Introducing the Groove Performance Lab

The Groove Performance Lab is a concept that provides our students with a way to hone their performance skills, and increase their understanding of what working professionals look for when hiring a drummer or percussionist. This is the educational series that I wish I had when I was just starting out!

The GPL is going to accomplish these objectives in a few different ways:

1. Small ensemble workshops such as the Jazz Trio Workshop and others like it;

2. Workshops led by working professional singer-songwriters; and

3. Student led bands coached by studio faculty or other working professional musicians.

The GPL will follow the academic year, with a Fall Session, a winter break over the holidays, a Spring Session, followed by a summer break.

Our next GPL experience will be Sunday, October 13th from 5pm - 7pm. There will be a separate announcement as to the guest instructor coming tomorrow!

Jazz Trio Workshop Recap!

Yesterday’s Jazz Trio Workshop was a GREAT afternoon. We were joined by Kyle Hancock (guitar) and Sarah Renz (bass), who gave the students their perspectives on small ensemble playing and specifically what they look for in drummers.

There is no faster way to improve than by playing with working professionals.

Be sure to subscribe to the studio’s YouTube channel as the videos from this event will be posted this week. Below is a quick video featuring longtime member Thomas Linderman working out a version of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps with a 5/4 twist on it.

First Take Challenge: Alex Z. "Easy Money" (Billy Joel)

Working drummers often have to learn songs quickly, and then perform them well for an audience. This is a skill set that we work on here at grooveKSQ. Watch the video to see this concept in action!

What is Rhythmic Dictation?

A musician’s ears are every bit as important as their hands and feet and technical ability to produce musical notes on their instrument. Here at grooveKSQ, we focus on ear training quite a bit because sharp ears to a musician are what a sharp palette is to a chef: incredibly useful!

How do we strengthen a student’s listening skills? One method is the use of rhythmic dictation exercises.

Rhythmic Dictation (“RD”) is one of the skill sets that intermediate and advanced students work on here at the studio. Quite simply, RD is the process of 1) hearing a rhythm blind (i.e. the student is using their ears only, not their eyes to process information), 2) decoding that rhythm in their head, and 3) writing that rhythm down with good musical notation. This type of ear training is generally not taught in high school music classes in the way it is here at the studio in terms of the level of difficulty. As an added bonus, not only does this process strengthen the ears, but a happy byproduct is the students get to work on their notation as well.

Ear training (or aurals) is a required subject in every undergrad music education program. For those students studying marimba/vibraphone here, we can work on melodic and harmonic dictation also.

That time AJ went 6 for 6 on his first rhythmic dictation exercise. Perfect scores go up on the studio fridge.

On Creativity and the Brain

If you haven’t seen it, there is a terrific article and podcast from KQED about creativity, music and brain function. While the article talks about melodic instruments like piano, the general concepts are applicable to drums and percussion as well.

In short, creativity is a skill that can be cultivated. This is why in part the students at groove get a more student driven experience than you might find in other studios. This is also why for the more advanced students here, free form improvisation is emphasized.

You can read the article here.