Pat Petrillo's Learn To Read Rhythms

[mabhz]

hi all!

I have been willing to purchase this DVD since it was anounced on Pats section on this forum, and today I was about to put down some money (high money, due to shipping cost from amazon to my country!!!) for it on Amazon.com (only place I found it avaliable), but decided to read the comments and got set back by some of them...

A few comments mention that this is a very basic DVD, and the content doesnt cover much. Some even mention that you might get the same info from the back of a drum magazine!!

I would like to know the opinion of folks who ACTUALLY OWN or have watched the full DVDs.

Its a double DVD pack, so I am expecting some serious comprehensive content in here, like a "Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer" style but covering rhythms reading.

Comments, please??

[Arky]

Just get it, you won't regret it!
Why do you believe in those silly comments... Do take a look around and look for some more comments elsewhere - or on this site and you'll see that 99% of the feedback is excellent. There are always some guys who find some "flaws".

Pat's system is EXCELLENT to really learn that "1 e and a" system and apply it to everything in notation. If you want to acquire this reading style fluently - get that (double) DVD. If you already are an experienced reader chances are you don't need it, but my guess is for the money you can't get it wrong. This DVD set will either significantly boost your reading skills (if you do have a good basis to start from) or - if your reading skills are so-so at the moment - provide you with a better reading skill than you might imagine.

No more comments needed!!

[mabhz]

Arky, thank you so much for your comments.

I agree that are many positive and excellent comments about Pat´s DVD, but those bad revirews contain comments that seen very reasonable to me.

They say that the DVDs are really focused on people who NEVER read or who are totally beginners, the material focus more on very basic rhythm subdivisions and rests. Theres little content for those intermediate skill reading and zero content for advanced stuff, complicated sheet.

I can read, and I have studied it in various moments throught my life, but I feel like Im not very "secure" and good at it. I was hopping Pats material would present a "revolutionary" method of understanding reading and applying it on real life.

My concern is spending high money (it costs 3x more if you purchased it from my country, theres import tax - 60% + 24% - and shipping applied) on a material I wont benefit as much as other I could spend the money on. Theres soooo much stuff on drums out there today thats good and worth purchasing!! :-)

Do you own it this DVD? Is it really 90% boring begginer stuff and very little intermediate stuff??

Music and peace!!

[Arky]

Hi. I have this DVD - I got it about 1 month ago. My reading skills are basic and until working with Pat's DVD I never really applied that 1-e-and-a system. But the great benefit is that actually this counting system implants confidence in where the notes are placed because memorizing all the possible variations of note value connections helps identifying them by simply repeating over and over until reading is no problem. And Pat's DVD helped me tremendously! Within a few hours I noticed huge progress (finished the 1st DVD for now.).

In your case as you already have good reading skills, buying the DVD might be a 50-50 thing as the system Pat is explaining isn't revolutionary per se. If you buy it, work through it and see that the DVD (actually it's a 2-DVD set) can't help you any more you can still sell it on. You said it's hard to get in the country you're living in so when selling it you should recover a good portion of the cost.

Have you already watched the excerpts on YouTube?

Ok, now I'm hoping that some other forum members will chime in ;-)

[mabhz]

Arky, thanks again for taking the time and posting some comments!

I guess I expressed myself wrong: Im definitely NOT a good reader. At least, not a good sight reader.

I can read pretty much any music sheet you put in front of me, but first, I need to take my time and dissect it, break it down, read slowly, write down on paper a few counting tips, and etc, etc.

But i know all the "basics", like note values, rests, relation to each other, time signatures, etc. Im not very familiar with DRUM signature. I still have doubts, and have to check constantly what note is what piece of the drum kit.

Pats DVD focus on RHYTHM reading or DRUM NOTATION with RHYTHM reading combined??

No, I havent found it on You Tube! Will check again!

Thanks!

[Arky]

As for YouTube... Just search "pat petrillo learn to read rhythms better" and the first few hits will be good info/the trailer to that DVD.

Pat is focusing on the RHYTHM aspect so no, you don't need to read a whole typical drum notation. On the 1st DVD close to everything is just snare notation - but this is totally ok as the focus is on learning how to memorize that 1-e-and-a system. Towards the end of the 1st DVD Pat demonstrates that the same rhythm can be applied e.g. to the bass drum (a cool concept which I haven't used yet).

I've just clicked into the 2nd DVDs a few times but what I've seen is the same snare notation - but of course in new contexts (e.g. odd rhythms).

So to sum it up: You'll definitely improve your RHYTHMICAL reading skills. But the DVD notations don't provide a full drumset layout - so it's up to you to implement what you'll learn into the music you'll play. Isolating the rhythmic reading skills will be a great help though - especially reading rests was/is a problem for me.

[Pat Petrillo]

Thanks Arky!

Yes, the focus is on RHYTHMS..once you got that, drumset notation is real easy

and Mabhz...it covers EVERY Rhythmic figure, and it WILL improve your skills....There is difficult levels of each rhythm, dotted, syncopation, triplets, etc...so, you can come into it at ANY level...Whats revolutionary is the delivery methodology..The on screen pointer, and how I explain the "sound picture", what it looks like with what it sounds like...Also, mabhz..it is NOT basic at all...it STARTS basic (I would be remiss if I didn't!) but it if you have issues with rhythms, this will teach you how to play the, without a doubt.

All the best
Pat

[mabhz]

Pat, hi!

Thank you SO VERY MUCH for taking the time and explainning that out.

I have read mixed reviews on a few websites, mostly concerning what I mentioned before, and off course you know that its a normal thing when a product is released.

If possible, I would like to ask you if you sell these DVD´s directly to foreign countries, or if you could point me to a online store that sells them with a reasonable shipping cost.

I´m mentioning "reasonable" because I cant seem to find any E-bay seller selling the DVDs (ebays is a lot more affordable for those who need foreign shippment), and also couldnt find a good "affordable" online store that does sell it. Only found it on some online stores that charge twice the price of the DVD for a ultra-fast 3~5 days delivery, making the item overpriced and not affordable anymore.

Thanks in advance!

[Pat Petrillo]

Sure..It is available worldwide from Alfred, especially in the UK. They ship to other countries in Europe.

http://www.alfreduk.com/index.php?se...&id=98/8527129

Most of the reviews have been excellent, and it is well received around the globe. Let me know if you get it!

Pat