Great video. I especially appreciate the sense of empathy and the "we're in this together" notions as I'm coming off an injury that went undiagnosed and took me out of the game for about 2 years. While I know there's nothing inherently wrong with going back to the basics, it has been a bit disconcerting feeling like a beginner at square one. But there's really only 2 options: be sad and guilt ridden or know that there's no other way and hit the books. When you're young its easy to brush past this stuff because we all want to get to the twig and berries of what percussion can be - so I would actually say reviewing this stuff after so many years with a more critical mind set, that this has been some of the most valuable practice I've had in a long time. Thanks for the video!
Something that really helped me get back in the groove of things (no pun intended), was getting back in the gym. My energy is off the charts and my practicing has improved more than it has in the past 3 years.
Thank you so much for this - very helpful on multiple levels, and very timely for me personally! It had been years since I'd had any significant "practice gaps," but the pandemic has hit me hard on multiple levels and any practicing has been sporadic at best, which is particularly not fun considering I'm a woodwind doubler. That's a lot of instruments to feel like I stink on right now! It's very comforting to know that I'm not alone, and you've provided a great reminder to focus on fundamentals. I've actually found that, when I've had to recover chops in the past and I was diligent about keeping the focus on fundamentals and rebuilding slowly, I was actually able to fix some problems I didn't even really know I had at those levels that advanced my playing well beyond where it was BEFORE the practice gap.
It's been 5 years since I practiced regularly. (That's when college ended.) This was a very helpful video to realize it is not impossible to get back into it.
Hi! Great video. Got inspired into the basics! I know that this might sound unimportant and superfluos but... how do you practice your visual presence? Im not perfect playing and i obviously have a long road ahead, but watching myself playing it almost seems like im not paying any attention to my visual performance. Again, i know that sound is the top priority as muisicians, but audiences dont only hear you, they want to see you and "feel" you as an artist. Love to hear your thoghts about this topic Rob! Have a nice day
thanks for noticing! i switched to sony and am using the new 14mm f1.8. it’s a lot of fun and covers a lot of ground, although i have to make sure not to let the subject get too close to the edges or they’ll look funny / warpy.
Not specifically related to this video Rob but my small stick bag is now too small for my growing collection so wondered if you had any recommendations for a stick bag for orchestral purposes (snare, tims, xylo etc)?
i use the galaxy grip stick bag (the one that looks like the old p-bag). that’s my in-rehearsal/day-to-day stick bags, but it’s not big enough to hold everything. i also use a freer timpani mallet case and a couple huge fuzzy mallet bags with a ton of marimba mallets and things. i don’t have a recommendation for a specific model of one of those big bags, but i do like the humes & berg stuff. i also like just throwing mallets onto a shelf in a closet sometimes…you don’t need to have too many sticks and mallets on you at any given time so i just recommend a p-bag style one for the day-to-day.
That "mezzo-somewhere" gap has reared its head since I've come back to playing, and was always an issue on cymbals. I'd wondered whether focusing on pp dynamics would help all dynamics - not yet! Out of interest Rob, how long did you go without playing since last year?
🤣 actually it's been off and on - i've tried to get in a few practice sessions per week but lately (as the met season approaches) it's been much more frequent.
@@robknopperstudio Haha! I'm grateful for discovering Tommy Igoe's education materials last year, those and Marinus Komst's timpani pad videos kept me playing at all. Was still a shock when I had to finish my degree 6 months late though :P
heh, you would think. unfortunately the pandemic has had the effect of major emotional and motivation issues, which tend to result in lower quality and quantity practicing.
"How to upload to UA-cam after a long break." Good to have you back Rob!!!
exactly. thanks for watching and glad to be back! now the true test... if i can finish another one by next monday.
he’s back!!!
Great video. I especially appreciate the sense of empathy and the "we're in this together" notions as I'm coming off an injury that went undiagnosed and took me out of the game for about 2 years. While I know there's nothing inherently wrong with going back to the basics, it has been a bit disconcerting feeling like a beginner at square one. But there's really only 2 options: be sad and guilt ridden or know that there's no other way and hit the books. When you're young its easy to brush past this stuff because we all want to get to the twig and berries of what percussion can be - so I would actually say reviewing this stuff after so many years with a more critical mind set, that this has been some of the most valuable practice I've had in a long time. Thanks for the video!
Something that really helped me get back in the groove of things (no pun intended), was getting back in the gym. My energy is off the charts and my practicing has improved more than it has in the past 3 years.
nice!!
Thank you so much for this - very helpful on multiple levels, and very timely for me personally! It had been years since I'd had any significant "practice gaps," but the pandemic has hit me hard on multiple levels and any practicing has been sporadic at best, which is particularly not fun considering I'm a woodwind doubler. That's a lot of instruments to feel like I stink on right now! It's very comforting to know that I'm not alone, and you've provided a great reminder to focus on fundamentals. I've actually found that, when I've had to recover chops in the past and I was diligent about keeping the focus on fundamentals and rebuilding slowly, I was actually able to fix some problems I didn't even really know I had at those levels that advanced my playing well beyond where it was BEFORE the practice gap.
It's been 5 years since I practiced regularly. (That's when college ended.) This was a very helpful video to realize it is not impossible to get back into it.
he's back !!
🕺
Hi! Great video. Got inspired into the basics!
I know that this might sound unimportant and superfluos but... how do you practice your visual presence?
Im not perfect playing and i obviously have a long road ahead, but watching myself playing it almost seems like im not paying any attention to my visual performance. Again, i know that sound is the top priority as muisicians, but audiences dont only hear you, they want to see you and "feel" you as an artist.
Love to hear your thoghts about this topic Rob! Have a nice day
So good and helpful. Thank you so much Rob !
Thank you for this video! And thank you for keeping it general it makes it easier for me to share with my band kids. Keep up the fantastic content!
THE RETURN
If this channel was for violin specific... It's very helpful, but I'll love to see some tips for violin
Nice Video Rob! New camera setup looks great - What's the lens?
thanks for noticing! i switched to sony and am using the new 14mm f1.8. it’s a lot of fun and covers a lot of ground, although i have to make sure not to let the subject get too close to the edges or they’ll look funny / warpy.
Not specifically related to this video Rob but my small stick bag is now too small for my growing collection so wondered if you had any recommendations for a stick bag for orchestral purposes (snare, tims, xylo etc)?
i use the galaxy grip stick bag (the one that looks like the old p-bag). that’s my in-rehearsal/day-to-day stick bags, but it’s not big enough to hold everything. i also use a freer timpani mallet case and a couple huge fuzzy mallet bags with a ton of marimba mallets and things. i don’t have a recommendation for a specific model of one of those big bags, but i do like the humes & berg stuff. i also like just throwing mallets onto a shelf in a closet sometimes…you don’t need to have too many sticks and mallets on you at any given time so i just recommend a p-bag style one for the day-to-day.
That "mezzo-somewhere" gap has reared its head since I've come back to playing, and was always an issue on cymbals. I'd wondered whether focusing on pp dynamics would help all dynamics - not yet!
Out of interest Rob, how long did you go without playing since last year?
that information is confidential, aidan.
🤣 actually it's been off and on - i've tried to get in a few practice sessions per week but lately (as the met season approaches) it's been much more frequent.
@@robknopperstudio Haha! I'm grateful for discovering Tommy Igoe's education materials last year, those and Marinus Komst's timpani pad videos kept me playing at all. Was still a shock when I had to finish my degree 6 months late though :P
“summer chops” more like conceit
??? Pandemic Chops?? You have More time to practice during a pandemic,, not less.
heh, you would think. unfortunately the pandemic has had the effect of major emotional and motivation issues, which tend to result in lower quality and quantity practicing.