 The System 
Pillar Drum Method
A pillar is an upright structure designed to support a
building or roof.
Practicing a method can be viewed as if we are building the
supports to hold the structure that you want to build.
I have come up with a methodology that has worked for
hundreds of students that I have taught privately. I am the facilitator between the theory, and
the student. I asses the current level
of the student, give the student the knowledge, exercises and a practicing method
to attain the skills that that are desired.
Any kind of education is valuable, but there are some huge
benefits to studying with someone who can teach a method visually and verbally,
answer questions directly, and demonstrate patterns physically. We use all of our senses when we learn.
This is why while writing a book, I started brainstorming
ways that could use today’s technology to get the most out of an educational
system.
A good method book has lots of valuable resources in
it. It can be limiting though if you do
not know how to practice the material and apply it in your own creative
ways. Notes on a page are just notes on
a page until you know what to do with them.
This is why I thought that writing a method book wasn’t
enough. There is no substitute for a
private teacher but if there was a closest thing this would be it.
Below are lesson plans, or pillars that I give to my
students to give them the support to build up the structure that they want to
build. In other words, the lessons are
the tools (building blocks, so to speak) neccessary to develop a facility of
playing that you wish to attain.
Using the metaphor of the pillars you can build the
structure of your style as high and as vast as you want. The lessons below are the blueprints to a
small city.
The website is in its infancy right now but, growing
rapidly. It should be complete by 2077.
"The Big Picture":
*Basic technique
Learning how to hold the sticks and maximize your efficiency when playing by studying exercises that will "train" your hands and feet to respond quickly and with good form every time.
*Rudiments
Understanding the basic fundimentals of controlling the sticks to do what you want them to do.
*Reading Music
Learning the notation, counts, and values for all of the notes, note positioning on the staff, all the way through note subdivision and odd time signatures.
*Practicing Methods
Using patterns and repetition to really understand the concepts you are working on and make the most of your practice time. Ways to develop the skills you need to freely draw upon your mental and physical knowledge at any given moment in your playing.
*Coordination Development
Training your limbs to act independantly of each other. Building muscle memory to be able to navigate your drumset effortlessly. Be able to hold down an ostinato and solo over that pattern creatively.
*Different Styles
Learning the "ins" and "outs" of different styles of music including Rock, Jazz, Funk, Latin, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Country, Electronic, and Fusion with commentary on how to develop new and hybrid styles of playing.
*Beats and Fills
Applying skills to be able to play the right thing for the song at the right time. Within each style, finding or creating grooves that work together and using fills to add that extra "flair" to your playing as well as serve as a transition between patterns.
*Arrangements
Standard and unique ways of stringing your musical ideas together into a cohesive musical piece. Following and creating song formats.
and comfortably transition through a song or piece of music.
sys·tem    /ˈsɪstəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sis-tuhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun | 1. | an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole: a mountain system; a railroad system. |
| 2. | any assemblage or set of correlated members: a system of currency; a system of shorthand characters. |
| 3. | an
ordered and comprehensive assemblage of facts, principles, doctrines,
or the like in a particular field of knowledge or thought: a system of philosophy. |
| 4. | a coordinated body of methods or a scheme or plan of procedure; organizational scheme: a system of government. |
| 5. | any formulated, regular, or special method or plan of procedure: a system of marking, numbering, or measuring; a winning system at bridge. |
| 6. | due method or orderly manner of arrangement or procedure: There is no system in his work. |
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