Thank you, Colin, for Drumsense!

[drummr4fn]

Colin,
I wanted to take a moment and tell you how much I appreciate the Drumsense program. I recently aquired a student that had been going to another instructor here locally for close to a year. I was excited when I heard that this student had been going to him, as I know this tutor and because I wanted to compare what I was teaching to what this student had already learned. The student is an 11 year old girl. Apparently, mostly what she had learned was fills and rudiments. She told me that she had been asking to learn to read drum notation but was never taught. I thought that it was a little strange that after taking lessons for almost a year, she can't read notation. I started her from the very beginning, on the Drumsense volume 1, as I do all my students. She is thrilled because it is all new to her and I am thrilled because it has been quite a boost to my confidence as a tutor. I believe what I am teaching is a more balanced lesson plan than what most of the other guys in town are teaching. I am not comparing myself as a drummer or even a teacher but rather the content of what I am teaching. Thanks so much for what you have done and what you are doing. You probably are helping more people than you realize with your Drumsense program. I am very thankful for stumbling upon it on the internet. Also, Thanks to Nick for being persistant in emailing me about Drumsense.
Gregg......Daytona Beach, Florida,USA

[Nick]

Hi Gregg,

Thanks indeed for a very kind post! It's great to hear that the programme is appreciated so far and wide - as we are now in quite a few countries including your very own USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand to name just a few (we recently added Malta!), you can probably bet that there is a Drumsense lesson going on somewhere in the world at ANY time!

As he's busy teaching and filming new DVD's, Colin is not always right on top of the forum, but I'll make sure he sees your post!

Cheers, Nick.

[colin]

Hi Gregg,
it's incredibly gratifying to hear things like this! I also have had this experience with new students, as I know a lot of other Drumsense teachers have. (any thoughts, anyone?)
I also appreciate your support, it all helps us to forge ahead!!
All the best and thanks again...
Colin

[SPARKY]

Yes,well done to Colin and everyone else involved in contributing to the drumsense teaching programme.
It certainly is a good feeling to know that you are teaching a very well thought out structure. I would have just been a bumbling idiot without really knowing where to start when i first started
teaching,if it was'nt for drumsense !

[rack & roll]

Hiya,

Well, I can see this thread is a little "experienced" with little added of late, so thought I'd add my own view for the new year.

I am by not a full-time professional drum teacher, though I have been asked to teach, and so was at square one with knowing how I do it, but not how to covey that to a newcomer to the world of drums and drumming.

I have seen some of the other drum teaching books available, and they all seemed to be not quite what I was looking for - some just rudiments and extensions on that, and some that appeared to be collections of photocopies of hand-written notation . What was missing was a cohesive structured programme that starts at the very beginning and builds from there.

I then went to visit Rock Bottom and found Drumsense Vol 1 . This was perfect and just what I needed. Step by step building up knowledge and ability, and each following section reinforcing the lessons learned under previous pages.

I've been using it now for the last year and working my way through with a single pupil with great results. I have also been asked to pick up another 3 students, all of primary school age, as their desire to polay is not met by currently available teachers in our area.

I am happy to fly the Drumsense flag and advocate it to all drum students for a well thought our progressive teaching method.

My challenge has been to find pieces of music at the correct tempo for the student's ability to play Drumsense patterns along with.

I hope to expand this year to other students and will continue to use Drumsense as the foundation.

So, thanks, Colin, for the teching programme and I hope it will continue.

Cheers,
Ashley

[Nick]

Hi Ashley,

It looks like you need to consider the full tutor programme. Amongst many other things, there is a comprehensive cross-reference of playalong tracks which work with each of the Drumsense patterns.

If you want more info, PM me your address and I'll post you one.

Nick.

[rhythmtiger]

Cheers

Well, these posts affirm what I've been gathering regarding the
DRUMSENSE programme. High Five from across the Atlantic
tutors and students.

I'm already with the PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY here in the
USA and have been a member since 2005.
I already have plenty of books, DVD's, good gear and a wealth
of drumming knowledge going for me.

That being said, do I need to be a DRUMSENSE TUTOR?
Probably not, but dad gummit, I still LOVE the idea

For now, I'll be content to contribute to the Forum's in a
professional manner.

Thanks mates

[rhythmtiger]

...forgot to add the one thing I do require: MORE STUDENTS of THE ART of DRUMMING
that show up for their lessons on time, study their homework, and yes, pay
for their lessons on time. Is that asking too much from a student who really
wants to learn

[drummr4fn]

Marco,
I'm a Drumsense instructor in Daytona Beach, Florida. I will tell you this, if you pass up becoming a Drumsense teacher, you are cheating yourself out of a structured program that will make you a much better teacher and a better drummer. I have had more than one student come to me, who had attended lessons with another drum instructor, and rave about how much they love the Drumsense program and tell me how much more they learned from me than from their previous teacher. I absolutely love the program! I have been with Drumsense for over two years now and most of my students have been with me for over a year and one has been with me for two years. The great thing about Drumsense is that I don't need to worry about running out material to teach. I know what I''l be teaching students years from now. I almost didn't join up because of the monthly fee. Nick pointed out to me that one student more than pays for the program. After considering that point, I decided to give Drumsense a shot and I'm very glad I did. You certainly get more than your money's worth from the program. My unsolicited advice to you is, join Drumsense. You have nothing to lose and much to gain. - Gregg

[rhythmtiger]

Hello Gregg,

Wow, you make a good case, man!
Well, I'm waiting for my materials to arrive actually.
I already have a Tutor Packet. I've watched the
clips here and looked at some of the books.
I have NO doubt that DRUMSENSE works !!

I've already informed Colin and Nick that DRUMSENSE has NO
Tutors in my state, Wisconsin!(Land o' da cheez)

So, it's the just matter of time before I become
an official DRUMSENSE Tutor.

Thanks for your input.
I'm also glad to hear that your retaining
students, that's key! I've had up to 30
on my roster.That was 10 years ago.

Drumsense books and methods
sounds a lot like Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials 1.0
and 2.0. Those 2 books are for a LIFETIME of learning
THE ART of DRUMMING And ya get to play with a
"MONSTER" band ta' boot

Thanks, and keep in touch!

[rhythmtiger]

Good News from Wisconsin,

Added a new student today.
And also got positive news about two
Planet Drum FUN!! clinics I have
"in the works".

"Those who can, do.
Those who can't, teach"

Thankfully, the late Modern Drummer founder,
Ron Spagnardi, wrote an article to debunk
this inane and worn out old "myth"

The Teacher/Player Myth(condensed version)
by Ron Spagnardi

I'm sure we've all heard the old saying, "Those who can, do;
those who can't, teach. It's a phrase that's been tossed around
for years and applied to many types of artists, not just
musicians. However, within the drumming community, I
honestly feel it's a myth that should be put to rest.

Consider the following list of names:
Joe Morello, Ed Shaughnessy, Jim Chapin, Gary Chaffee,
Alan Dawson, Sonny Igoe, Tommy Igoe, Ed Thigpen,
Billy Gladstone, Gary Chester, Bob Moses, Peter Erskine,
Ed Blackwell, Elvin Jones, Billy Ward, Steve Smith and
Tony Williams.

Though the list could easily be expanded, I think it's
sufficient enough to make the point.
Among the names above are drummers who either
now teach part or full time, or who have taught
at some point during their illustrious careers.
I think it's obvious that each of these individuals
has certainly made a significant contribution
to our art form as players.

Sure, it's true that every great player will be successful
in the teaching field. Many outstanding performers
don't have the time, the patience, or the organizational
skills required of those dedicated to the teaching
profession. Others simply find it too difficult to put
what they do into words and examples, and impart
that information on to their students.

In our little corner of the world, "Those who can, do;
those who can't teach", doesn't cut it. In no way does
it equate with the evidence we've seen and heard
over the years.

"Time is non-negotiable"
-Elvin Jones

[rhythmtiger]

...that should be: Sure, it's true that NOT every great player will be successful in the teaching field