Welcome to "See You On The Bandstand", the monthly newsletter devoted to the news and events surrounding the students of Marvin Bugalu Smith's School Of Time. Check back monthly as we talk about the world of jazz drums. the local scene, news, student progress reports and other exciting drum and jazz related topics.

The newsletters highlight the students experience on teaching and playing jazz drums, sharing their views on playing on the bandstand and much more. This important information will make you play better drums.

"A newsletter for today’s people, written by the people, because the music belongs to the people."

Your teacher,

Marvin Bugalu Smith

Avatars of sound - Earth by Marvin "Bugalu" Smith

In this course, we will study the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind, space. The sound of the five elements on the drum set and how to use them on the bandstand. This course will start in March of 2008 and for the next six months until September of 2008 we will learn to use the five elements of sound.

Earth

Earth motion = the mother drum or bass drum the woman female

nature and all drums in general

This motion also involves people on the bandstand that live here on earth

As people live and play the drums here on earth and enjoy it’s mystical Benefits

The sound of your bass drum and any low tom toms or hi toms

Now to understand how to use this power, First hit a cymbal / cymbals with the bass drum

HEAR the explosion in the sound, this is the sound of the Earth.

So please ask me questions at your next lesson

Your teacher Bugalu

Time First, Time Second & Time Third By Kesai Riddick

Time is the technique that all drummers should master. My teacher, Marvin Bu-Ga-Lu Smith, has broken down time into three categories: Time 1st, Time 2nd and Time 3rd. These categories begin to explain the varied levels that Time has. Viewing Time on these levels has opened up my sensitivity to the flow and space in music. It'll do the same for you when you put into your practice.

Time 1st: Is the basic pulse of the music that's played on the ride cymbal and hi-hat. This is the time that keeps the music and musicians together. This is what Marvin calls the flow. I can't stress how important this element of Time is. This is the source time where all rhythms derive their power from. With a strong sense of source time a drummer's playing is unlimited.

Time 2nd: Is when the drummer begins to embellish on the time. He comps with his left hand or foot. He can add or take away from the cymbal beat. This is where the drummer interacts with the music and musicians. This is where he becomes musical. It's at this point when the drummer has to have knowledge of the songs and tunes. The other musicians are playing off the chords and melody, a drummer should have an understanding so he can communicate effectively.

Time 3rd: This is the time where the drummer shines. He understands his role and the role of time in the music. The drummer is now free to play the music how he sees fit.

Keeping the Music in the Hands of the Regular People    by Andrew Greeney

       Today during our weekly drum lessons with Marvin we spoke about the role of music in society. It seems that in American society, the music is increasingly aloft from the regular people or not a part of their lives on a day to day basis. Many people experience music as a commodity that is sold by the big media conglomerates. Music often becomes another mass produced item to be sold in various forms by corporations. In other words, people have less and less of a direct connection with the music and our musical cultural heritage. I think the Jazz jam session can keep our American music in the reach of the regular people which is very important for cultural exchange and emotional well being.
        During the lesson we all spoke of different countries we had visited where music and art is seen in a different light than it is in America. My first experience that I thought of was my trip to Spain when I was a teenager. The Spanish people have a rich culture and Spain is one of the few places where Christians, Jews, and Muslims coexisted in peace for some time. During my visit to Spain I witnessed some great music and dancing. In every town or city I went to, in the afternoon, musicians and dancers would meet at the town square and put on a performance of flamenco music. The dancers would be dressed very nicely in the traditional style. You could see that dancers and musicians made a great effort to hone their skills and they were providing a top notch show for the community. These people were not millionaires or celebrities but rather, regular people who devoted themselves to music for the good of the people in their community. The bystanders definitely enjoyed the vibrant performances and compensated the artists with money and appreciation.
         I went to Ireland when I was a little older and I met many traditional musicians there. Several friends I met there, made their living by playing music in the streets. I think in America, street musicians are often seen as being little more than beggars and are often looked down upon because they are not part of the status quo. In Ireland and many other countries this is not the case at all. The street musicians in Ireland were appreciated for providing a valuable service and they would make a pretty good living doing it. When it came time to take a break around lunch time, many of the musicians would gather at the pub to have a traditional jam session. Much like the jazz jam, they would call standard tunes, play or sing the melody, and improvise over the chords. After an hour or two of this they would go back to the streets to to finish out the day. At night they would meet at the pub again for another jam session. Many of these people were top caliber players and I witnessed some very touching performances. It was a beautiful thing that this was accessible for the regular people.
    In America, we have many people that came from all over the world. At some point our ancestors were either born here, or came here by choice, or were forced to come here. There are many different shades of skin, and cultural backgrounds. I see jazz as a result of the mixing of all of these cultures. It is the one art form that is truly American and it is something anyone can participate in if they want to (in America and around the world). The Jazz jam session is truly great because it gives people the chance to come together and share with each other. The act of playing the music together and sharing with the people helps everyone realize that peace is actually possible and it makes people feel free. This form of gathering is very important and we must uphold it. It doesn't matter what the status quo thinks. If corporate America collapses, the jam session is still just as real. SYOTB By Andrew Greeney 7 years in the 37 Chambers

Learning the Drums does NOT happen overnight by Jan Jurgielewicz IV

Every time I play a jam session or take a lesson with Marvin, there is usually some realization I come to about the drums, though it does not always immediately hit me and especially as I am really trying not to "think" or "analyze" about how to play drums, but usually when I listen to jazz songs, there are little things that suddenly make sense. Now that it has been a little over 13 months with Marvin, I look back and when I practice, I will usually now divide my time among 3 main areas: Playing time (either alone or with records), playing rudiments (all 26, albeit slow, but I know all 26 now) and what I call the "concepts" (grip and hits, Swing 1, playing in 3's within the 4, Latin, EJ Latin, Swiss triplets, & Algerian 6) but it is now, especially playing the bandstand and more importanly watching Marvin, Kesai & Andrew play, that some of the concepts are making "sense" to me. I can see them in use and FEEL the triplets or different rudiments, where 6 months ago, I was shown them, but did not know the context of how to hear them or recognize them within the song. Of course listening to jazz in my office for 6 hours a day helps, but it is watching and listening to my teacher and the crew playing, that really helps drive the learning process.

Playing music is 50% about listening and the last few months where Marvin, Andrew & Kesai have circled back on concepts that were taught 6 months ago, are now easier to comprehend, maybe it is more stick time, maybe the bandstand or maybe that mysterious wall I had is starting to come down, whatever the case, it is allowing me to relax more and appreciate the music, the lessons and the friendship I have with the crew. I can honestly see a very distant light of becoming an OK drummer, but unlike 6 months ago, it is very clear to see that it will take way more practice, more lessons , more of the crew criticizing (in a good way) and generally sometimes beating me into shape to keep improving. The keys going forward will be two things, relaxing, and practicing technique. I think the two combined can really make or break a drummer. But in trying to learn the instrument, the style of music, the songs and technique is a large amount of work, it is going to take time, but if I put the time into it, is will only pay off down the road. Yup, learning the drums does not happen overnight or even in a year, but being able to sit back at the Terrace and enjoy the beautiful jazz emanating from the musicians is an amazing thing. Being a part of the jam, the lessons, the crew has all been a complete blessing and I will always look back upon these moments as some of the more memorable and special times in my life. SYOTB