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Bill Powelson's School of Drums

HSID: Web Site #2 - Intermediate and Advanced

* DRUM SET LESSONS
ONLINE DRUM SET LESSONS (W/VIDEO) *

These lessons are all 100% free, now.

BEGINNERS! This web site is designed for Intermediate and Advanced drummers. Beginners should go to Web Site #1 / Main Index page. . . .

If you are just curious about trying drums, you can do it immediately. No equipment necessary. Just click the following link and start with the Drumming Aptitude Test. At the bottom of each of the lessons, you'll see a link that leads to each succeeding lesson. Click and begin right now. Once you've mastered the Basic Beats, and have begun jamming with all your favorite recordings, you should then return here.

INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED,
AND ULTRA ADVANCED DRUMMERS:

How do we know if we are Intermediate, Advanced or Ultra Advanced? Every individual will probably have a different description.

For our purposes here, let's use the following descriptions:

The INTERMEDIATE DRUMMER:

Jams with favorite recordings routinely. An Intermediate drummer should know the BASIC BEATS by name, by feel, and by heart. They will often attempt ad-libbed fills, and may know a few rudimental fills like Singles, doubles, and paradiddle fills. 8th Triplets will usually be among their favorite fill patterns as well.

The Intermediate drummer will usually know a few 8th rock variations as well as (at least a few) 8th rock syncopations. and will have the ability to play them quite rapidily. If you are knowledgeble of all these things, and can use them inside the songs you jam with, you are probably a little more than Intermediate.

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The ADVANCED DRUMMER:

An Advanced drummer has probably played in (at least) a garage band or two. They'll routinely use Bass Syncopations comfortably, at extreme tempos. They can usually mimic almost any syncopated beat they may hear on a recording.

NOTE: Bass and Snare syncs are often referred to as 'Independance', by a lot of instructors. The objective is to randomly insert (syncopated) notes on the bass and snare, against the steady cymbal flow of the beat pattern. There's a simple science to mastering bass syncs. Everything comes back to just FIVE different syncs. (See the midle section of the linked lesson above.) If we master those five, we end-up creating (or discovering) the other potential 4.3 billion possiblities that exist within most beat structures. The ADVANCED DRUMMER, knows all this. They are confident and totally comfortable playing and using all of it, within the songs they play.

The Advanced drummer, also reads fairly well and knows all of the note-values (from whole notes to 64ths, including all triplet forms.) They can recognize the various note values as they're being used in a song. If asked by another member of their band to inject a specific note value into a song, they can do it on the first try. If you feel you are weak in this area, an easy way to get it under control is to master the CLASSIC NOTE-VALUE FILLS. I've found (as a lifelong teacher), that most advanced drummers (myself included) will have a bit of trouble with all that, from time to time. An advanced drummer will have the ability to inject any of the note value fills into any song they may play, no matter what the tempo and/or beat-structure may be. Keep in mind also that all the Rudiments are composed of Note-Values. If we've confidently mastered the 'Classic Note-Value Fills', we tend to get most of the 400+ rudiments by proxy, or automatically. Master each of those fills to the your own personal best; Your polish and technique will soar as a result.

There are tons of other lessons scattered throughout this web site that most advanced drummers will find helpful. Take a tour of the Tempo Dispatch Archives. Scan the 78 topics, and study any lessons that grab your attention. Also; scan the Latin Menu, and master all the Latin Beats there. Be able adapt all the 'Classic Note Value Fills' to those beat patterns as well. Scan Lesson Menu #2 There are probably a few lessons in there that will keep an advanced drummer busy for awhile.

Advanced students who are confident with the above knowledge should also make a study of odd/even time signatures and permutation theory. Such knowledge will round them out. It will give the advanced drummer power and wisdom onstage that will translate into much greater respect from everyone they gig with. After that, this same drummer will be wise to try their hand at teaching. Teaching can often be the greatest teacher there is. As we cover the basics with our students day in and day out, we often tend to learn more than we teach.

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DON'T BE A CHUMP! PONY UP!

It is my prayer and hope, that once you see the value of this course and how it can change your life; Maybe your gratitude will be shown in the form of a purchase (or donation) of some sort. Without a little income, this site will not be here long. It costs money to provide it. Those of you who benefit from it, should help keep it alive for others. It will disappear without your support.

All you have to do is learn first, then donate, or make a purchase. If you'll give-back what it's worth to you, I will thank you graciously.

Anyone who contributes $45 or more will receive the entire course and all the products in the left column, as a result of their generosity..

To purchase a product (see the left column), is the same as making a donation. It all helps this site to survive. Most of the products are designed to pay you back 10-fold anyway! They're all worth far more than the 'donation' price I'm asking. If you'll investigate them, you'll see what I mean. These products are all priceless, fascinating and educational. They're designed to take you towards 'guru' status. You'll NEED and want them, whether you are aware of it or not. Just check them out, that's all I ask.

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Between 1994 and 2007, this complete course WAS EXCLUSIVE TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY. It paid it's own way without a problem, during those years.

I've now decided to try to convert to a donation plan. If this 'donation' plan works, this site will be here forever! It isn't about making a lot of money. I'm more interested in reaching people who deserve the help my 50 years on the front lines can offer.

To make a purchase here is like offering a helping-hand to an up-and-coming drummer, in some remote region of the world.

Please keep in mind, the real objective, here. This course is a God-send to many young drummers in places like the Philippines, South Africa, India, and other distant countries, where drum lessons OF THIS QUALITY, are simply not available at any price. I want it to remain free for those who can not afford it. (Those of us who 'HAVE', need to help the 'HAVE-NOTS'. It's that simple.) Thanks.

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• Bills Bio. . . Take dis link only if you wanna meet da teach'.

• TESTIMONIALS: Read a few success stories. It may boost your confidence. See what my former 'paid' students have to say about this course. Most of these people PAID for these same 125-lessons you are receiving at no cost.

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Your measure of yourself is VERY IMPORTANT! How do you measure up as a person? This may offer a clue!

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Copyright Bill Powelson 1994 all rights reserved.