Mozart's Clarinet Concerto
 

First of all,  if anyone is reading this,  go to the link below and check out the Buddy Rich "bus tapes". 

It hasn't made me lose any respect or admiration for this great drumming legend,  but it does show that the man was a total perfectionist and expected the same from his sidemen.  It's just the way in which he disciplined his side musicians that I thought was horrible.   He had the most vile,  wicked temperament you could possibly imagine!   The man did NOT tolerate any "clams",  period.

http://www.visi.com/~eatdrums/drum.html

THE SINGLE STROKE ROLL

I've been focusing on the single stroke roll in the past few days.   It is deceptively simple,  but to me it can be the hardest rudiment of all. 

At least with the paradiddle,  one can take advantage of the dynamics and take off on the momentum.  But with the single stroke roll it's just left-right-left-right...   and doing the single stroke from opened to closed (slow to very fast) is harder than it looks,  definitely. 

My double stroke rolls are going pretty strong right now,  but I know that once I get the single stroke rolls happening,  then going between singles and doubles will be such a breeze,  and will truly expand my soloing style!   That is my main reason for going back to studying the single stroke roll in depth.

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Today I listened to Mozart's famous Clarinet Concerto,  which is by far my favorite clarinet concerto in the classical repertoire.   It is also the only clarinet concerto that I know of from the classical repertoire.   Anyway,  It's such a beautiful work...   that second movement always leaves me in tears,  it's one of the most beautiful slow movements I've ever heard.   The first time I recognized this work was in the movie "Out Of Africa",  the one with Meryl Streep.

CHANGING INSTRUMENTS

Our oldest son told us this morning that he doesn't want to play trombone anymore.   My wife was a little upset that he had invested this much time in the instrument and now is changing his mind about it.   But he DID explain that he wishes to switch to clarinet instead,  and he did have some valid points for making the change. 

"The clarinet",  I thought...   hmmm....   I love Mozart's beautiful clarinet concerto...   well,  that's a better choice of instrument in my opinion.  ( thoughts of my son playing Mozart's famous clarinet concerto were filling my mind ).

For one,  the clarinet is a much easier instrument to learn.   The trombone has positions that you have to slide to in order to achieve a sound,  which is difficult for a young kid.   And secondly,  the trombone is a very heavy instrument to lug around school,  while the clarinet is quite light and no problem to carry around.   So,  we both saw his viewpoints in regards to changing instruments.   As long as he has an interest in music,  I really don't mind what instrument he studies.   I just wish he'd like the drums (which he doesn't) because then I could give him free lessons!

BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY

My son has been in the habit of wearing a white smock at home and getting into science projects with his microscope and chemistry set.   His hero right now is Albert Einstein and my son thinks he's a scientist. 

My father-in-law had set up a work area in the backyard where he could "conduct" his experiments. 

Every day he watches Bill Nye the science guy and when he misses a show he gets in a real nasty mood.   He says he wants to become a scientist one day and he already has decided that he wants to go to either UCSD or UCLA!   So much for my trying to influence him to become a musician like his Dad. 

Well,  I try not to pressure my kids into something they wouldn't like,  so it's whatever they are interested in. 

I mean,  with me,  I always wanted to be a musician and so here I am,  if only an unemployed musician for the moment...   well,  hopefully not for long.   I truly believe I will find work and make this a profitable venture.   I've done it in the past and can do it again. 

But my oldest son is set on becoming a scientist,  and I'm proud of him for being so decisive at such a young age.   He has just finished another "Mad Science" class at his school,  and he's totally on "cloud nine" with his receiving yet another certificate to put up on his bedroom wall.   He's a strange kid sometimes,  but I really thing he's going to be a scientist.
 

DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA!

Tonight my wife and I are going to the national tour of the musical,  Evita!   Boy,  I had been looking forward to this for a long time.   Not that we go to the theater or see a play every weekend,  but we just are overjoyed with going out,  period,  something we seldom get enough of these days.   And a musical is a great way to spend an evening,  a perfect escape from the pressures of life.

We'll,  just have to drop the boys off with the sitter and away we go... 
 

6 Months Ago Today

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