We shared this blog post at about this time last year.  Christmas is a popular time for kids to get their first kit, so it seemed appropriate to share this again.  myfirstdrumset.com is a great resource for those just getting started in the world of drumming. Are you taking up drumming for the first time? Are you buying a drum set for the drummer in your life this holiday season? If so, you may want to start at myfirstdrumset.com. This website was created by the people at Pearl Drums with the idea of educating not only the drummer, but the parent or loved one who is buying the set. Here are the highlights: A “Welcome to Drumming” video with appearances by some of the top names in the drumming world. A step-by-step video that shows you how to correctly unpack and set up your drum set. Video tips on tuning, warming up, and playing your first beats on your new drum set. A drum set buying guide. A very informative FAQ section. Statistics that show what a great thing drumming can be for the mind, body, and spirit! If you or someone you love has decided that this is the year

The music world lost a legend this week with the passing of Vic Firth.  If you don’t know a lot about him, an interview that he did with CBS Sunday Morning in 2010 does a great job of telling how he got started and why he’s been so successful. “The key word for me is persistence. Whatever you set out to do…you have to have a magnum passion to do it…and you’ve got to work beyond what you ever dreamed you’re going to work…to succeed at the level that you want to succeed at. Persistence…persistence…persistence.” – Vic Firth  

OPINION: Farewell Rhythm Devils 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most celebrated rock and roll bands in American history, The Grateful Dead. To celebrate, and close their legendary career, the surviving members gathered to play five final concerts, dubbed “Fare Thee Well”. As we look back on rock and roll’s “longest, strangest trip”, we’d like to highlight their renowned drummers, the Rhythm Devils. Bill Kreutzmann formed The Warlocks in San Francisco in 1964 with Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. They quickly gained a strong following in the bay area, and in 1965 renamed themselves The Grateful Dead. Two years later Kreutzmann invited percussionist Mickey Hart to sit in with, and eventually join the band. Kreutzmann and Hart were a perfect match and quickly became one of the defining sounds of the band. Together with bassist Lesh, Kreutzmann formed the rhythmic base for the band while Hart added more complex, decorative parts to the mix. Kreutzmann and Hart earned their nickname of “Rhythm Devils” in the 1970s as they began playing drum solos during Grateful Dead concerts. Their extended solos were largely improvisation, and featured a large variety of percussion instruments. In addition

This transcription and video originally appeared at allmandrums.com.  Here at Chops Percussion we love a good drum solo, so we’d like to share a transcription of a classic! Art Blakey, longtime leader of The Jazz Messengers, appeared as a sideman on Cannonball Adderley’s classic 1958 release Somethin’ Else. Best known for an outstanding version of “Autumn Leaves”, the album also featured Miles Davis, Hank Jones, and Sam Jones. “Alison’s Uncle”, also known as “Bangoon”, is the closing track on Somethin’ Else. It is a 32 bar AABA form at around 206 BPM. Blakey’s solo begins at 3’49” and lasts a single chorus. The solo is a perfect example of Blakey’s strengths as a soloist: interesting and well-developed solo composition despite the relative simplicity of his licks. This video includes audio of the solo, both at full and reduced speeds, synced with the transcription. The transcription is also available as a PDF file here. After enjoying the solo, be sure to listen to the full track. Notice Blakey’s tasty comping behind each soloist. We hope you enjoy! Subscribe to our Chops Transmission

As the school year comes to an end the drum and bugle corps season is just beginning. Drum and bugle corps are marching ensembles (brass, percussion, and color guard) that travel throughout the country each summer rehearsing and performing in competitions. If you’re unfamiliar with the activity, watch this brief introduction.     There are many opportunities to see drum and bugle corps in competition in Indiana and surrounding states. Here is a partial list of events. Be sure to check out the event information at www.dci.org .   June 15th, Indianapolis – DCI Dress Rehearsal Madison Scouts Troopers   June 17th – Indianapolis – DCI Premiere Bluecoats The Cadets The Cavaliers Carolina Crown Blue Stars Madison Scouts   June 19th – Louisville, KY – DCI Louisville presented by DeMoulin Bros. The Cadets The Cavaliers Blue Stars Madison Scouts Crossmen Troopers Spirit of Atlanta Cincinnati Tradition   June 22nd – Hamilton, OH – Summer Music Games in Cincinnati Bluecoats Carolina Crown Blue Stars Boston Crusaders Madison Scouts Troopers Spirit of Atlanta Cincinnati Tradition   June 24th – Evansville – Drums on the Ohio The Cadets The Cavaliers Crossmen Colts Spirit of Atlanta Pioneer Racine Scouts   June 26th – Muncie –

The WGI Percussion World Championships are this weekend and we have our top 5 reasons why you should go. But before we get to that, maybe you’ve never heard of WGI and are wondering what this is all about? From their website: "WGI Sport of the Arts is the world’s premier organization producing indoor color guard, percussion, and wind ensemble competitions. As a non-profit youth organization, WGI serves as the leading governing body of the winter guard and indoor percussion activities. It is called the Sport of the Arts because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format. Now entering its 38th year in 2015, the sport continues to evolve and grow. There were more than 36,000 participants at the regional level, and more than 12,000 participants at the Sport of the Arts World Championships this past April." If you would attend this weekend, you would see the percussion section or "drumlines" of a marching band performing indoors. These show aren’t just thrown together. Hundreds, if not thousands of hours are spent designing, building, rehearsing and competing over several months. Indiana is one of the premier states when it comes to competitive percussion ensembles. The Indiana Percussion