World Rhythm Seeds : Learn-By-Ear Audio Tool
10 World Grooves to Energize Your Drumming
Whether you want to listen, dance or just play along, World Rhythm Seeds has the grooves you crave. World Rhythm Seeds is like a music-minus-one for hand drummers/percussionists.
Each 8 minute track on World Rhythm Seeds is a different world groove played on low drums, bells, and shakers. Rock out in your car, or drum along with the music using any drum or percussion instrument to find unlimited possibilities to supercharge your playing!
World Rhythm Seeds can be used alone or with a group and is an excellent resource for classroom use, drum circle facilitators, all percussionists and even drum set players.
About the Artist:
Jim Donovan is an award winning facilitator, teacher, and performer and was one of the founding members of the multi-platinum selling band Rusted Root from 1990-2005. He regularly offers workshops, concerts and lectures in the US and Europe focusing on using the power of rhythm to assist in consciousness transformation, personal growth, wellness, and building community.
He is the author of the inspirational book "Serving the Groove" and is featured columnist in Drum! Magazine.
Donovan's work with Rusted Root has been featured in major motion films such as Ice Age, Twister, Mathilda as well as on various network television shows such as American Idol, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Party of Five and the PBS "Web of Life" documentary. His touring work with Rusted Root provided ample opportunity to share the stage with rock legends such as Carlos Santana, The Grateful Dead, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Sting, and The Allman Brothers among others.
As a solo artist and teacher, Donovan has released 6 highly acclaimed solo CD's as well as several popular instructional drumming audio and video products. He received his BA in music from the University of Pittsburgh where he had the opportunity to study African Music with noted scholar Kwabena Nketia from Ghana. Currently Donovan is on faculty, doing graduate studies and is involved in research involving with using percussion interventions for special needs children at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA.
Rhythm Seeds :: Jim Donovan
Learn-By-Ear Audio Tool
10 World Grooves to Energize Your Drumming
Instructions Included
Credits:
Produced and performed by Jim Donovan
Cover photo Kaylyn Oshaben
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Sean McDonald / Sofa King Music Services
Web: http://www.JimDonovanDrums.com
Blog: http://thejimdonovanblog.blogspot.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jimdonovan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JimDonovanDrums
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JimDonovanDrums
Instructions
Take a few moments to read over the ideas below to get the most out of your Rhythm Seeds CDs.
General Tips
1. Always focus on your progression rather than perfection.
That means to give yourself the room to make mistakes. Your mistakes will teach you how "not" to do it the next time.
2. Remember to breathe and have fun!
3. Focus on repetition. The more you do something, the better you'll get at it.
4. Fast does not always equal better. Aim for accuracy before speed.
5. Jam along with Rhythm Seeds using you i-pod, or by cranking up the stereo.
(Consider sending your neighbors a fruit basket to make amends for the loud drumming...)
Vocabulary
Here are the meanings of some of the words used here.
Rhythm: The patterns being played in time.
Tempo: The speed in which you play.
Create: Means to make something up.
Jamming: Have fun while making music.
The Call Rhythm: The pattern you hear on the CD track.
The Response Rhythm: The pattern that you play back.
Learn By Ear Ideas 101
1. Just listening to the CD is a great way to start internalizing the rhythms. Take it in the car with you. Crank it up.
2. Even if you don't have a drum, you can still rock out using your lap, a book, desk, steering wheel or the floor.
3. Learn each rhythm on the CD, just pop the disc in and play along the rhythms as you hear them.
4. If a rhythm gives you a hard time, restart the track and keep repeating it until you can play it accurately.
5. If a rhythm gives you a *really* hard time, try just playing the first beat of it. Then as you repeat the track, add
more of the rhythm until you get it all. Never give up.
6. Instead of using a drum, try just saying the rhythms you hear out loud. This is not only a highly effective way to learn rhythm, but also keeps the people that you live with wondering about you.
Take Your Drumming to the Next Level
1. Instead of playing each rhythm you hear, try playing along by creating a different rhythm that you feel "fits in" with what you hear. (Yes, make something up!)
2. When creating a new rhythm, experiment by using just the first half of the rhythm you hear on the CD.
3. Instead of using a drum, how about trying out some percussion like a shaker, cowbell or tambourine? Try matching the percussion tracks you hear on the CD.
4. Drum set players can experiment by using all of the above directions and also transposing your rhythms onto different drums on the kit.
5. If a rhythm is too easy, try leading with your weak hand.
6. If you are adventurous, you can try playing along using *only* your weak hand.
7. If you are in need of serious challenge. Play a steady shaker or tambourine rhythm in one hand and drum with your other hand. Then switch hands.
8. If you enjoy messing with your brain, try playing your favorite repetitious cowbell rhythm in one hand while drumming to the CD tracks with the other hand.
9. Why not experiment with soloing? Express yourself through your drum!
Jamming With Other People
1. Invite a friend to drum with you. (Have them bring the snacks.)
2. Each of you play along with the rhythms you hear.
3. Have one person make up a rhythm to go along with the CD track. Then add another person and so on...
4. Listen to each other first, then play.
5. Try to find a way to make everyone in the group sound great.
6. Make your focus be on making music *together*.
7. Sometimes simple is a good way to start.
8. Experiment by having each person try using different instruments.
9. Experiment by taking turns soloing.
10. After jamming with the cd, shut it off and jam with each other for a few hours.
11. If you are a teacher facilitating a group, remember that participants can always use clapping, stomping or their voices to do participate with the rhythms.
12. Make up your own ideas and email them to us. We'll post the good ones on our website for all to share. jim@jimdonovandrums.com
Read more...