Chuck Silverman here!

Hey Chuck! I remember first seeing you at a joint clinic with Ed Shaugnessy at Long Beach State. You were great!

My question; when it comes to doing fills in latin music, such as on a songo in a latin jazz setting, what are the rules for creating phrases that expand upon the groove without destroying it? I've been playing the songo and other latin grooves for years but still have a relatively limited vocabulary when it comes to making longer phrases, fills, etc. I try to avoid playing fills that go right to '1', cause they seem too obvious. On the other hand, I don't want to play too complex, over the barline, etc. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?

hey Matty

Great question...do you have a couple of years for some answers? You ask "what are the rules for creating phrases that expand upon the groove without destroying it?"

Well, there's this concept of "playing in clave" which is a key when playing Cuban music. It's not about actually playing the clave rhythm. It's more like really _knowing_ and/or _owning_ the subdivisions. Now that may seem a little "brainy" when it comes to actually playing music. So, let me say, it's a balance between a more organic approach, which translates to "feel", and the more "educated" approach when it comes to the concept of owning the subdivisions. (Is this making sense?)

A relatively easy way to begin:

1. Take the most basic of cáscara grooves and orchestrate this as a fill, perhaps ending on the last note of the "2-3" with a cymbal crash and rim shot. That would sound pretty good. (Try just the "3" part of the cáscara for a shorter pharse). Understood?

2. Here's a link to something I do and have done which is transcribe solos and then apply them to the drum set. Check this out, for inspiration:


Let me know if this helps you at all. I have a million more ideas...

Chuck
 
hey Matty

Great question...do you have a couple of years for some answers? You ask "what are the rules for creating phrases that expand upon the groove without destroying it?"

Well, there's this concept of "playing in clave" which is a key when playing Cuban music. It's not about actually playing the clave rhythm. It's more like really _knowing_ and/or _owning_ the subdivisions. Now that may seem a little "brainy" when it comes to actually playing music. So, let me say, it's a balance between a more organic approach, which translates to "feel", and the more "educated" approach when it comes to the concept of owning the subdivisions. (Is this making sense?)

A relatively easy way to begin:

1. Take the most basic of cáscara grooves and orchestrate this as a fill, perhaps ending on the last note of the "2-3" with a cymbal crash and rim shot. That would sound pretty good. (Try just the "3" part of the cáscara for a shorter pharse). Understood?

2. Here's a link to something I do and have done which is transcribe solos and then apply them to the drum set. Check this out, for inspiration:


Let me know if this helps you at all. I have a million more ideas...

Chuck

Haha. Yeah, I know that question has a loooonggg answer :) I know what you're saying about playing 'in clave'. Orchestrating the cascara around the drumset is a great idea! That was the exact answer I was looking for. I will check out the transcription, as well. Thanks so much for the response!
 
hey friends

Hope everyone's doing great. Recently, I've been posting videos to my youtube site which is http://youtube.com/palito32

Also, I have a new DVD production coming out real soon titled The Latin Funk Connection.
There's a demo of the DVD on the youtube site.

I'm in Facebook as well. Kind of a fun place, if I had the time!

Talk/chat/IM with some of you soon,

Chuck
 
hey everyone

I'm happy to announce that I've signed with Cherry Lane Music to produce my first of what I hope will be several DVDs, The Latin Funk Connection. We don't have a release date yet, but since the video has already been shot and edited, it shouldnt be long.
(http://youtube.com/palito32 for a demo and other footage, lessons, etc.)

Also, my interview/lessons article, Drumset Artists of Brasil will be in Modern Drummer within the next few months. This interview article features six top Brazilian drummers plus tons of lessons, many of which are beautifully constructed pieces of music.

Thanks for being in touch.

Chuck
 
developing improvisational skills

Hey Chuck,
You always hear improvised afro-cuban patterns on drum set by a bunch of good players. How can I build my improvisational skills when it comes to making a pattern?

hey and thanks for writing.
Improvisational skills can be gained by, well honestly, playing. You have to have some basic foundational ideas "down" first. In this way, others with whom you are playing will feel comfortable. This will give you the opportunity to play and soon, to attempt to improvise.
I have some ideas I've used with my own playing and, then, with my students. I'll try, this week, to get them online either as transcription type lessons or on youtube. Very basically, I've taken some important rhythms played by the quinto (drum used in rumba) and transferred them to the drum set.
btw, I do teach by DVD and, soon, online.

Thanks for your interest!

Chuck
 
Re: Chuck Silverman here!. Master Classes in Missouri.end of March

hey friends

I'll be at Shivelbine Music in Cape Girardeau, MO March 30 and 31, Master Classes and Private Lessons.

I'll also be at Drum Headquarters and/or SideTrack Studios in St Louis, March 28 and 29. Master Classes and Private Lessons

Be in touch and I hope to see you there!

Chuck
 
I'm seriously proud of all my Level 3 graduating students at Musicians Institute. They all passed! which is always good.

My Final Exam was having them perform one of the songo tunes from my playalong book/CD, Practical Playalongs.
This is the youtube video of me playing the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu7Iq1dv3rU

Their chart was much easier. The video of me playing their Final, according to their assignment is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPr62fMmWro

Best of luck to all the graduates of the Drum Program!

CS
 
HI Chuck,

How was Cuba?
 
Cuba...I just returned two weeks ago....is an amazing place. For music, art, culture...especially culture. The people are really just so...well, I am so in love with this place. I'm sure those who know me would understand that last statement.

I organize drum/percussion Research Programs to Cuba.

I am planning my next trip Dec. 19, 2010 - Jan. 2, 2011. If anyone'd like information, please let me know.

Chuck
 
Friends

Thank you for your interest in my work as musician/author/educator and, if you have purchased any of my drum education productions. I have two new productions, whose description can be found here:

http://chucksilverman.com/media/media.html


This is my new DVD and eBook which demonstrates the teachings of my two Snare Technique teachers, Richard Wilson and Murray Spivack. There's just not enough information out there about these two Masters of snare drum technique. I very humbly give my take on their instruction which has influenced me and, I hope, many of my students.

These are all digital downloads and can be ordered at the following URLs.

Basic Snare Drum Technique DVD http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1383899


Basic Snare Drum Technique eBook http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1384316


Bundled Basic Snare Drum Technique DVD/eBook http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1384317

Once again, thank you for your interest and support. A Happy and Healthy 2011 to all of you.

Very best,

Chuck Silverman
 
Friends

Thank you for your interest in my work as musician/author/educator and, if you have purchased any of my drum education productions. I have two new productions, whose description can be found here:

http://chucksilverman.com/media/media.html


This is my new DVD and eBook which demonstrates the teachings of my two Snare Technique teachers, Richard Wilson and Murray Spivack. There's just not enough information out there about these two Masters of snare drum technique. I very humbly give my take on their instruction which has influenced me and, I hope, many of my students.

These are all digital downloads and can be ordered at the following URLs.

Basic Snare Drum Technique DVD http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1383899


Basic Snare Drum Technique eBook http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1384316


Bundled Basic Snare Drum Technique DVD/eBook http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1384317

Once again, thank you for your interest and support. A Happy and Healthy 2011 to all of you.

Very best,

Chuck Silverman


hey Chuck

you were a teacher of mine at MI in Hollywood back around 1999/2000

I had an Afro Cuban class....and a James Brown class with you.......and you changed the way I looked at drumming......

today I am an educator myself and you teaching techniques have stuck with me through the years....

I use your James Brown book almost daily when teaching..

thank you for being one of the best teachers/drummer I have ever known

Anthony Amodeo
 
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