G2 Bullet 1 - Review, bass, open and touch stroke (see Lesson G1 Bullet 5). Watch again the opening minute of the The Big Calypso and Existence for a
demonstration of how to play these strokes on the table. Also helpful to you as you make your way through the Gray Level Lessons
would be to frequently revisit G1 Bullet
3, playing position on a tabletop surface and G1 Bullet 4, hand care.
G2 Bullet 2 -
Closed slap and heel-toe: notation and strokes. We will now add several more sounds to our
repertoire of strokes to play on the tabletop.
a.) One, the closed slap will be completely new, while the other,
b.) the heel-toe is a combination of sorts of the bass and touch stroke that we learned in the previous lesson, The Big Calypso and Existence.
a.) One, the closed slap will be completely new, while the other,
b.) the heel-toe is a combination of sorts of the bass and touch stroke that we learned in the previous lesson, The Big Calypso and Existence.
3. The Closed Slap Stroke: The closed-slap or slap stroke is the
most difficult hand drum stroke to learn, a bit easier however, I think, for
tabletop players. Each player has a
different approach to producing a slap but the name of the tone says it all. When
properly executed, you hear a "pop" like sound. Some describe the sharp sound of the slap as
sounding like the crack of a whip.
4. When I was new to
conga drumming, it was the writing of Mr. Alan Dworsky and Ms. Betsy Sansby, in
their book Conga Drumming: A Beginner's Guide To Playing With Time, that allowed me to compare what I was doing with
my own hands to their own very thorough, experience based description of how
the slap should be started, executed, and terminated. I've adapted their teachings to the tabletop
strokes contained in these lessons.
5. As I
demonstrate in the Middle Calypso and Middle Earth movie below, cup your hand as if you are about to drop it into
a bucket to get a drink of water.
"Cup your hand so that only the pads of the fingertips hit the
head. The cup should be slight; you
should only be able to slide a pencil between your palm and the drumhead, not a
golf ball." (page 27, Conga Drumming)
6. Now bring your
fingertips down onto the table with a whip-like motion. To start a slap stroke, lift your hand two
to three inches off of the table by raising your forearm slightly. At the same time, flex your wrist and pull
your fingers up until your hand makes at least a 45 degree angle with the
table. Keep your fingers relaxed and
together or just slightly apart. Your
thumb should be away from your hand because once you move your hand forward,
you don't want to injure your thumb by whacking it on the edge of the
table. Only the pad of each fingertip -
the fingerprint section - should make contact with the tabletop. The relation of your palm to the edge of the
table is critical. The lower or chubby
part of your palm momentarily comes to rest on the edge of the table when you
finish the slap stroke instead of the upper part of your palm that you used in
the open tone. So when you go from an
open tone to a slap, your hand will shift slightly toward the center of the
tabletop. When we start speaking the strokes later the closed slap stroke will be spoken as "Pa."
7. The Heel-Toe Stroke:
The great timekeeping stroke.
With this one, I was taught to think of the hand as a foot, well sort of. The heel is the base of the palm; the toes
are the fingertips. The "heel"
part of the stroke is made by lowering the wrist and dropping the bottom of
your palm to the tabletop, while keeping the rest of your hand and your fingers
up. The heel stroke is like a bass
stroke except you are hitting the tabletop with less of your palm. Your "heel" should hit the tabletop
an inch or two from the edge of the table (I'm playing more like 3" to
4" from the edge in the Middle Calypso and Middle Earth movie) as this will prepare you to play
on a real drumhead; typically a smaller area of playable real estate. Using the same hand, the "toe" part
of the stroke is just a touch stroke, the one we learned in The Big Calypso and Existence, that
follows the heel stroke. Like the touch
stroke, the toe stroke is light, just let your fingertips fall to the tabletop. When one hand alternates playing heels and
toes it develops a rocking motion, like a finely calibrated piece of automated
machinery but it takes practice; starting slow and gradually increasing one's
practice tempo. When we start speaking the strokes later the heel-toe stroke will be spoken as "ge-re."
G2 Bullet 3 - Learn to “speak” the strokes first. Speak the rhythm. For the Middle
Calypso you will speak: "Du te re Du Du te re te" and repeat "Du
te re Du Du te re te" over and over again.
Notice you are speaking one syllable for each beat of the pattern and
then repeating yourself. Start slowly
and work up your speed. Yes, you will
sound funny to yourself and to others too, but that's okay, really. This rule is tried and true, if you can speak
it first, you can play it. You are also
burning the pattern into your 'memory banks' this way. Even with something as common as a tabletop,
you may not always have one in front of you, like when you're in the
shower. But you can still rehearse the
pattern, even while in the shower, by speaking the rhythm.
9. In this class we will speak "Ge" for the
bass stroke, "Du" for the open stroke, "te" and/or
"re" for the touch stroke, "Pa" for the closed slap
stroke, "ge-re" for the
heel-toe stroke, and "mh" for the mute stroke. Watch the movies for "Speak the
Rhythm" demonstrations.
10. Housekeeping Rule:
If you drive, I do
not recommend practicing "speak the rhythms" while driving. Although speaking the rhythm along with the
tempo of your favorite music is an excellent exercise, I beg you to resist
the temptation to do so when driving so that you may instead dedicate 100% of
your faculties to the task at hand: safely
driving your automobile - for your own health and safety and for the health and
safety of your passengers and neighbors all around you.
SPEAK THE RHYTHM: Du te re Du Du te re te...Du te re Du Du te re te...
12. Work both
hands:
Remember, when working on technique,
whatever is true for the right hand is true for the left hand. You will
find that if you are right handed, the patterns starting with the right
hand will be easier to play than when starting the same pattern with the left
hand (and vice versa). Switch hands: If
you are right handed, use your left hand now to start playing the pattern. It helps me to go to the practice sheet (see the YOU Practice link below) and write out L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R below the R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L line so
that I can clearly see the stroke my left hand is supposed to be playing at a
particular moment (beat) in time. Start
slowly and work up your speed as your accuracy improves; this exercise develops
dexterity.
G2 Bullet 7 - Topic A1, Chew On It. Why We Are Able to
Believe: Existence. Why did God create us? Is it because he wanted sons
and daughters, because he wanted children to love and children to share in His
goodness, happy children? I think so.
14. From a "surplus" of love God created us, to
love and to be loved. (YOUCAT 2).
"God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1)
"God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1)
15. He asks us to call him Father; our Creator - He asks
us, all people of all colors and nationalities, to call him our Father! Jesus tells us this through a collection of
writings known as sacred scripture and found in a collection of books and
letters known as the Bible to call God our Father! In this case: Luke, Chapter
11, verse 1-4 (Luke 11:1-4).
16. "To call God "Father" presumes an
intimate relationship with one whom reason might tell us should be approached
only at a reverential distance. We dare
approach the Father because of the Savior's command. Only after having been taught by Christ - and
made adopted sons and daughters through the sacrament of Baptism - can we
presume this degree of intimacy." (Inside The Mass: A Spiritual Reflection On The New Translation by Rev. Theodore Book, SLL)
How does that make you feel now?
17. When a father loves his child he desires the good of
that child and he is prepared to form his child through education and good example.
Christians can recognize this same revelation Christ
had regarding the Father's love for us and our own individual formation when during Mass, just before
praying The Our Father, we hear the priest say: "At the Savior's
command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:"
18. Rev. Book goes on to write: "Speaking of being
formed by teaching is a recognition that the faith is something learned. We have not invented it, but received it from
Christ, and it is the content of his teaching that, with the aid of grace,
moves us to recognize his truth and embrace him. Faith is not a blind act of the will. The mind receives what Christ has taught,
recognizes that it is holy and divine, and then invites the will to embrace
Christ's teaching and so embrace Christ himself. One cannot be a follower of Christ but reject
his teaching. Someone who attempted to
do that would be following an idol that he called "Christ" but that
had no real part in Christ."
19. Wow! This is why I highly recommend Inside The Mass for Catholics or interested Christians alike,
practicing or not, who want to learn what really goes on during the Roman
Catholic Mass. I'm on my 4th reading of
this small book and my understanding and love for the Mass grows with each
pass.
20. If you asked me for the second greatest gift after
life itself?
I'd tell you it is our freedom to choose.
In contrast to God's plan for each of us, our gift of
life, He gives us free choice. We can
elevate it or we can squander it. One we do with Him the other we do without
Him.
21. St Thomas Aquinas teaches "God granted other creatures little gifts; to us men and women
He has given his entire patrimony. We
are his heirs because we are his sons and daughters. By the fact of our being children, we are the
beneficiaries of his Will. 'For you did
not receive the spirit of slavery only to fall back into fear, but you have
received the spirit of sonship. When we
cry Abba! Father! it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that
we are children of God…' " -Romans 8:15, (St Thomas, Commentary on the Lord's Prayer)
22. The Aramaic word Jesus used for Father was Abba and it is very likely that this word was used at services during the
very first Church gatherings. (cf W. Marchel,
Abba!
Father. The prayer of Christ and
Christians, Rome 1963)
What this means is that we've been calling God, the same eternal God, no beginning, no end, the same then as now, "Father" for over 2000 years!
What this means is that we've been calling God, the same eternal God, no beginning, no end, the same then as now, "Father" for over 2000 years!
23. "Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I
am with you always, to the close of the age." -Matthew 28:18-20 This is the gospel call that Jesus wanted
proclaimed and heard across the world and so he sent forth his chosen,
commissioned apostles to all corners of the world. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2) The yellow book that makes a debut appearance in the Middle Calypso and Middle Earth movie is the YOUCAT. The trend is to snap a picture of the YOUCAT along with the activity you are engaging in to promote it, preferably a Christ-like activity, for example, spreading the Good News.
24. Oh, but that gift of free choice, the Gospel is simply
not to be forced on anyone, it must be freely accepted.
25. Our history of fallen human activity reveals a heap of bad choices that have led to much evil.
26. But all is not lost, Christians are still confident of whom wins in the end.
25. Our history of fallen human activity reveals a heap of bad choices that have led to much evil.
26. But all is not lost, Christians are still confident of whom wins in the end.
27. According to Wikipedia, Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of the Calypso, a style of Afro-Caribbean music, a broad term for varied styles of music originating in the Caribbean.
a.) The 400 year long trans-Atlantic slave trade resulted in displaced African people to these areas.
b.) Their history and the history of their descendants living in the Caribbean played a part in influencing these musical styles.
c.) Slavery, having robbed us of seeing the human dignity in our brothers and sisters allowed the exploitation of human beings in the name of economic progress.
d.) This kind of slavery also made many of us racists.
28. God gives us the potential, the freedom of choice, to
make good things come about bad situations; the Calypso is a small example of
such good. Maybe we will ultimately defeat
evil; evils like racism, slavery, human trafficking, etc. But first a conversion must happen interiorly in each and every one of us. Christ promises this as possible but he also allows, in freedom, each and every one us to discern God's will for our own, individual
part to play.
29. In freedom, I can sit and practice simple rhythm
patterns like the Calypso Middle Drum part all day long until perfected or I
could just turn on the radio and go completely free-style on the conga drums;
really having a lot of fun in the process, trying to make up my own patterns as
I go. The newer you are to drumming, the
worse this second option will sound, literally.
a.) The free-style is certainly fun to do but it's only after you have had the discipline of learning simple patterns like the Calypso that your brain starts working together with your hands.
b.) Only then do you have true freedom to improvise and /or create rhythm accompaniments that really get the job done and the crowd moving with the beat.
a.) The free-style is certainly fun to do but it's only after you have had the discipline of learning simple patterns like the Calypso that your brain starts working together with your hands.
b.) Only then do you have true freedom to improvise and /or create rhythm accompaniments that really get the job done and the crowd moving with the beat.
30. Today, if we're not careful, other forms of supposed
freedoms (slavery) will soon consume us.
It's not breaking news that the music and entertainment business itself is ripe with snares and traps: addictions, one night stands, drug and alcohol abuse, pride, did I say addictions, conceit, overt sensuality, contempt for others, deceit, selfishness, and oh yeah, addictions - and this is just the short list.
It's not breaking news that the music and entertainment business itself is ripe with snares and traps: addictions, one night stands, drug and alcohol abuse, pride, did I say addictions, conceit, overt sensuality, contempt for others, deceit, selfishness, and oh yeah, addictions - and this is just the short list.
31. Yes it all feels good for the short term anyway, who
can deny it?
32. Speaking of addictions:
- addictions aren't enabling,
- addictions aren't enjoying the good life,
- addictions aren't liberating,
- addictions don't care about children, other family members, or our neighbors,
- addictions simply aren't cool - you may say one day, God willing, addiction free, when you look back at all the carnage left in the wake of such addictions.
34. What human person can really look you in the face and
tell you that they are exempt from attacks of the devil? A non-believer? Yeah right, these are his easiest targets. I too have been listening to "the
news" lately about Miley Cyrus. Her "all grown up" act has
caused a bit of an uproar. I try not to worry too much. After all, God still
loves her to a degree that you can't even fathom and will wait very patiently,
if need be, for her complete return to Him.
In the meantime please join with me in prayer for her and other
suffering souls so that one day, they too will be able to do the same for us; we really do need each other's prayers in this day and age.
35. "Before, we were slaves, but today we are
empowered to reign under the protection of Christ." (St. Cyprian, Treatise
on the 'Our Father', 13)
"...if we really mean that God is our father, we
will struggle to behave as his worthy children." (St. Cyprian, Treatise on
the 'Our Father', 11)
"We must be something great then, since the
loving God, who has created and redeemed us, places such value on us."
Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, The Cure of Ars (Youcat Prayer Book -Christopher
Cardinal Schoenborn)
G2 Bullet 8 - Topic A1, Tradition and Word. Why We Are
Able to Believe: Existence.
1.) In Matthew 22:2 Jesus likens the reign of God to
what?
2.) Who does Jesus tell us he is in John 14:6?
3.) In his letter to Timothy, 1 Tim 2:3-4, St. Paul
tells us what about God's desire for us?
4.) From 1 John 4:16 complete the sentence: God is
______?
5.) In John 17:3 what is eternal life?
6.) In Acts 4:12, St. Peter reveals there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Who is St. Peter naming?
G2 Bullet 9 - YOU Practice Lesson G2. If you want measurable results - try to
practice both your faith and drumming at least 30 minutes a day.
a.) Playing simple rhythms on a daily basis can be similar in repetition to (but never used in place of) a prayer recitation of at least one Our Father. Try to pray it slowly and deliberately.
b.) Did you know that a typical weekday Mass lasts right at 30 minutes? Try attending a weekday Mass in addition to a Sunday Mass and watch your relationship with the Holy Trinity deepen.
c.) Practice perfects the one undergoing the repetitious movement; either naturally or supernaturally.
d.) Answered prayers are reminders of God's supernatural order present in our very own lives. The Church teaches the fruitful value of a sound prayer life; my family and I, can give personal testimony to the effectiveness of daily prayer. Practice makes perfect!
a.) Playing simple rhythms on a daily basis can be similar in repetition to (but never used in place of) a prayer recitation of at least one Our Father. Try to pray it slowly and deliberately.
b.) Did you know that a typical weekday Mass lasts right at 30 minutes? Try attending a weekday Mass in addition to a Sunday Mass and watch your relationship with the Holy Trinity deepen.
c.) Practice perfects the one undergoing the repetitious movement; either naturally or supernaturally.
d.) Answered prayers are reminders of God's supernatural order present in our very own lives. The Church teaches the fruitful value of a sound prayer life; my family and I, can give personal testimony to the effectiveness of daily prayer. Practice makes perfect!
G2 Bullet 10 - Table Task: Surrender.
Work on forming a deeper, more personal relationship with God
through His Son Jesus Christ. Have you
ever crated an indoor dog for a while, maybe while running an errand, only to arrive back to find your dog just
trembling to burst out of the cage to greet you and shower you with
affection? Surrender. Open any cages that you might have created in keeping the love of Christ from
enveloping your life. Before you
practice the Middle Calypso, before you start your day, take a deep breath and
ask God to make his presence known to you in a tangible, concrete way.
G2 Bullet 11 - Basic
Notation (1) handout: study it.
G2 Bullet 12 - Counting (1) handout: study it.
Gray Level Syllabus
"Time For The Table" The Way and Means
Gray Level Syllabus
"Time For The Table" The Way and Means
