James Christian has been a percussionist for over 20 years. He has performed with many types of groups, including drum corps, concert bands, orchestras, jazz combos, military bands, and percussion ensembles. He has marched with two senior drum & bugle corps—Bayou City Blues and Gulf Coast Sound (both from Houston, Texas)—and spent four years as a percussionist in the United States Marine Corps Band at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
James Christian has won 16 local, state, and national percussion competitions. He was the 1998 Texas Percussive Arts Society (PAS) high school multi-tenor drum champion, and he is the seven-time winner of the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) multi-tenor drum competition (2001-2007).
He has taught several schools, including Centennial High School in Burleson, Texas and Paris High School in Paris, Texas. He is the author of "The Art of Multi-Tenor Drumming," and he has composed and arranged music for several different ensembles. In 2016, he created RudimentalUniversity.com as an online resource for percussionists and percussion instructors, and he now edits The Percussion Circle magazine.
Struggling with speed, accuracy, or pulse? James describes three ways you can use different tempos to maximize your practice sessions. The following is a transcript of the video above (slightly reworded for readability):
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Hello, everyone. This is James Christian with RudimentalUniversity.com. Today I would like to talk about three different ways you can use tempo to help you when practicing a piece of music.
Here is the next installment of videos from my book The Art of Multi-Tenor Drumming. In addition to thousands of exercises, the book contains 33 etudes. This is etude #27 entitled “Maze.”
Here are the performance notes from the book:
This etude is dedicated to DCI snare champion, Ken Mazur. His books have done a lot to help me grow in my playing, and they were a great inspiration to me in writing this book. The etudes in this section were largely inspired by the “Rudimental Performance” etudes in his orange book [The Basic Technique of Rudimental Drumming]. In fact, this etude can be played as a duet with the final “Rudimental Performance” etude, or it can be played as a stand-alone solo. If played as a duet, the first two measures are a solo introduction, and the snare part would come in on measure 3. I have always loved the snare etude, and I thought it would be nice to have a tenor version of it. (With the added arounds and sweep patterns, the tenor part is slightly more difficult, but you have to be a pretty good player to play either version well.)
In adapting this etude to tenors, I looked to the Marty Hurley/Lee Hansen snare/tenor duets, such as Phantom of the Phield and Phantom Phrenzy. Of course, Ken Mazur was a student of Marty Hurley, and you can hear Hurley’s influence in Mazur’s writing. The Hurley solos were originally written as stand-alone solos. Later, Lee Hansen (another student of Hurley’s) wrote tenor accompaniments that could be played as either a stand-alone tenor solo or a duet with the snare part. These solos were all written for quads (four drums), and I decided to do the same here.
As you play through this etude, you will find that the structure has a really good sense of momentum, and a lot of different rudiments are incorporated. It’s a lot of fun to play, and there are several rudimental surprises throughout. Whether you play it as an individual solo or as a duet with a good snare drummer, it should thoroughly engage any audience.
At the beginning of the year, I announced that I intended to record a number of the etudes from my book The Art of Multi-Tenor Drumming. There are 33 etudes total, and here is my first video toward that goal. This is etude #11 entitled “Believe It or Not.”
Here are the performance notes from the book:
This lively etude is intended to be a good overview of fundamental skills. The initial theme is presented in the introduction and hinted at throughout the rest of the solo. Each subsequent section works on a specific skill—movement patterns, triplet rolls, crossovers, flams, odd-metered time signatures, tuplets, extended 32nd note rolls, and extended 24th note singles. Finally, the original theme is reprised, concluding with a final challenge of rapid fire dynamic changes. All of this is packed into 34 energetic measures. Younger players should take this at a moderate tempo, as it will serve as a good solo for incorporating fundamental techniques. More advanced players will find it a challenge to take a more lively tempo. The etude works well at a variety of tempos.
This short exercise is a good chop builder for keyboard percussion. It focuses on short spurts (which builds speed), and its length allows for numerous repetitions (which builds endurance). I came up with this exercise several years ago when I was trying to help a student build their two-mallet speed. I didn’t expect it to be so popular, but my students have enjoyed playing it ever since. It’s fairly catchy, and the simplicity of its structure makes it easy to learn. I have seen firsthand that the students who practice it regularly achieve good results.
When first learning this exercise, take it slowly until you can strike each note with 100% accuracy. It is short enough to memorize fairly easily. Remember that the key to speed is staying relaxed! Of course, you have to push your muscles in order to build endurance, but you must push them with good technique. Don’t let the speed create a sense of uncontrolled frenzy. Don’t lock your arms or wrists. Stay relaxed, yet keep your sound intensely focused. Strive for consistent strokes, so that you achieve clean execution and articulation.
Enjoy playing! I hope you notice significant improvement in your singles quality and speed.
Here is a new exercise for marching tenors that focuses on the three most common crossover sweep patterns: helicopters, butterflies, and figure eights.
In case you are unfamiliar with these terms, helicopters are found in measures 2 and 4. Butterflies are found in measures 6 and 8. Figure eights are found in measures 10 and 12. The final pattern, found in measures 14 and 16, is not as common, but it makes logical sense in the context of this exercise. I call the pattern inward figure eights. With all of these patterns, they are presented first with right hand lead and then with left hand lead.
All these sweep patterns are based on the visual “picture” created from their movement when played rapidly. Helicopters look a bit like helicopter blades moving. Butterflies create sort of a butterfly wing shape. Figure eights create an “8” shape. Inward figure eights follow the same motion, but the sweeps move inward instead of outward.
The measures that do not contain sweeps are meant as a groovy check pattern. I find the accent and rim shot patterns more fun to play than a measure of straight singles (or something similarly basic). I suspect most readers will enjoy them more as well.
This exercise is great for all ability levels. Beginner players will want to take each measure very slowly in order to learn these patterns. You may need to start around 80 beat per minute (bpm) on the metronome. Advanced players may be able to treat the exercise in more of a double time fashion, playing in a tempo range of 240 bpm—or faster!
As always, focus on proper playing zones. Avoid rim clicks and aim for 100% accuracy. Maintain even sounding doubles, so that both notes are of equal volume. Enjoy!
Do you know how to count 24th notes, 40th notes, or 48th notes? James walks you through some terminology that may just revolutionize your understanding of rhythm. The following is a modified transcript of the video above:
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Hello, everybody. This is James Christian with RudimentalUniversity.com.
Today I want to talk about rhythm terminology. Most musicians don’t frequently deal with this particular concept I’m going to discuss, but drummers and percussionists deal with it all the time.
We’re used to whole notes, half notes, quarter, notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, etc. And we also have tuplet patterns, such as half note triplets, quarter note triplets, 8th note triplets, 16th note triplets, and so forth. In this article, I’m going to talk about the way we discuss tuplet patterns and how we can make it a little bit easier.
This method is especially easier when you’re writing on the Internet and typing. It also makes your terminology more consistent, regardless of the type of note you’re discussing. When you’re writing, this method will save space, and it’s just a nice shorthand for your terminology.
Today marks the first crash cymbals exercise on Rudimental University! In just one exercise, the player cycles through a variety of techniques. This is a really good warm-up for working through some of the most common cymbal effects. As with all the “12 Bucks” exercises this week, this exercise can be played in individual practice, and it can also be played with other percussionists on other instruments.
The exercise is divided into 12 sections comprised of six “pairs” (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, etc.). The first time through each section, play with the right hand on top. On the repeat, flip the cymbals so that the left hand is on top. Many cymbal players and cymbal lines do not work both hands evenly, but I ask… Why not? When both hands are equally strong, you have many more options when it comes to performances.
The same rhythmic structure is used throughout the exercise (except for the “tag” at the end). If you are unfamiliar with extended crash cymbal techniques, there are a few resources online that explain them quite well. Unfortunately, the terminology varies wildly from instructor to instructor. I did come across the Oregon Crusaders’ cymbal line packet, and the techniques are all explained quite well in it: http://oregoncrusaders.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/OCP-Cymbal-Technique-Book-20151.pdf (Note: what they call “smashes” are what I call “crunches.” Everything else is the same.)
Here is the breakdown of the techniques:
Sections 1-2: Hi-hat chokes
Sections 3-4: General crashes (you can either push the top cymbal in a downward motion or away from your body—your choice)
Sections 5-6: Taps
Sections 7-8: Dings
Sections 9-10: Clicks
Sections 11-12: Crunches (a.k.a. Smashes)
The tag utilizes crash chokes and sizzle-sucks.
I personally find this a fun exercise to play. It provides good audio/visual variety, and it keeps you on your toes. Happy crashing!
This exercise is a good warm-up for practicing tone quality and pedaling changes. It goes through the circle of fifths, and each section incorporates the tonic and dominant of the key. Like the other “12 Bucks” exercises this week, today’s timpani exercise can be played individually or with a group of percussionists.
This exercise can be played on three drums, but four will be easier. The rhythms are not overly difficult, so it’s a good opportunity to focus on drawing a full tone from the drum on every stroke. When playing with a group, you may want to use a medium hard mallet to produce slightly sharper articulation.
The main challenge on this exercise will be the pitch changes. Gauges will certainly make the changes easier, but a well-trained timpanist can learn to “feel” the next pitch as he or she becomes more familiar with the specific set of drums used. As always, use your ear and learn to adjust quickly, whether you have gauges or not.
Today you get a double dose of exercises! Both versions cycle through the circle of fifths and utilize a thirds pattern, but the first version uses double strokes, and the second version uses single strokes. Both are valuable to learn, and both work important skills.
As mentioned a few days ago, all the exercises this week can be played individually or together as a full drum line. The snare part is similar to the common “Bucks” exercise, and the keyboard part cycles through 12 keys. Thus the exercise is called “12 Bucks.”
If you don’t know your scales and/or the circle of fifths very well, the main challenge on this exercise will be to switch between keys so quickly. I would recommend starting with the doubles version. You can initially learn it without the double strokes, and the technical demands will be slightly easier. It really is a great exercise for helping you know the circle of fifths intimately.
Once you get the notes down, you can add in the doubles. Then you can learn the slightly more challenging singles version. When playing doubles, make sure both notes are of equal volume. (Don’t “drop” the second note of the doubles.) When playing singles, make sure you don’t add accents when they aren’t written. With everything you play, work toward smooth, evenly spaced notes.
For more seasoned players, you may want to take the same exercises and play them with natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, and/or other scale combinations.
This fun bass exercise can be played with the snare and tenor exercises posted yesterday, or it can stand alone as a good splitting workout for five players. As the title indicates, there are 12 sections, and each has a specific focus:
Sections 1-2: Unison one-handed accented 8th notes. Focus on maintaining a clear distinction between accents and taps. Keep your taps controlled and close to the drum. Make sure your accents are strong, not wimpy. Matching stick heights and angles will help in staying together.
Sections 3-4: Unison alternating accented 16th notes. This should follow the exact same technique as sections 1-2, except the opposite hand is now “filling in” the 16th notes. All taps should be consistently at the same height and volume. Keep the accents strong and the taps consistently softer.
Sections 5-6: Split 8th note patterns. Focus on precise note placing. Mentally subdividing the beat is essential.
Sections 7-8: Split 16th note patterns. Make sure the 16th notes are placed exactly in time, so that the transitions from player to player are smooth.
Sections 9-10: Split 16th note triplet patterns. Once again, take care to maintain precise note spacing. Be careful not to “crush” or “stretch” the triplets.
Sections 11-12: Split 32nd note patterns. As the note speed increases, technique becomes even more important. Maintain control without becoming rigid. Stay relaxed without becoming sloppy. Take care to achieve clarity on every single note.
