It’s that time of year…

Happy Holidays!! Are you planning on shopping at Guitar Center, Sam Ash or any of your favorite music stores this Holiday?

Brett Frederickson, owner of DrummersRule! Drum Lessons, wants to Celebrate by giving away Two (2) FREE Hours of drum lessons with your purchase of any Drum Set or a total purchase of $350.00 spent on any combined percussion sales items from Guitar Center, Sam Ash or your favorite Music Store.

Call Brett today to schedule your FREE drum lessons! **Just print out this Blog Post and present it along with your receipt when you arrive at his drum studio.**

Located near I-17 & Bell Road, the drum studio offers 4 top of the line Roland Electronic Kits and Yamaha Custom Kit to learn on.

Shopping at Guitar Center or Sam Ash this Holiday Season?
Brett provides full 1 hour drum lessons at $25.00/hour.
Whats included:
– learn faster and retain more
– drum styles to develop skills to play your favorite songs
– read music
– sight reading
– syncopation
– increasing speed
– hand technique
– rudiments
– mastering all of the various music styles
– drum line techniques for snare, tenors and bass drum

Call us today at 602-843-3114 with any questions or check us out online at http://www.drummersrule.net.
“Feel the joy of learning to play drums”
Brett

Info on your teacher, Brett Frederickson:
He has been a top drum judge for Guitar Center over 20 years and Sam Ash for the past 10 years. He has also been one of the most “referred out” drum teacher from both stores. He has been teaching drums for over 27 years including drum line instruction for the past 17 years. He is a graduate of MI (Musicians Institute); Featured in Drum Magazine, Drum Business and Modern Drummer
. He has played drums with many bands including Megadeth and has done studio work for various artists like Scott Mishoe, Keith Horne, Jeff Kollman, Ray Riendeau and many more. His true passion is teaching students to play drums, in a fun, quality learning environment. So whether you are just getting started, or have been playing for years, Brett can help you take your skills to the next level.

Come see why his students keep coming back!!

3723 W. Monte Cristo Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85053
http://followus.com/drummersrule

Exclusive Interview with Neil Peart

Hello DrummersRule! Fans!!!

This week I have been focusing on 3/4 Ostinato patterns for my advanced players. Recently I watched a Neil Peart Video where he was talking about different Ostinato patterns and how to develop them.

In my next blog I’ll show you how I took this idea and created exercises based on this pattern. For this bLog however, see another great Neil Peart Interview I liked below… enjoy!!

Mr. Brett

Exclusive Interview with Neil Peart

You can usually spot the people who’ve worked in the music industry for any great length of time: they cower in dark corners twitching nervously, constantly running their hands through thinning, grey hair and wax lyrical to no-one in particular about the dire state of modern music. In a business where cynicism seems to conquer even the purest of souls, the challenge of emerging unscathed is a feat comparable to mastering one-handed drum rolls – wearing a boxing glove.

Sitting in a dressing room backstage at Wembley Arena, Neil Peart is relaxed, amiable and perfectly courteous. Having notched up 30 years and 17 albums, driving Rush to new creative heights and consistently breaking fresh ground in rock drumming, you almost wouldn’t blame him for being a little jaded by the trials and tribulations of the music industry. Over the course of an hour-long conversation, however, he talks enthusiastically about his childlike love of drums and of his continuingly fruitful, creative – and personal – relationship with his band-mates. At once deeply interesting and profoundly inspiring, it’s a conversation as far from the cynical jabbering of old hacks as you can possibly get. It is, in short, the stuff of legend. A true drumming legend, no less.

In the beginning…
Neil Peart’s dressing room is as homely as a clinical arena dressing ro
om can be. It’s his own personal room; band-mates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson share a similar space down the corridor. A five-piece DW black and white sparkle sits in the middle, all set for Peart and his pre-show, freeform warm-up. A huge map of the UK hangs behind the kit’s throne, a tool to plan his exploratory motorcycle journeys on days off.

The room is a testament to Peart’s desire to exert a little control in an environment where it would be easy to shrug shoulders and go with the flow. In true Lloyd Grossman style, it’s the room of someone that exudes determination and focus, two attributes that were in abundance as soon as he got his hands on his first kit.

“Oh yeah,” he says with a huge smile, “as soon as I started I was obsessive about it. I’d come home and start practising and play along with the radio. They had to make me stop practising, not make me practice. It was an irresistible attraction, really. The movie, The Gene Krupa Story, was the thing that really got me excited about it, but any time I’d see a drummer on television it was like a visual fascination as well as a musical fascination.”

“I had a teacher for the first couple of years. That gave me a grounding in sight reading and different styles. After that, I went my own way with the foundation that he’d given me, kind of knowing what I had to work on. The teaching aspect was really important. You can’t start in a vacuum. It’s like any subject you want to learn, you have to have some sense of what there is to know and what to work on. You can’t just say, ‘I’m going to work on it’, you have to know which direction to go. You can’t just say ‘I think I’ll play drums today!’ Nothing happens that way.”

So how about tips for new drummers? Is there anything you can pass on?

“Getting a teacher is the first recommendation. You can’t learn too much. I worked on samba for a long time just to learn Latin feels. I’ve never used it, but I understand it and I have fun with it. Timekeeping, too, no one can work too hard on that. Every drummer goes through the stage of playing a fill, getting excited and speeding up, or coming out of the fill and slowing down. Everyone goes through that and it gives you great insecurity – other musicians pick on you, producers pick on you. It’s very undermining because you think, ‘Well, the drummer’s first job is to keep time and I can’t keep time’. Something everyone should understand though is a) that everyone goes through that and b) it’s correctable. It takes the effort to practice and practice until you realise how to play your fills so they won’t speed up and until you get an innate sense of time.”

…READ MORE

Mr. Brett

Brett Frederickson – DrummersRule! Drum Lessons

twitter : https://twitter.com/drummerbrett 

facebook : https://www.facebook.com/drummersrule

google+ : https://www.google.com/+BrettFrederickson

BRETT’s DRUMMING TIPS – “HABITS”

BRETT’s DRUMMING TIPS – “HABITS”

A word from Mr. Brett:

As your instructor, teacher and friend, I have your best interests in mind. I give advice to assist you in developing the skills and tools required for a well-rounded musical development. I understand what you need to be successful. Unfortunately, at times, some students become preoccupied with learning “Impressive Patterns or Solos” to the point that they neglect to practice the actual lesson. Remember, these “Impressive Patterns/ Solos” that are here today and gone tomorrow, will do you absolutely no good, unless you have taken the time and effort to develop the tools essential to excellent drumming technique. Whether you are beginning an entry level of instruction, intermediate level, or advanced level, my goal is to provide instruction that will help you develop as a “well-rounded” better performer. Below are a few “HABIT” tips to assist you as a drummer, enjoy!!

• DAILY SESSION HABIT – The most effective way of developing long-lasting skills and expanding your techniques is through daily sessions. “Practice marathons” and “drum bursts” (15 min sessions on your set) in addition to your drum lessons will go a long way in getting you the results you desire. Remember, when walking by your drum set. Stop, sit down, and practice for 5 – 15 minutes. Also, don’t forget the other styles you’ve worked on in the past. Go back to these styles, pull out your sheets and include them when you practice.

• GAME HABIT – Playing repetitive “hand” or “foot-technique” exercises or reading-skills exercises are enjoyable when you understand they are guaranteed (when practiced correctly) to improve you performance. First of all, make a sort of game out of the whole idea, by making everything you play, including “hand-technique” and reading exercises, sound as musical as possible by utilizing dynamics, articulation, and musicality to its highest level. Practice as if you are preparing for a performance, or playing in front of a live audience.

• CHALLENGE HABIT – Once you have encountered a “challenge” (Ex. Dynamics, executing a phrase at the suggested tempo, articulation of a particular rhythm, phrasing etc.) Simply divide this “challenging” section of the music into smaller musical phrases and begin working on improving these “challenge” sections separately. Slow down the tempo and repeat theses sections until you can play them both relaxed & “naturally”. Then, follow this habit by putting these “extracted phrases” back into context, in order to facilitate “musical-continuity”. Ultimately everything you perform will be relaxed and “natural” both to you and your audience.

• PARENTAL HABIT – Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to get involved with your younger children. They really need your help and guidance to motivate them in developing the “Habit of Practicing”… which mentioned above is one of the keys to their success!

• NETWORKING HABIT – There’s an old saying; “Out of sight, out of mind”. Well, this is one of the truest things ever written and it so applies to the music business and drums as well. If you want to work, you need to be seen playing your drums, go out to the venues, jam sessions, put on a small workshop, get to know the employees of the local music stores, visit clubs where drummers are needed, ask, ask, ask! The goal is to “BE SEEN”! You need to engage in conversation with the guys who book gigs and potential employers. Let them know that you’re qualified.
• For younger players still in school; if you want that specific chair or jazz band seat you have to 
work hard, yes. But also make sure that you’re on a first name basis with the bandleader, drum captain, and any private instructors or helpers, because they will often be assisting with the auditioning process.

Bonus Tip – Top 5 Drummer Networking Mistakes:


• Not acting professional enough
• Not being prepared
• Not letting them know in some way that you’re qualified for the job
• Not following up on potential leads or opportunities
• Not having business cards (pro players)

• ADVICE HABIT– Always, consistently, without fail, reach out to me when you have questions! So many students feel their question is not worth bothering me over. I think the opposite, EVERY question is important!! Ask me please… Email me at brett@drummersrule.net or for that matter pick up the phone and simply Call or Text me at 602-769-2075. It’s that simple!!!

Following the above advice will definitely help you succeed, and after all, that’s what it’s all about. Let me now your comments and questions. Enjoy your week!

Mr. Brett

Brett Frederickson – DrummersRule! Drum Lessons

twitter : https://twitter.com/drummerbrett

facebook : https://www.facebook.com/drummersrule

google+ : https://www.google.com/+BrettFrederickson

How to Play a Rute Solo on a Drum Set (Part 2)

Brett Frederickson teaches how to play a Rute Solo on a drum set. This is the second video in a 2 part series. Brett is playing an improvised solo on his Yamaha Set with Vic Firth 505 rutes.

This video was filmed with two cameras, one moving and the other stationary, and the Audio is combined from both cameras. No Edits or cuts were made to the Audio in this video, and it is played at normal speed.

Brett Frederickson, owner and teacher of Drummers Rule! at http://www.drummersrule.net, offers affordable drum lessons in Phoenix Arizona.

Brett Frederickson is a drum teacher based in Phoenix, AZ who teaches for a living. He has a degree in Music Performance from the Musicians Institute of California, taught drum line for 15 years, has opened up several drum clinics for musicians like David Garbaldi, Ken Mary, and Ray Riendeau, plus doing many clinics himself.

Brett’s Top 10 Tips When Practicing Drums!

Practicing drums can be a struggle and feel boring at times. In fact, most drummers will sit and jam with an iPod for an hour, and call it a good “practice”. The truth is, practicing your technique and jamming are two totally different things. So how do you get the most out of your practice times? Note: Practicing doesn’t make perfect – Practicing RIGHT makes perfect.

1.  Use a Practice Pad

Use a practice pad! Believe it or not, it is essential for developing strong stick control. I recommend you spend 50% of your practice time on a drum pad, playing drum rudiments and working on endurance. A practice pad helps eliminate distraction and will force you to stick to your drum rudiments, and be more creative.

2.  Count Out Loud

We have all heard this is a good thing to do, but not until I was trying to learn more difficult beats and rhythms did I find how helpful it was!. Counting out loud is a great way to check and see if you are playing things right. If you are counting and your playing doesn’t line up – you will know immediately that something is wrong.

3.  Use a Metronome

Use a Metronome! Regardless how long you’ve been playing, a good drummer will practice with one. Taking the time to learn how to use a metronome is essential when it comes to practicing. It will help make you a consistent drummer, which is key if you’re looking to land gigs or be asked back to play. Because it forces you to play on time, you will see just how good you really are. Another idea is to listen to your favorite tune and use the tempo from that song.

4.  Slow it Down

When you start to learn something new, always start slow. Even if you think that you know the beat already, play it slow just to make sure that you are doing it right. Once you know that you are doing it right, then you can start to speed it up. Trying to play too fast at first will ultimately slow down your progress.

5.  Practice, Don’t  Play

Dedicated “practice” time should be focused. You should never jam or play things you have already mastered during this time. This is a mistake that we all have made. It is extremely important to stay on task during any formal practice time.

I have seen students who don’t follow this simple principle and as a result have been working on certain beats for months. They come into lessons week after week without making any real progress.

6.  Be Open to All Styles

Try to find different styles of songs you are not used to; or find songs that are above your level of playing. Listen to larger variety music. Playing along with these songs will force you to be more creative and make you step out of your comfort zone. An example, if you want to increase your speed , try playing along to some faster music.

7.  Get Creative with the Sticks and Surfaces You Use

To increase you speed and control, try playing on different surfaces with bigger sticks. Instead of playing on a practice pad, try drumming on a pillow. This will give you a lot less bounce, forcing you to build your finger and wrist muscles faster. Also, go out and pick up a set of thicker sticks. If you use 5a’s, try practicing with 2b’s, or if you use 2b’s, try using marching band sticks. Do this for a week and go back to your smaller sticks; you will be very surprised at the results! If you are unsure how the thickness and weight of drumsticks make a difference, do some online research for drum articles for more information.

8.  Have a Routine

Ideally you want to practice everyday of the week, but at very least you want to get in to any form of routine. This will help you learn at a steady pace – spending more time advancing your skills instead of re-practicing things that you’ve already mastered.

Inconsistency will make it harder to remember everything you’ve practiced. You might still know a few of the things, but ultimately you will have lost much of what you worked on. As drummers, we are trying to build muscle memory. Practice and repetition is key to achieving this.

9.  Good Posture is Key

This may seem odd, but it is extremely important that you sit up straight during a practice or performance. Not only is this better for your body, but it also helps you stay more focused on what you are doing. You’d be surprised how much easier everything seems when you are in the “ready position” with your back straight and your arms loose and ready. Have those close to you to help keep you in check that you are practicing good posture when sitting at the drum set.

10.  Make it Fun – Let’s See You Smile!

Forcing yourself to practice is the worse thing you can do. Instead, find a way to practice so you enjoy it. Chances are if you accomplish more objectives. It’s always important to end practices on a good note. Overcoming small obstacles is a great way to wrap things up and give you that added confidence to take your playing to the next level. In drumming and in life, confidence based on your accomplishment is everything.enjoy what you are doing, you will do it more often and with more determination. Look at your practice time as a challenge.

 

 

 

Brett Frederickson – DrummersRule! Drum Lessons
Call or Text today at 602-769-2075 or check us out online at http://www.drummersrule.net.
Come see why our students keep coming back… We look forward to seeing you!!

Sixteenth Note Triplet Drum Lesson Video

On this drum lesson video, I describe how to incorporate a sixteenth (16th) note triplet technique into your drumming repertoire. Sixteenth note triplets are one of my favorite fills to use in medium to slow tempo grooves. Enjoy, and use the heck out of these ideas!!
Brett

Info on Brett Frederickson. He has been teaching drums for over 25 years including drum line instruction for 17 years. He is a graduate of MI (Musicians Institute); Featured in Drum Magazine, Drum Business and Modern Drummer.

– Degreed instructor – Musicians Institute of Technology (MIT)

– Drum Set instructor for over 27 years

– Drum Line instructor for over 17 years winning many State Competitions and Awards

– Featured in magazines including Modern Drummer, Drum Business, and Drum Magazine

– Has Performed and done Studio Work with many bands including Megadeath, Scott Mishoe, Keith Horne, Jeff Kollman, Ray Riendeau and many more.

– Former students have graduated from Berkley College of Music & Musicians Institute

– Former students have received full ride scholarships to ASU, NAU and U of A for drum-line, jazz band, and percussion

– Located in North Phoenix

Brett’s true passion is teaching students to play drums, in a fun, quality learning environment. So whether you are just getting started, or have been playing for years, Brett can help you take your skills to the next level.

Lessons are for a full hour at $25.00/hr. Come see why his students keep coming back!

Brett Frederickson  602-843-3114 or Online at www.drummersrule.net.