first post, Hi! In the 1960's I studied with Roy C Knapp senior, a great percussionist. His
students included Baby Dodds, Big Sid Catlett, Dave Tough, Shelly Manne, Louie Bellson,
Bobby Rosengarden, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and so on........his teaching office wall was
covered with signed photos of more drummers thanking him for his assistance than I can
remember. He once told me that he learned more from them than they learned from him.
Anyways, after a year of private lessons with him (by audition) he suggested that I consider
playing weekends and having a day job. I took his advice and have had a wonderful life combining the benefits of both worlds. In my 60's, I still am havin' a ball! I was young
so he had a lot of advice to offer me but one important tip was always keep your sticks
up and ready to play again. In other words, on a bounced long roll for example, don't
be lifting the stick you just played with slowly to playing position while the other stick
is hitting, but get it back up right away. While I don't know his criteria for deciding on whether or not he would teach you, at the audition it was expected that you could play the 26 rudiments etc. He had me learn to play rolls with 3 and 4 bounces with each hand. Site reading was part of each lesson. Getting comfortable with mallet instruments was too. Remember, this was the 1960's, when high school band programs rarely had a set of vibes or a xylophone or marimba etc. A lot has changed in 45 years. If you haven't heard
of Roy C Knapp Sr, check him out online.
i visited my grandpa in new orleans all the time. about 5 years ago, for shits and giggles, i contacted stanton moore on his myspace to see if he was available for a lesson. he responded and we scheduled a date. i got to the drum shop an hour early talked to the salesman, sat down in the back with my pad and did some rudiments for the majority of the time. then the door opens and i hear the salesman say, "yo stan, how are ya, kid?", i looked around the corner and there he was chatting. he says, "i gotta give a lesson, this kid visiting from texas wants to hook up." the sales man says, "yeah nice kid, he's by the practice rooms, getting warmed up. he's got a good posture, and a solid handshake, so he's probably pretty talented. he's also nervous as shit-haha!" stanton says, "cool, easier dealing nervous than arrogant." i walk up to them and say, "mr. m-m-moore, i'm matt from h-h-houston, what a pleasure, you're my biggest influence!" he says "well thanks for using my funky second line licks out there in texas, keeping the sound alive." i almost passed out. we chat a little and make some jokes, then get down to it. he showed me some of his stockings, how to move them around the kit, jazzy ride cymbal patterns with ghost strikes on the snare. he said, "good, kiddo, real good" i felt ten feet tall! after the lesson, we jammed in the main part of the store with the owner of the shop. it was epic!!!