JoJo Mayer Technique - Worth it?

[Cephalic]

I guess this question would apply to any of the "one handed roll" things, but I don't know much about any of them and the JoJo Mayer technique would be the most practical for me (I don't play traditional on kit, so the Buddy Rich version wouldn't work for me).

But is it really worth learning and spending time on? I watched this video (http://drummerworld.com/Clinic/Derrick_Pope2.html) (well, skipped through parts) and when he played the JoJo Mayer one handed roll, speed-wise I didn't think it was really that fast. At what seemed to be his peak speed it was sloppy too.


Was this video just a bad example of the possibilites or this technique, or is this about as good as most people will get it? And what would be some practical uses of it?



Edit: Sorry, I guess this could've gone in the single stroke roll thread. If a mod wants to move it in there, go ahead.

[Kenny Aldrich]

hey i think I have a technique you'll dig! I was explaining this to one of the guys here and before he posted the video I was the only one I ever saw do it this way looks like a few guys can ectually do it and do it rather well, the guy in this video is pretty slow I can crank it to 1100 strokes a min [drumometer] on a good day warmed up and like 950 ice cold check it out! this one in my opinion is far hiper than the rim roll everybody is doing imho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGIUsUVl2Y let me know what you think oh btw I can only do it left handed this guy is doing it right handed [for what that's worth] I also have a variant on this that smokes as well [damn I need a cam with audio argh!]

[djp132]

Was this video just a bad example of the possibilites or this technique, or is this about as good as most people will get it?

Both.

It is a bad example and sloppy cause I don't practice it often at all. It's really just a gimmick. That's why most people don't get very far with it.

[Kenny Aldrich]

Both.

It is a bad example and sloppy cause I don't practice it often at all. It's really just a gimmick. That's why most people don't get very far with it.

I didn't think it was ALL that bad though just looked like you were cold is all I noticed and actually it is a pretty good example and the explanation was on the mark imho

[Colombian-Drummer]

hey hey......i think is matter of time (like always).....the open close video in the paiste mainpage its a good example how do you can begin practising the technique but its really slow that for its good to begin:P..... and i like it because it shows how it works using both hands too, something tht jojo mayer didnt do in the video :P......but what we all really want is to get the jojo mayer speed, i think is matter of time......

[Auger]

I think this technique does have uses aside from gimick-y or show off-y stuff which often goes unmentioned / unrecognized.

That being said, I'd still say that I'm with Derrick that it's pretty low on the list of technique priorities. -and, as simple as it is in concept, it's really a difficult technique to get up to speed and takes a lot of time -at least for me. Jojo takes it to the extreme -what derrick did was actually quicker than most will ever take it.

To me, though, there are two things about this worth noting:

1.) -It's not just about how fast you can play, but how easily you can play fast. Top speed is less important than ease in terms of the benefits of learning this, in my opinion. Sure, part of the appeal is flat out speed you can apply to stuff like fast ride cymbal playing. But, I think this technique is also good -and more useful- for playing stuff that you can play with another technique, just sweating less in the process -a lot of 16th note funk stuff comes to mind. Making, say, a 16th note pattern on the hihat easier to maintain: it lets you relax and make more groove. ...at least, it does for me.

2. For timekeeping at tempos you could easily do with another technique -8th notes even- it will change the groove. You'll get a different sound off of whatever you're riding on and the groove will feel very different to play -which will come across in your sound. And, at slower tempos, it's not all that hard to learn, either. It's just about options, really.

Also, if you play it less evenly, it's great for shuffles.


-Is it worth it? That's up to you -but I'd say time is definately better spent on basics first ...or even completely non-technique based stuff.

So, you're probably wondering 'why such a long e-mail on something that you admit is a low priority?' ...dayjob. ...procrastination.

ok, gotta go.

...must ...earn ...salary.


later.

[Class A Drummer]

Both.

It is a bad example and sloppy cause I don't practice it often at all. It's really just a gimmick. That's why most people don't get very far with it.

No way Derrick, it may not be Jojo Mayer perfect, but it was an awsome video, and i made sure i practiced what you told to practice. Because of it i can do that one handed role at pretty much the speed you were doing it (matched, trad/buddy is a different story).

[Legacyrik]

Both.

It is a bad example and sloppy cause I don't practice it often at all. It's really just a gimmick. That's why most people don't get very far with it.

It's interesting you look at it that way... I suppose doing it for just the sake of doing it is possibly a little gimicky but then:

a) It would benefit your technique(moller)
b) Sounds different than two hands
c) Gives you the opportunity to do something else with the other hand.

Wouldn't be so gimicky if you were doing something else with you other hand and feet:)

[PBW]

If you can do the open/close thang in each hand, then you can get some great speed up by "interlacing" the hands, as in this video:

http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=874581796

[mosher]

Jo Jo said he uses this technique when he wants attention in music stores