But the thing we’re most excited about this week is Andrew’s upcoming Drumset Setup and Tuning Workshop at 2112 Percussion this Thursday at 6:30pm. Andrew has a really cool evening planned–including teaching how to set up your drumset to make playing easier, helping you decide which drumheads are best for you, and demonstrating how to tune your drums to get a great sound. This workshop is FREE, and is open to drummers of all ages!

If you have a burning drumset question that you would like Andrew to answer at his workshop, post your question to Andrew’s facebook page, and he’ll make sure to cover it on Thursday! If you don’t have Facebook, please feel free to ask your question here in the comments section. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

Any gig requires a substantial amount of work and planning to be a success. However, when the gig is a self-planned and promoted solo recital, all this work tends to fall on ONE set of shoulders–the performer’s! As such, recital days can be some of the most taxing, tiring, and nervewracking days out there…and then you have to bring your A-game to the stage! Fortunately, there are many effective ways to reduce stress and make your recital day a smooth, fun experience:

1. Get help! – Keeping your body and mind in excellent playing condition on your recital day is essential for a good performance. So, don’t devote all your energy to schlepping your stuff! Make sure you have some “roadies” to help you move your equipment into the performance space; often, friends and family are more than willing to help.

2. Get sleep. – This one can be really difficult to do, because it’s common to feel completely and utterly wired the night before your recital. After all, there are so many last-minute details to think about! But getting plenty of sleep will help your muscles and mind perform at their best once you take the stage. If you can’t get a full night’s sleep the night before, try to sneak in a nap before your performance.

3. Make a list and check it twice. – Taking the time to write down the things you need to remember on your recital day can free up mental space for more important things–like music! Make a list of things you need to bring to the recital, both small and large, and double-check to make sure you’ve got them before you leave. (A sidenote: I once arrived at a gig without my trombone! It really pays to double-check!)

4. Limit your practice. – It’s tempting to spend the hours before your recital hammering away at those stubborn passages that you’re really nervous about. The problem here is, too much practice will tire you, and give you blown chops just in time for your big show! Instead of holing up with your instrument, try mental practice, or simply enjoy some fun non-musical activities before your recital.

5. Let go and play. – Not everything on your recital day will go according to plan, but if you approach the day with an upbeat, flexible attitude, you’ll be able to have fun and play a great show!

And with that, it’s off to transport Andrew’s drumset to 2112!

I’m happy and relieved to announce that my drumset method book, Building Grooves: A Beginner’s Guide To Drumset Control And Coordination, is finally done! Seven years of writing, testing, and teaching have all come together into 44 pages of groove!

The official release date for the book will be January 14, 2010. I’ll be having a release party, clinic, and performance at 2112 Percussion in Raleigh on that date. If you can’t wait till then to get yours, though, you can order copies directly from Lulu Publishing today! Hard copies are $12, or you can get a .pdf e-version for $6. I’ve put in a bulk order, so once those come in you can be sure that I’ll have them with me at all times, so you can always get one from me directly as well. Starting on the 14th, they’ll be available at 2112, too. Is that enough options for you?

I’ll post more info soon about the release party, but for now I can tell you that I’ll be playing several pieces of music, mostly my own compositions, and some of them world-premieres! There will also be door prizes to give away, so make sure you don’t miss that! I’ll also have some clinic time to show some cool drumset techniques that I’ve been developing, and which ultimately led me to write the book itself.

Thanks to 2112 Percussion for letting me hold the book release and drum clinic there (for free, too!), and a special thanks to all the students who have worked through all the different versions of this book over the years. I couldn’t have done it without you!