For Task 1, I am going to explain three challenges that I wish to develop. I will be improving a physical, technical and communication challenge.
Physical Challenge: Stamina –
I find keeping my stamina up, really challenging and I would like to be able to improve it as it will benefit me for future performances in my music career. Especially if I want to go into a functions band, as that can involve doing multiple gigs a week, most months of the year. Stamina can be hard to work on as it can take time and isn’t something you just get. You have to develop it over time and work on it, small gigs are a great way to practice and full rehearsals with your band or even just on your own playing through the whole setlist, will definitely help to improve it. I found a Tiny Desk video that entails this physical challenge. The drummer is only doing a 20 minute gig, however the songs that are performed, show so many uses of stamina as they play fast and complex songs.
From roughly 2:23 in the video to 2:51, the drummer plays a very complex groove as he slowly builds it up to play into the chorus with the other members. It is at a high pace and he is playing at a fast rhythm too so he needs the stamina and arm strength to keep going. Shortly after, he plays a single note on the snare and then goes straight back into a fast and groovy beat which means he gets barely any rest! He shows stamina as he is full of energy throughout the performance even though he is constantly playing what seems quite a complex groove and also a fast one, whereas I would definitely struggle due to not having played for that long before. Hopefully I will get the chance to in the future. To be able to play this fast throughout all the songs he plays on the Tiny Desk is pure talent in my opinion, and I’d love to be able to achieve it.
Technical Challenge: Dynamics –
I would like to improve on my dynamics as it is a major part to playing drums. If you were playing choruses and verses at the same volume as each other, it would ruin the build up to the chorus and their wouldn’t be a distinctive different between the two. However if you use dynamics and learn to control the sound and volume of each section, you can easily show how well you control your instrument and it also helps with expressing what mood you want to get across on the it. If you constantly play loudly, it will convey the songs as angry or upbeat, but the song might actually only be upbeat in the chorus. So, if you learn to play the verses more quietly or slightly different, it can be useful with helping to express what the songs true meaning is. Obviously it isn’t like that for all songs, but typically. there is a volume dynamic between sections of a song. I found this Tiny Desk video below that indicates this technical challenge that I struggle with.
At 4:12, during the song ‘Retold’, the drummer Nate Smith play a quiet groove, entailing a softly played cymbal and a snare with a brush because he wants to play as quietly as possible. However when he gets to 4:24 he plays the cymbal much louder to show dynamics and it also shows them moving into the next section of the song. Almost being used as a fill like at the end of a bar to move into a different groove. He uses a volume dynamic with the cymbal because a loud heavy fill would lose the gentle/calm feel to the song. All it takes is a simple choke of the cymbal and I find that can even be enough of a dynamic to display the feeling of the song. This is a great skill to learn as it gives me more freedom with the music I want to play and how I can express certain feelings through the kit.
Communication Challenge: Feeling the groove –
Feeling the groove is a key part to performing as a drummer. It’s crucial factor as you need to show the audience and the other members of the band that you are enjoying the performance as much as they are too. The reason I need to work on this is because one of the main pieces of feedback I receive, is that I don’t look like I am enjoying the performance. However I am enjoying it, I just tend to forget to show my happiness when playing as I am usually to busy concentrating on the actual playing when I don’t really need tp. I think it’s down to being nervous that I am going to make a mistake by distracting myself when getting to into the groove. But feeling the groove is important as you not only need to enjoy it yourself, but you cannot look miserable during a performance as it can ruin the whole bands look if you aren’t enjoying it. The audience will soon pick up on it and they will feel like they haven’t paid for a gig that’s worth it if the drummer doesn’t even want to be there. I want to work on my look when playing a lot and I found the perfect Tiny Desk video that displays ‘feeling the groove’ well. Here it is:
Lous and The Yakuza have a drummer who is in the video above called Jamiel Blake. He is a prime example of feeling the groove in this, especially in the song ‘Bon Acteur’. The simple nodding of the head to the beat, is enough to show he is into the music and enjoying it so much. He gives a smile every now and again even when he isn’t playing and it expresses to the audience that he likes the music, and it gives the viewers a good impression of the band as a whole because the enjoyment shown is an important skill that needs to be expressed. Also, in the song ‘Dilemme’ he shuts his eyes as he’s playing, as if to say he is feeling the groove so much that he is juts taking it in and appreciating it a lot. I want to be able to express this much enjoyment during my performances as it’ll give a good outlook on the band and also make me enjoy the gig even more. If I am able to play the songs without having to concentrate too much and making a miserable face, it’d be a great communication skill to develop as it will benefit me and the band as a whole. Also as a player, I want to be seen as a happy person and that I enjoy playing, which I do, but sometimes it just doesn’t look like it,
Fran Adams Drums 