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Bill Powelson's School of Drums

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 Issue #14___\__\__\__\__\__________/__/__/__/__/ FEBRUARY, 1998

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                        TABLE OF CONTENTS
                     What is in this issue?
             Contents:
               1. Feature Article: PART II:
                      Writing & Reading Notation
               2. Humorous Ways To Tick People Off

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                        FEATURE  ARTICLE
                            PART II:
       Mastering the Art of Writing & Reading Drum Notation

          In  last months lesson we focused on writing and
  visualizing all the beat permutations possible in 8th 2/4
  and 8th 4/4 Basic Rock.  Our approach was to cut away stems,
  flags and complicated math.  My objective was to help you see
  the many beat possibilities that are produced by re-arranging
  the bass/snare configurations against 4 or 8 cymbal (hi-hat)
  notes on the top line.

          This months lesson will be easier!  Now we must focus on
  the other prominent note value modifications of 4/4.  Namely
  16ths.

  16th 4/4:

          Layout out 16 hi-hat notes (per bar) on the top line,
  being careful at first to place a snare on the 5th and 13th
  cymbal notes.  These are the backbeats. Their presence helps
  to establish the feel of 16th 4/4.  Now experiment with different
  bass/snare arrangements within this framework.  It works out that
  there are actually 4.3 billion arrangement possibilities.  This number
  will include some duplicated rhythms and also some variations that
  have the look and feel of 8th 4/4.  Never mind those confusing
  issues!  It will not become a problem if you always have a snare on
  the 5th and 13th cymbal notes.
          Write and play, then write some more.  The more you doodle,
  the more enlightened you will become.
          You can begin to add flags and stems if you like.  On the
  top line, you will have four sets of four for a total of 16 sixteenth
  notes.  Draw the vertical stems then draw double horizontal flags
  or bars across the top of each group of four notes.  On the snare
  and bass lines, it will be up to you to do the math, then decide
  the note values that are being illustrated in the beats that you
  write.  Again, the more you do it, the more obvious the math will
  become.  Remember!  Every line must total the time signature of
  4/4. Rests will often be needed to fill in the gaps and make the
  math work.
          Note value math breaks down like this . . .

          1 Whole note = 2 half notes
          1 Half note  = 2 quarter notes
          1 Quarter note = 2 eighth notes
          1 Eighth note = 2 sixteenth notes
          1 Sixteenth note = 2 Thirty-second notes

         You did memorize all the corresponding rests in last months
  lesson!  Didn't you?

          That's it!  Play with 16th 4/4 all month!  Like I said, there
  are 4.3 billion possibilities here.  That is an awesome number!  At
  a rate of one beat per second, it would take something like 136 years
  to write them all.  Don't try!  By keeping a snare on the backbeats
  (5th & 13th cymbals), the numbers are reduced considerably!  Also,
  every one of the beats you discover this way are totally functional!
  This is the stuff you hear most often when you turn on the radio.
          Think of songs like 'Tom Sawyer' by Rush and 'Whole Lotta Love'
  by Zep.  Yep!  That is where it is all going . . . if you just keep
  doodling & jamming!

         For a little additional help, take a look at this lesson.
  It is just another one of the many lessons you are missing by
  not enrolling in my homestudy course!
         VISIT THIS URL NOW . . . 16th rock 4/4. 

                  .................................

                           THE BLUES BEAT:

        Now, turn your attention to the Blues Beat.  Could you write
  it?  Can you visualize the permutation (variation) possibilities?
       Incidentally, 6/8, 12/8, triplet 2/4 and triplet 4/4 are all
  essentially the same thing.  Only the note values have been changed
  to confuse and frustrate us all.
       In 12/8 or Triplet 4/4 time . . . you will have 12 notes on the
  cymbal (hi-hat).  To keep it simple, be sure to place snares (on the
  backbeats) along with cymbal notes #4 and #10.  Now experiment!
  Write and play, then write some more!  There are 16,777,216 individual
  beat patterns here.
       Have fun!

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   How To Tick People Off

   1. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark,
      17 inch paper, 99 copies.

   2. In the memo field of all your checks write, "for sensual
      massage."

   3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."

   4. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your
      pen while talking to others.

   5. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.

   6. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running
      in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."

   7. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."

   8. Practice making fax and modem noises.

   9. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers
      and "cc." them to your boss.

   10. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with
       prophecy."

   11. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands
       over your ears.

   12. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge
       across the room.

   13. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.

   14. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green,
       and insist to others that you "like it that way."

   15. Staple papers in the middle of the page.

   16. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking"
       noise.

   17. Honk and wave to strangers.

   18. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their
       complimentary mints by the cash register.

   19. TYPE ONLY IN UPPERCASE.

   20. type only in lowercase.

   21. dont use any punctuation either

   22. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute
       whole streets.

   23. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times:
       "Do you hear that?"

       "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now."

   24. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.

   25. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the
       bottom of your chin with your mouth open. When nearly done,
       announce, "no... wait...I messed it up," and repeat.

   26. Ask people what gender they are.

   27. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like
       a parakeet.

   28. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing
       cars to see if they slow down.

   29. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.

   30. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble
       their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological
       profiles."

   Thanks to Keith's Korner for these chuckles.

      ________________________________________________________
     |_________________*** HOMESTUDY COURSE ***_______________|

      Are you among the 95% good, or the 5% bad?
FIND OUT HERE:



          END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #14  February, 1998







 





Copyright Bill Powelson 1994 all rights reserved.