Following are several of the topics that Skip presents in seminar
format. These topics are all taken from courses he has developed over
the years and now teaches at Berklee College.
The presentations rely heavily on the use of actual demonstration, audio examples via recordings and videos, books, and handouts provided for the participants.
Skip's workshops are a comprehensive learning experience that help drummers become the best musicians that they can be.
Drum
Set Contro
Learn
how to use the rhythms of the world, Samba, Baiáo, Songo,
Nañigo/Bembé, Shuffles, and 6/4 Samba, to develop better
control of the instrument. This course uses material presented in his
book, World Fusion Drumming.
Drum
Set Control In Odd Time Signatures and Phrases
Develop
drum set control using the basic building blocks of rhythm in groups
of two's
and three's.
This course uses the material presented in
his book, World Fusion Drumming.
Solo Construction
Learn how to play drum solos over song forms by learning melodies, extending
embellishments, and paraphrasing.
Linear
Time Feels and Phrases
Develop a new way to think about rhythms and how to play them using linear
phrasing, one sound source for each note, in sixteenth note and triplet
grooves.
Opening
Up To Jazz
Learn to develop better control of the drumset in jazz drumming through
the use of dependent and independent combinations with both feet and both
hands.
Rhythmic
Concepts: Broken Eighth Note Feel
Develop techniques for control of jazz grooves and phrasing in the style
of early Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, and Roy Haynes.
Basic
Pulse and Time
Learn to explore the drumset as a melodic instrument. Experiential techniques
to help you express feelings and colors with the drums.
Double
Bass Drumming
Develop techniques for better control of your feet , using right foot
lead and both feet now concepts.
Contemporary
Drum Styles
Learn styles of various drummers from jazz, rock, fusion, and World musics
explored through transcriptions, articles, recordings, videos, and demonstrations.