I wanted to let you all know that a new TIP newsletter is now available – Issue No 6 – July 2009. It includes our monthly “Teacher Feature”, as well as an new article by TIP Member Stephane Chamberland. Its exclusive for TIP Members only – but membership is free – just go here to sign up!
Another month has gone by and we have some sad news to share. For those of you who have not yet heard, after suffering for quite some time with failing health, Jim Chapin died at 5pm on July 4th. It is poetic that the man who opened the door to modern drumset independence died on Independence Day in the United States. His legacy lives on through the countless hours we’ve all spent working out the coordination to play the exercises in Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, and in the endless discussions of the “real” Moeller technique. I was lucky enough to have several lessons with Jim as a young drummer and I can tell you that nobody knows that stuff as well as Jim did. Preliminary talks are underway for a memorial concert and scholarship to honor Jim and to promote the future of drumming. We’ll provide details and info at hudsonmusic.com but you can also visit Jim’s website at www.jimchapin.com.
On to some more positive things!
This month begins a two part spotlight on Karl Sloman from Ontario, Canada. I was put in touch with Karl through a drummer friend and TIP member named John Favicchia (look for a great interview with John in next month’s newsletter) who had recently done a string of clinic dates at Karl’s schools. Karl has an interesting military background, and has built his 4 Wizdom Academies from scratch in a mere four years. Among the most technologically advanced teaching programs in existence, Karl also has established a retail business. His work with the disabled is inspiring and I hope you all get as much of a charge from learning about his work as I did.
We are also including an article submitted by another Canadian, Stephane Chamberland, from a book he co-wrote with Dom Famularo called The Weaker Side
Speaking of Dom, he will be one of the speakers at the Hudson-led panel at this year’s PASIC in Indianapolis. The panel will also consist of Joe Bergamini, Donny Greundler, and myself along with some others (as yet unconfirmed and schedule permitting) discussing the use of technology in an educational environment. At other PASIC events, our own TIP advisory board member Skip Hadden will be performing as will Tommy Igoe’s Birdland Big Band. TIP member Daniel Glass Zoro which promises to be great. We’ll have a more comprehensive list as the event gets closer, but you can see one at hudsonmusic.com with some of our artists highlighted. This year’s convention is shaping up to be a great one. For more information please visit www.pas.org.
You will also find in this newsletter the TIP Teacher’s Guide to Gregg Bissonette’s DVD, Musical Drumming in Different Styles. This DVD is a fantastic educational look at learning to play different styles of music, but also contains a wealth of information on being a professional – all taken from Gregg’s many years in the music business. The information is applicable to any style or level of player, and its definitely a DVD worth having in your library!
That’s all for now, have fun and I’ll see you in the forums.
Mike Sorrentino – Hudson Music