Yeah, I've been interested in picking this one up - because of the concept you mentioned. Thanks for the nudge over the fence.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Any way that you guys could clarify / be a little more specific on this statement?It's nice to see a DVD that covers internal issues mainly; drums approached from the inside-out as opposed from the outside-in
I mean, I am somewhat familiar w his approach [if only via the MDF 2000 dvd], but i was just wondering...Thx... [img]cool.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 25, 2004 03:31 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>
Yeah, it is worth it... well, it was to me! It can give you some nice springboard concepts, as far as the mental aspect, to work off of. His grooves and feel are SOOO DEEP. He is one of those busy players that has alot going on, as a drummer would notice, would to a regular listener they just hear nothing but groove. He creates great perpetual motion. Also the DVD is presented in a master class format, he is teaching these concepts to students and using their playing as examples in certain parts.
Fuse-
Some of the concepts are such as:
Internal clock developement, hearing "all of the time". He talks about ways to develope full awareness of time and subdivisions in your head, as well as unplayed physical "mechanisms" that he uses to help his awareness of the time. Then he goes on to work on different ways to think of time in terms of "big time". That is how to open up the time feel and even though you have all the subdivisions accounted for in your head; developing a way to play so that it doesn't sound like you are conveying all those subdivisions (sounding stiffly tied to the subdivisions), even though you are still mentally locked into them. Letting the music and groove breathe while nailing the time right between the eyes.
He also takes students and acts as a producer, telling them what he wants on a certain take. They play and then he talks about, from a producer's standpoint, what they should do to serve the song better. For example he will say: "Ok, on this tune there is an 8 bar into, then 16 bar verse, then right into the chorus. The feel on the intro is subtle, i am hearing a big 2 & 4 pulse, but no backbeats or anything, let's try some other way to get that going on. Also really mellow on all the dynamics. Convey that pulse while keeping it low key, maintain a good undertow. On the verse let's go with a simple knock and (then he hums a percussive pulse) get this feel going on, but still more of an undertow... no big backbeat stuff, keep it organic feeling but bring up the dynamics to pull you from the intro into this groove here, but not too much. Then, two measures before the chorus, etc, etc, etc...."
That is the idea, and no, those aren't exact quotes, i was just approximating. He tries to get across how, from a producer's perspective, they want us to serve the song. He then shows us how, as a drummer, to get into what they are saying and what they want.
Good quote from the DVD: "As an artist you HAVE TO take responsibility for your art. We are artists and as musicians we must claim responsibility for every note." The way he says that, it kicks my ass [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]
You guys just sold me on it, anyway [img]wink.gif[/img]
I don't know if anyone has already posted on this topic yet but i picked up the Billy Ward DVD and, yeah, i love it. It's nice to see a DVD that covers internal issues mainly; drums approached from the inside-out as opposed from the outside-in. Putting this to use with say, the Lang DVD, would cover a WIDE range and give you killer ideas from both points of view. Like i said, if you haven't already heard this on here: GO PICK THIS ONE UP!
yeah its a at dvd, i also picked up travelling through time...havent seen all of it yet but it seems a little crazy with lots of clave odd times and stuff
I better email Billy and find out about some kickbacks or something... maybe a nickel for every DVD sold to an HODer [img]rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]
The opening scene looks nothing like your typical instructional DVD. Billy really put his heart & soul into this work. Billy has a passion for the hi-hat and all the nuances you can create from this voice.
It also doesn't hurt that the man is very consistent--cool in person and on-line! Check out his message board at: http://p205.ezboard.com/fbillywardfrm1
Check out his playing on the little known recording from The Knack called "Serious Fun"
There is "serious" energy on this recording...and it is "fun" stuff to listen to!
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