Gray Level Syllabus

Gray Level Syllabus

The Big Calypso and Existence:  

• What do hand drumming lessons and finding more faith have in common? The table. For the most part, we’ll play and study both on the table. 
• Hand drumming & finding faith: then and now. Start subscribing to your YouTube “favorites.”
• Playing position on a tabletop surface. 
• Hand care.
• Bass, open and touch: notation and strokes.
• Learn the Rhythm: Calypso high drum part. (YouTube G1: The Big Calypso and Existence.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM:  Du Du...Du Du...Du Du...Du Du...Du Du...Du Du...Du Du
• Time for the Table: Why are we here? (YouTube G1: The Big Calypso and Existence.)
• When playing patterns - work both hands; start with your dominant hand then switch hands.
• Sound Check: Topic A1 - Why We Are Able to Believe: Existence. 
• YOU Practice Lesson G1.
• Table Task: Remember. 
• Basic Notation (1) handout: study it.

Middle Calypso and Middle Earth

• Review, bass, open, and touch stroke.
• Closed slap and heel-toe: notation and strokes.
• Learn to “speak” the strokes first.
• Learn the Rhythm: Calypso middle drum part. (YouTube G2: Middle Calypso and Middle Earth.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Du te re Du Du te re te...Du te re Du Du te re te...
• Time for the Table: Why did God create us? (YouTube G2: Middle Calypso and Middle Earth.) 
• Work both hands. (YouTube G2: Middle Calypso and Middle Earth.)
• Chew on It.  Topic A1: Why We Are Able to Believe: Existence. 
• Tradition and Word.  Topic A1: Why We Are Able to Believe: Existence. 
• YOU Practice Lesson G2.
• Table Task: Surrender. 
• Basic Notation (1) handout: study it.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

My First Son Clave:

• Review speaking the strokes.
• Learn the Rhythm: Son clave. (YouTube G3: My First Son Clave.) 
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Du Ge re Du Ge re Du re te re Du Ge re Du Ge re... 
• Time for the Table: Why do we seek God? (YouTube G3: My First Son Clave.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G3: My First Son Clave.)
• Sound Check: Topic A2 - Man Is Receptive to God: Cravings, Desires, and Lattes.
• YOU Practice Lesson G3.
• Table Task: Notice.  
• Basic Notation (1) handout: study it.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

The Two-Slap Tumbao:

• Forming or joining a YOUCAT study group at YOUCAT.org.
• Finding the “one” and counting, counting when you play.
• Clap on "one" exercise.
• Whole, half, and quarter notes and rest.
• Learn the Rhythm: Tumbao. (YouTube G4: The Two-Slap Tumbao.) 
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: te re Pa Pa te re Du Du...te re Pa Pa te re Du Du
• Time for the Table: Why do we yearn for happiness? (YouTube G4: The Two-Slap Tumbao.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G4: The Two-Slap Tumbao.) 
• Chew on It.  Topic A2 - Man Is Receptive to God: Cravings, Desires, and Lattes
• Assignment 1.
• YOU Practice Lesson G4.
• Table Task: Thank. 
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

Rumba for Two:

• Eighth note beats and rests.
• Everybody’s got a pulse.
• Dance grooves.
• Time signatures in music.
• Learn the Rhythm: Rumba & Heel-toe pattern. (YouTube G5: Rumba for Two.) 
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Ge   Ge   Du   ge re ge re ge re ge re...  
• Time for the Table: What is eternal happiness? (YouTube G5: Rumba for Two.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G5: Rumba for Two.)
• Tradition and Word. Topic A2: Man Is Receptive to God: Cravings, Desires, and Lattes. 
• YOU Practice Lesson G5.
• Table Task: Ask and Seek.
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

"One" for the Pocket; the Tumbao:

• Tapping your foot.
• Time keeping devices; the metronome.
• Four Beats and Four Pillars.
• Learn the Rhythm:  More Tumbao variations because it’s highly versatile in many settings. (YouTube G6: “One” for the Pocket; the Tumbao.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: ge re Pa te ge re Du Du...ge re Pa te ge re Du Du
• Time for the Table:  Why do people deny that God exists, if they can know him by reason? (YouTube G6: “One” for the Pocket; the Tumbao.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G6: “One” for the Pocket; the Tumbao.)
• Sound Check: Topic A3: God Approaches Us Men: The “Big Reveal.”
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet, G6.
• Table Task: Pray. 
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

Puerto Rican Bomba:

• Keep speaking the strokes.
• Limit your strokes; temperance.
• Learn the Rhythm. The Bomba low drum part, 1st and 2nd half. (YouTube G7: Puerto Rican Bomba.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: (1) Pa   Du   Du Du (2) Pa   Du Du Du Du
• Time for the Table:  Why did God have to show himself in order for us to be able to know what he is like? (YouTube G7: Puerto Rican Bomba.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G7: Puerto Rican Bomba.) 
• Chew on It. Topic A3: God Approaches Us Men: The “Big Reveal.” 
• Speaking of Puerto Rico, meet one of their own, Giovanni Hidalgo: Master Conguero: –the YouTube videos are astonishing.  Subscribe to a few.
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet (1), G7.
• Table Task: Learn.
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

Drum and Bass: 

• Getting to the next level; practice.
• Fill in the empty beats with touch, but don’t touch too much!
• Drumset adaptation for hand drum.
• Cut-time/Back beat handout.
• Learn the Rhythm. Drumset groove. (YouTube G8: Drum and Bass.) 
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Ge te re te Pa te re te Ge te re te Pa Pa Du Du....
• Time for the Table:  What does God show us about himself when he sends his Son to us? (YouTube G8: Bass and Snare.) 
• Work both hands. (YouTube G8: Drum and Bass.)
• Tradition and Word.  Topic A3: God Approaches Us Men: The “Big Reveal.”  
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet (2) and (3 cut-time), G8.
• Table Task: Decide.
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) and (2) handouts: study them.

What's Going On:  

• Continue to count out loud.
• Learn the Rhythm.  Quiet Storm. (YouTube G9: What’s Going On.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Du n Du n Pat e re Du n Du n Du Pat e te re...
• Time for the Table: How can we can know when God speaks to us? How do we respond? (YouTube G8: What’s Going On.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G8: What’s Going On.)
• Sound Check: Topic A4: Man Responds to God: Believing.
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet (2), and (3 cut-time), G9.
• Table Task: Think and Pray.
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

Calypso All Grown Up:  

• The fun of combining patterns.
• Visualize yourself playing the pattern correctly.
• Learn the Rhythm. Extended Calypso. (YouTube G10: Calypso All Grown Up.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Du te re Du Du re te re te Du te Du Du Du te re...
• Time for the Table: What is Faith? (YouTube G10: Calypso All Grown Up.)
• Work both hands. (YouTube G10: Calypso All Grown Up.)
• Chew on It. Topic A4:  Man Responds to God: Believing. 
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet (2), G10.
• Table Task: Learn.
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

Bomba All Grown Up:

• On and off beats; hand assignments.
• Learn the Rhythm. Extended Bomba. (YouTube G11: Bomba All Grown Up.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Pat te re Du n Du Du te Pat te re Du Du Du Du te...
• Time for the Table: How does one go about believing? (YouTube G11: Bomba All Grown Up.) 
• Work both hands. (YouTube G11: Bomba All Grown Up.)
• Tradition and Word.  Topic A4: Man Responds to God: Believing.  
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet (2), G11.
• Table Task: Believe.
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

West Texas Bolero: 

• Enough is a muff; the muff stroke.
• Learn the Rhythm. Bolero. (YouTube G12: West Texas Bolero.)
• SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Ge te Pa te Ge Du Du Du Ge tripleA ta ta Ge Du Du Du... 
• Time for the Table: With Jesus Christ, has everything been said, or does revelation continue even after him? (YouTube G12: West Texas Bolero.) 
• Work both hands. (YouTube G12: West Texas Bolero.)
• Keeping the Conversation.  Topic A3: God Approaches Us Men: The “Big Reveal.”
• YOU Practice: Rhythm Sheet (2), G12.
• Table Task: Persevere. 
• Basic Notation (1) and (2) handouts: study them.
• Counting (1) handout: study it.

Back to "Time For The Table" THE WAY AND MEANS

Selected Reference Material for Gray Level Course:

1. Pattloch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, YOUCAT-English, (Munich, Germany), (San Francisco, CA, USA: Ignatius Press, 2011), 12-26
2. Jack Kersting, Mark Brumley, Paul George, and Vivian Dudro, YOUCAT Study Guide (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2013), 3-10
3. Alan Dworsky and Betsy Sansby, Conga Drumming: A Beginner’s Guide To Playing With Time (Minneapolis, MN, Dancing Hands Music, 1994), 24-41
4. Alan Dworsky and Betsy Sansby, Hip Grooves for Hand Drums: How to Play Funk, Rock & World-Beat Patterns on Any Drum (Minnetonka, MN, Dancing Hands Music, 2001), 27-28
5. Gary Hess, Encyclopedia of Reading Rhythms: Text and Workbook for All Instruments (Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corporation, 1997), 4-15

Time for the Table 2013 by Gary Geraci

Last update 2/4/2017