etc
The tape also has a very nice segment from David Garibaldi in which he talks about his studies with Spivack and his practice habits at this time.

The best thing is to gradually get hold of ALL of these videos - none of them contain THE BIG SECRET of drumming - that just comes from practice... of course if it feels like hard work you're probably doing something wrong.

I haven't seen Adler's tape but would love to hear from anyone who has, or indeed anyone who has studied with the master teachers - also including Richard Wilson

[davfrancis]

The word "edited" out of my previous post begins with C and rhymes with sock - I wasn't being crass at all..