Tag Archives: drums

Drums, NYC Music Scene (with Graham Doby) Ep044

May 2, 2019EpisodesAaron Sefchick, Autobahn Lab, band, band practice, Berklee, drummer, drums, fret buzz, Fret Buzz The Podcast, funk, George Clinton, George Mason University, gigging, gigs, Graham Doby, guitar, guitar lessons, jamming, jazz, Joe McMurray, learn guitar, mixing, music, Music podcast, music school, music talk, music teacher, New York City music, NYC Music Scene, Parliament, play guitar, podcast, recording, rock, studio, talk show, teachingFret Buzz The Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11:02 — 65.3MB)

Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray bring in drummer Graham Doby to discuss drums and the music scene in New York City.

Graham tells the guys about his musical journey, including playing jazz in high school and studying jazz drumming at George Mason University before moving to NYC to work as a full-time musician. Graham remembers playing at different venues in Washington, DC while he was in music school, and Joe and Graham reminisce about ear-training classes at George Mason with Dr. Anthony Maiello. The guys also contemplate the value of Berklee College of Music as it compares to other music programs/options.

Graham talks about the complexities of the NYC music scene: it’s competitive nature, it’s different circles of musicians (from professional jazz players to wedding bands to professional players of other genres), and it’s often low-paying or pay-to-play gigs. Despite any difficulties, Graham loves being part of NYC’s scene. There are great players, exciting opportunities, and cool people.

Aaron gets Graham to tell us about his experience opening for Parliament and the stories of his interactions with George Clinton.

Graham has built a recording studio in NYC to record other bands and to produce his own music. The guys ask him to explain how he manages the noise and his neighbors in an apartment building.

Aaron, Joe, and Graham discuss how to book gigs for a self-managed tour. Graham talks about his work with a non-profit group that provides music education for youth, senior citizens, and students with disabilities, which reminds Joe of Fret Buzz Episode 38 with Joe Hamm of El Sistema.

The guys talk about the business skills it takes to make a living playing music, from doing taxes to wearing multiple hats (teaching during the day and performing at night). Graham answers the burning question about how NYC musicians deal with getting show equipment to their gigs considering the obvious transportation difficulties. The answer: they often don’t have to worry about it because so many venues have house drum kits and amps.

Graham tells us about his plans for the future, including recording projects, more teaching, and staying in NYC for at least five more years.

Late Sea

https://www.lateseamusic.com/

Drums and Public School Music Teachers Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Shaun Rodgers) Ep041

April 11, 2019EpisodesAaron Sefchick, band, band practice, drumming, drums, ear training, fret buzz, Fret Buzz The Podcast, gigging, gigs, guitar, guitar lessons, jamming, Joe McMurray, Kairos Quintet, learn guitar, music, music talk, music teacher, play guitar, podcast, rehearsal, rock, Shaun Rodgers, talk show, teachingFret Buzz The Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:47 — 57.7MB)

In the 2nd half of our interview, we continue our conversation with Shaun Rodgers. In part 1 we talked a lot about Shauns current projects and teaching music in the Virginia public school system, and in part 2 we talk about the University of Maryland’s music department and about drum kits. Shaun is a former colleague and bandmate of hosts Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray, playing drums in their original band, the Kairos Quintet.

Shaun graduated from the University of Maryland’s music department, and we ask him to detail his experience. He tells us about his reasons for choosing the University of Maryland, the teachers (many of whom perform with the National Symphony), the amazing music facilities on campus, the classes, and the overall vibe of the school.

We dive into the world of drum kits. Shaun explains his different kits, and how he chooses which one to use for each gig. We discuss drumming techniques, choosing drum sticks, snare drums, the sounds of different drums based on the types of wood that they are made from, electric drum kits, and hand drums.

Shaun currently plays in several bands around Northern Virginia including:

– Broken Ground Band: a 1990s/early 2000s cover band (www.brokengroundband.com)

– Half Pint Harry: a band featuring tiny instruments (www.halfpintharry.com)

– FarAway: an acoustic duo (plus drums) (www.farawaysongs.com)

Drums and Public School Music Teachers Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Shaun Rodgers) Ep040

April 4, 2019EpisodesAaron Sefchick, band, band practice, drumming, drums, ear training, fret buzz, Fret Buzz The Podcast, gigging, gigs, guitar, guitar lessons, jamming, Joe McMurray, Kairos Quintet, learn guitar, music, music talk, music teacher, play guitar, podcast, rehearsal, rock, Shaun Rodgers, talk show, teachingFret Buzz The Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:06 — 44.2MB)

Shaun Rodgers joins the show to talk about drumming, teaching music in the Virginia public school system, and the University of Maryland’s music department. Shaun is a former colleague and bandmate of hosts Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray, playing drums in their original band, the Kairos Quintet. The guys reminisce on the collaborative writing approach and overall professionalism of that band.

Shaun tells us about the different bands that he is currently playing in around Northern Virginia including:

– Broken Ground Band: a 1990s/early 2000s cover band (www.brokengroundband.com)

– Half Pint Harry: a band featuring tiny instruments (www.halfpintharry.com)

– FarAway: an acoustic duo (plus drums) (www.farawaysongs.com)

Shaun tells us about life as a general music teacher in the Virginia public school system. He teaches Kindergarten through 6th grade and although it can sometimes be exhausting, Shaun points to the beauty of having a full-time salaried position in the musical realm. We discuss why he is choosing to teach younger kids versus older kids (no after school programs!), semester planning, “Standards of Learning” (SOL), teaching young kids how to “school,” teaching recorder in public schools, and the usefulness of the piano and guitar for teaching.

We then talk about melodic drumming, a topic that we have discussed in the past with Joe Hamm of El Sistema in Episode 038. Shaun, who has an incredible ear, tells us about his past ear training and how it helps him to sing harmonies. We also talk about the importance of designated listening for ourselves and our students.

Drums and Music for the Under-Resourced (with Joe Hamm of El Sistema) Ep038

March 21, 2019EpisodesAaron Sefchick, band, bucket band, Chasing Arrows, conversation, drums, El Sistema, fret buzz, Fret Buzz The Podcast, guitar, guitar lessons, Joe Hamm, Joe McMurray, learn guitar, music, music education, music talk, play guitar, podcast, rock, Soundscapes, talk show, teaching music, underprivileged studentsFret Buzz The Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10:43 — 48.8MB)

Drummer and music educator, Joe Hamm, joins the conversation as we learn about the El Sistema philosophy of providing music programs to under-resourced kids, the social value of music, the role of the drums within the context of a band, and touring.

Joe Hamm gives us his musical and educational background, and we talk about melodic drumming, ear training, and the deprivation of sounds and colors.

The philosophy of El Sistema was created in Venezuela in 1975. It focused on the idea that an orchestra is a community and thus models the larger society. Organizations that adhere to the El Sistema philosophy provide under-resourced students with consistent access to intensive music education. Joe Hamm tells us about his program, Soundscapes, with which he and ~9 other teachers work with students in Newport News, Virginia.

We talk about Joe Hamm’s former rock band, Chasing Arrows, their tour schedule, and the impact of the financial crash of 2008 on the music industry.

More information about Joe Hamm can be found at https://www.joehamm.com/

More information about El Sistema can be found at https://elsistemausa.org/

More information about Soundscapes can be found at https://soundscapes.org/