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. This is the first edition of the newsletter and we look forward to the future.  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. 

                We will 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 news letter for today’s people, written by the people, because the music belongs to the people.

Your teacher,

Marvin Bugalu Smith

Swing One Experience    by Kesai Riddick

              Today I felt swing one in my body moving, swirling like a whirlpool. I took my head out of it and let my body flow moment to moment. I was in the motion of it fully that it became meditation. I was able to get this deep state by quieting myself and putting my mind in the position of an auditor.

               For years I’ve been playing and viewing Swing One as an exercise. I had reached my limits with it practicing on my own. I had built up all this internal energy from playing swing one but I wasn’t able to break through. I now realize that I was part of the problem, I was forcing something that is natural, so natural that it’s super-natural. It wasn’t until I sat down and taught it to Yisroel that I was able to have this profound realization. I shared my energy and by doing this it merged and grew with another person’s energy.

              Yisroel is a new student of my teacher Marvin Bugalu Smith and was recently introduced to Swing One. I sat down with Yisroel and played Swing One with him so he could feel where it was at. When I’m helping another person to learn I take myself (ego) out of the lesson. I concentrate on supporting the other guy compassionately.   One way I do this is by playing quietly on the drums beneath the student. When I do this, I get quiet and become the rug for him to play on.  Teaching someone compassionately is different than teaching from an academic standpoint. In order to teach compassionately you have to feel that person’s pain and frustration about playing the drums. Only then can you give him the help they need so that they can become better players. Teaching compassionately is different for the teacher too because the reward is immediate, right in the moment.

              When I got quiet today my mind was swept away by the motion and my body became one with the time. I felt myself not just playing the exercise but becoming one and inseparable from the exercise. No words can accurately explain what I felt, but I know what I felt is the next level of playing.
 

        Almost two weeks ago will mark the first time of playing the bandstand under the direction of Marvin and my senior advisors, Andrew and Kesai.  I began studying with Marvin in January of 2007, and after almost 10 months, it was time to take it to another level.  The time and experience leading up to this, was one of emotion, work, and internal conflict, this I will save for next month's issue !  But, as for the bandstand, it was an experience that I built up in my head to be bigger than what it actually was, I actually let the stigma of playing with the best jazz musicians as well as my ego, prevent me from playing, from learning and from ENJOYING the music.  It was only after 2 days where I basically lost it with the crew and made a stand and commitment, that things changed.  Marvin saw it as a time to A.) graduate me to semi-advanced and .....    B.)  to shut me up, yes, I had been wanting the bandstand but frankly had no idea of what work it is and the key, being able to relax and listen.  These two points will always require my attention until a day, probably years down the road, where I can look back and really see what happened to me. 

      I had always been on the bandstand since I was 15 years old, I had been in recording studio with famous rock musicians when I was 2 years old.   I'm not afraid to perform but this was different.  This was not the bullshit of playing rock music, jumping around while drunk and playing 3 chords, this WAS A REAL BANDSTAND, where the musicians are either masters, schooled or both and there is no room for screwing around.    Yes, when I was called up to play, I did not expect to, in fact I did not know I even graduated to the next level, I had just come off an emotional rollercoaster, thought about quitting and did not know what was going to happen.  Well, I played a tune, in 3's, managed to keep time, and in an instant, it was over.  All the crap on my back felt lifted, I had done it and it is time to move on.  Well, the next week, it was a little easier but still not to where I hope to someday be.  The funny thing, is before all of this, I never felt like a "real" member of the crew as I was the only drummer who did not play, but that was a stupid way of thinking, the truth is I was a member but no where ready technically to make the leap.  The other drummers worked their ass off to get me to the basic point to make it up to the bandstand, frankly, without Kesai and Andrew, I probably would of quit, they were there for me, talked (yelled) and listened and we all just worked it out.  As of this writing,  I am still only on the 22nd rudiment, my feathering is sub-par and my snaps need major work BUT, now I have a platform where I can videotape myself, watch, (cringe), and UNDERSTAND where and what I really have to work on.  I know before Dec. 31st, I need to know and be comfortable with all 26 rudiments.  2008, will be the year of speed and proper snaps, while continuing to study under Marvin.  The key is I now have something to work towards weekly, I can follow the roadmap my teacher sets for me, and most importantly, I can have some fun, listening and playing the music.    Next month:  Ego and music, the good, bad and the ugly....  until then play on !!!