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Be A Drumhead with Will Kennedy & Bob Gatzen DVD & CD ![]()
A while ago I reviewed a video/CD package called Common Ground. It was a part of what Warner Bros. Publications calls their "Inspiring Drummers Series." That particular video was produced by Bob Gatzen, himself a drummer, and I dug it. So when I heard that Bob had done a new video in the same series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. So I asked Santa to bring it early - and he did. In the Common Ground video, Bob Gatzen remained in the background and we never really got to know him. But this video puts Bob up front, where he confesses that he is indeed addicted. Yes, Bob is a real DrumHead (meaning someone who is a drum fanatic), and we also get to see Bob play drums. Be a DrumHead also stars Grammy Award-winning DrumHead Will Kennedy, who you probably know from almost a decade of work with the internationally acclaimed contemporary jazz group Yellowjackets. Will has also recorded with Herbie Hancock, Diane Schuur, Lee Ritenour, Dave Samuels, and others. He is currently on tour with Chaka Khan. In this video, Bob and Will introduce the concept of Practice Time Management (PTM), which in turn leads us into Spaceology, Drumwords, and Motorvation. The point of it all is to help maximize drum practice time, whether you're a beginner or a pro. Let's check the video/CD package out, in detail. Inspiring Intro Before the video actually starts, we are told to practice the drumless tracks on the accompanying audio CD and compare our own ideas to what we hear later, when Will and Bob lend their interpretation. This is a great idea and I would also suggest that you record yourself playing with the drumless tracks, if possible. Then you can more easily compare your interpretation. Vision: This tune, written by Bob Gatzen, features a duet by Will and Bob. There are plenty of spaces for drum fills and each player takes a turn soloing. Following this duet, the term Drum Space is defined as: Anything from a pro-studio to your living room. Anyplace you practice your drums is your Drum Space. And it is stressed that our space should be comfortable and personalized. Agogo: This is another tune written by Bob but arranged by Will Kennedy, who also plays it. Following this jazz-funk type tune, we are reminded of something most of us know only too well: TIME is the most valuable commodity in the world. Then Bob explains that the idea for the video came from a survey of drummers, both beginners and pros, where Bob asked how they found time to practice drums. When the majority responded that they couldn't find enough time, Bob came upon the PTM idea. Practice Time Management The rules of PTM are simple: Practice each section of a song separately before you attempt to play the whole tune. If your song has 3 sections, A, B, and C, and you practice each section 3 times for 2 minutes each, you'll have completed the entire song in 18 minutes. A neat idea. Agogo using PTM:The next few sections of the video apply PTM to the tune Agogo and demonstrate how to practice each section separately. Drum Space The Evolution of a Groove 6 for U: Will expands on the previous lesson and demonstrates his ideas in the context of this 6/8 tune that he wrote. Spaceology Monitoring Your Drums Drum Solo: Will plays a drum solo beginning in "free" time and proceeds to take us through various tempo changes. I especially dig his effective use of dynamics on this one. Motorvation: This tune, written and played by Will, demonstrates the meaning behind the term Motorvation. Later Bob gives you another meaning of Motorvation, which has to do with practicing on his drum pad with one hand while driving his car with the other! (He does include a "Practice safety first when drumming and driving" warning message, however.) DrumWords If you've ever wondered how your favorite players can play a fill that sounds so great in exactly the perfect spot, or how they come up with a groove that fits the song so perfectly, don't miss this section. It supplies the key that will open up your own bag of tricks. Saw It: Bob gets a chance to stretch out a bit on a tune that he wrote. A Great Use for TV Commercials Lighting Your Drum Space Mouse: Will plays through the entire tune first, then he shows you how to use the PTM technique to practice warm ups, develop your weak hand, and perfect 4-way coordination. Drum Solo: For the grand finale, Bob and Will trade drum solos. There's some good stuff happening here. Warning: It's Not Over 'til It's Over Be A DrumHead: The Bottom Line The first step is to admit you love the drums. The second step is to buy this DVD. It retails for $39.95 with an audio CD that includes original mixes along with drumless ones for practice. I highly recommend Be a DrumHead to drummers of all styles and at all skill levels. The world would be a much better place if only there were more Drumheads in it. Buy it online: Inspiring Drummers: Be a DrumHead (DVD & CD)
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