Saturday

Another busy week of Birthday meals, work and writing of reports (on those rare occasions when the County Server is actually working) has meant little piano time.

Drum wise:

Tuesday: 2 hours John Riley comping exercises.

Weds: 1 hour Riley

Thurs: 30 minutes Riley 30 minutes improv

Fri:
1 hour hand technique - Bill Bachman triple strokes
30 minutes: John Riley.

With the Riley material I am trying to adapt my hi hat technique a little, using the heel/toe method which generates a nice sound whilst also slightly improving the feel (to my ears anyway) No wonder so many of the old school guys played this way!

Since starting to work on the Riley material I have been pleased with the physical improvements but need to remember to achieve a balance between the pure mechanical exercises and improvising with the same materials to fully work them into my vocabulary.

I've also been slightly shirking my arranging/composition this week. Hopefully now I have my new laptop and 3 days next week in Switzerland things will change.

Also I have somehow become FAT again. Things will have to change!

Friday :)

I did an hour of drum practice today as it was 'Charity Day' at one of my schools. This meant that students were far too busy being dressed as giant bananas etc to come to drum lessons. I practised the John Riley triple comping exercises working up and then back down the metronome.

Listening: More Chris Potter. I have listened to the whole thing now. Link here:

http://urge2burge.wordpress.com/

When I got in I finally made a start on my reports then hit the piano:

15 minutes Footprints head at 60bpm. There are a few Kramer Voicings (TM) in this arrangement.

15 minutes scales.

20 minutes Bergonzi Lady Duck

Tired!

I spent 90 minutes today working on some of John Riley's exercises.

I was intending to do an hour of piano when I got in but I'm exhausted. Still getting over a cold so I've given it a miss for today.

My listening the last few days has been centred around six CDs of Chris Potter masterclasses I came across at the weekend - some very interesting ideas are discussed and there are a couple of really good playing examples... cue massive Chris Potter listening phase...