Victory!

So, today I had a bit of an accomplishment that I'm very happy about.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, I've been working on transcribing a solo by Bill Stewart from Question and Answer (as recorded live with Pat Metheny.)  This solo was a bit of a mountain for me.  I think I started transcribing it 5 years ago.  I got a bit of the way in, and then gave up.  I started again last year, but again quit before I finished.  So, I've been working on it for the last couple of weeks and today I transcribed the last bunch of it and it's done!  Hooray! 
The next challenge is actually learning it.  But, that (somehow) doesn't seem nearly as daunting to me. 

Drum transcriptions are a funny thing.  For some reason I find transcribing them difficult to do.  Sax solos?  not a problem.

Anyways, I've already starting learning it, and I will continue...

Realistic

So, I've come up with another project to do.  I've decided that my knowledge of specific drummers is really low.   Therefore, I've chosed 6 drummers and will study each one in depth for 2 months.  The drummers I've chosen (in no particular order) are Elvin Jones, Bill Stewart, Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Matt Wilson, Clarence Penn.  I decided to choose 3 modern drummers, and 3 legends. 

I've started with Bill Stewart (as I was already working on transcribing a solo of his.)  I'm working on lifting the drum solo from Question and Answer from Pat Metheny Trio Live.  Here's a link to the drum solo.  The plan is to transcribe solos, read some books/articles about them, watch some youtube videos (which I never do...) and listen to them a ton.  I've also written a tune that is inspired by one of Bill Stewart's tunes. 

Another thing I've realized (in my quest to consistency and musical maturity) is I need to keep my goals realistic.  Not that I don't want to push myself, but just be realistic.  Last year my New Years resolution was that I was going to practice every single day.  This isn't really a realistic goal.  Some days things come up, or I may be travelling, or whatever.  I've decided to be a little more loose with the interpretation of my goals, and set out to constantly improve.  Does that make any sense?  Well, it does to me.

One last thing.  I know this is a blog about practicing...but...I saw Avatar last night, and it rocked!  I can't stop thinking about it.  Good flick.

Warmup (as promised)

So, here it is.  I've been doing this warmup for the past 6 years.  I find it's a great way to warm up my muscles, and also to relax my mind.  I've recently toyed with putting in some other rudiments....we'll see

Delinquent

Already, I'm being a delinquent. But not in terms of my practicing, but just in terms of my blogging about my practicing. I have been working hard, and have been fostering many new ideas. My reason (excuse) for my absence is that I wanted to post my 15-minute warmup that I do every day, and right now I'm currently without Sibelius (the music notation software I use.) I will be getting a copy of it today, so the plan is to post the warmup tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am also a fan of many other blogs, including one written by my good friend, Chris Donnelly. In his most recent blog post he talks about writing down goals for the new year. This is a great idea, and something that I am doing this year. My goals aren't fully formed yet, but it is definitely getting me to think about some different musical goals.

I have a new little project I'm starting to work on that I'm kind of excited about. I'm going to lift Peri's Scope off of Bill Evans' "Portrait in Jazz." My plan is to learn the melody and solo on the drums, while playing Bill's comping rhythms in my feet. Should be fun!

Anyways, blah, blah, blah...tomorrow I will post the warmup.

Warmup

Week 1, Day 1

I haven't yet decided what format I'm going to use for this blog. I'm not sure if doing it every day is a realistic goal, nor am I sure that anybody would be interested in what I'm practicing every single day. It tends to be a little repetitive (which I guess is necessary.)
One thing I do every time I play is warm up.
It's like zen...a way to calm the mind, while warming up the muscles. I never had any patience to do this when I was younger. Now, I do it religiously, regardless of which instrument I'm playing. On piano, formula-pattern scales in all twelve keys. On clarinet, longtones and scales across the range of the instrument in all twelve keys.
On drums, I have a fifteen minute warmup that I came up with a couple of years ago. It's late now, so I'll spell it out tomorrow.
Anyways, that's what I worked on today. I've been dealing with a little pain in my right wrist (uh-oh....I hope it goes away soon!) so today I just did my warmup/maintenance.