Murray Spivack - A Lesson with Louie Bellson (1995)

[@paulgeorgia8013]

I was lucky enough to have a chance encounter with Louie and his wife, Pearl Bailey in 1988. You couldn’t find two nicer people in all the world. He regaled me with stories about Buddy Rich, and much more. I’ll never forget that day

[@stevebinninger7934]

I agree. I got to meet him in 1977 at a clinic he did for the music department at Santa Rosa (CA) junior college. My 7th grade band teacher took me and a couple of other drummers to the clinic

[@darylhudson777]

Becoming more humble is so honorable and respected. Thanks for taking me back to the good ole days.

[@Darrylizer1]

Been playing for 40 years and I actually learned something new from watching this, despite my best efforts.

[@pontusmalmstrom1055]

Fascinating to watch one of the worlds best drummers as a student. He becomes a kid again. Attentive, working hard, really thinking about every move, in order to make it work. His teacher, occasionally correcting wrong moves, despite his student being a top notch performer. This illustrates how hard it is to master any musical instrument. You can tell that the rolls, whether single, double, triple or flam, are by no means perfect. They never are, but every drummer makes a different sort of imperfections, which is what creates character and adds to personality. It's a humbling experience for me, as I'm sure it was for Louie, and any aspiring musician. This video deserves a lot more views. Or to put it the other way around. Music students everywhere, deserve to see this video.

[@algernonblackwood1707]

Beautifully insightful comment! I studied with Murray as well as Louie's brother Hank, both excellent teachers and wonderful people.Louie was genteel, dignified, humble, and down to earth, always the personification of class and grace.

[@gas221272]

The man is a legend for all time!

[@danlc95]

The man himself sharing his pearls - with the incomparable Louie Bellson?!
Thank you.

[@dodo13500]

Louie Bellson once told me, “it’s what you don’t play”
At 72 I’m still playing that way.

[@josephmoodie1670]

The Remo snare drum Louie plays when he's with Murray Spivack was a 14 x 8 Encore in the chrome wrap.I had an earlier one in 1988, & it was a fantastic snare drum, & of course they came with Remo drum heads from new.The Acousticon drums had a superb sound to them, & sounded great at all tuning ranges.

[@adriancapili5752]

Thanks for the information 😊 @keyringer here is answer to the question about the snare drum used 😊

[@jobrothberg4679]

These had the wood pulp and resin shells they sounded great!

[@jimhardiman3836]

I have a 13" Remo piccolo snare. Really cool drum, but I don't use it often.

[@Drumguy48]

Being that Louie was a VP at Remo you would expect him to play Remo

[@nicolacilli6183]

Bellissimo video..Grazie

[@mvm3016]

Louis does so much, and in a perfectly crisp shirt and jacket. Amazing.

[@eldiablo3794]

After years of watching and studying these old school big band drummers, and wondering why they look so calm and collected in their 5 piece suits and when I play I feel and look so stiff.. I finally realized it's all in the wrists.🤵🏾🥁

[@FraaaaaankRizzo]

@@eldiablo3794The suit just adds a whole different level of professionalism.

[@DrumandPianoDude]

I had the honor of meeting Louie Belson and watching him play at Mayfest 1989 in Tulsa, OK. Super nice gentleman, and an amazing drummer!

[@MattMcGunn30]

I am 54 years old. Been playing (learning) bass guitar and banjo for the past 9 months and loving both. I recently bought a drum pad, stand, the book 'Stick Control,' and good sticks. I plan on getting a full kit this Christmas. I cannot wait to begin learning the drums. This is one of the most amazing instructional videos perhaps in all of music in my newbie/novice opinion....Genius!

[@AngelWest58]

54 YEARS YOUNG

[@pavelt.5772]

i am 52 and also trying from Jan.

[@FraaaaaankRizzo]

Good luck and have fun!

[@MattMcGunn30]

@@pavelt.5772 I love it!

[@JoeLuttrell-kg5do]

I studied with Murray briefly in the 80s. Learned a lot.

[@novitamonitor]

Fantastic stuff, love it. Also (in 2024) very hard to stay awake watching because the videos were sooo slow those days 😆 (And I'm 63 now).

[@marcuscampos9508]

Now you can play it faster. 🎉

[@NaylemEvad1]

Finally, I get to see the real Spivack method taught! You can ask 10 drummers what it is and get 10 different answers. Thank you for taking us to the source of the wisdom!!

[@ajn465]

Louis Bellson takes a lesson. And man, I wish I had been half as good a music student as he is. That’s how to BE in a music lesson. Listen. Only say something to reassure the teacher that you get what he was saying. And then we have Louis as the perfect model for everything Prof. Spivack asks. And try speeding up the video to 1.5 X while Mr. spivack is talking at length. It sounds like a middle-aged man speaking normally. You get old.. things get slower ..but it’s all still there and then some. Beautiful, basic rudimental drum technique demonstrated by one of the finest drummers who ever lived. Louis’ execution is frighteningly clean and musical. What a gift this is to future generations.

[@jimmypaxson3980]

I studied w/Murray from 1989 til his passing. It was invaluable. ❤ ♾️

[@diegoz5771]

Fabuloso, um grande mestre. Muito, muito grato.

[@petercontarino646]

This a really special video. True drum wisdom. Thanks for posting. I met Louie and had a chance to speak with him for a few minutes at namm year back and he was a true gentleman.

[@Ilovemusic793]

This was at the time I was studying at Crane with JP. What an era to be a young drummer because it was difficult! The great masters were still alive.

[@bethlayne8381]

Me too.

[@KenHada]

I used to take my Murray lesson after Peter Donald. And then after my lesson I would drive Murray to his house. Sometimes I would have dinner with him. At dinner I would pick his brain about his audio engineer days.

[@GrootsieTheDog]

This was like watching a Kung Fu movie where Bruce Lee goes up onto the mountain to learn the way of the tiger from the wise great master. Such a joy to watch someone teach with as much passion as one plays.

[@rtalbot87]

One of the best videos I have seen

[@elwooddrums]

Amazing lesson from two true legends!

[@mintaka3407]

Wow! Thank you so much for this! I’ve heard Murray being mentioned by people like Vinnie. Chad and the late Canadian drummer Chuck Silverman! And I was searching for a video on his technique and I came across this…❤🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽👊🏽

[@johnkracy9190]

I am so ashamed to say that I'm just now seeing this. Thankyou so very much for sharing this.

[@gerardomanzanelli7588]

Saludos de Argentina gracias por subir esto que los bateristas modernos no tienen la técnica de dedos o finger y digitacion gracias

[@eldiablo3794]

It's so cool to see one of your drumming idols as the student. I always saw Louie as a master of his craft, and seeing this I almost forget he was human just like myself and any other drummers. What you don't see is the 100s of hours of practice he put in to constantly master his craft. Super inspiring to see one of your favorite drummers actually thinking out a rudiment, doing it wrong, and being corrected until he played it right. 🥁🤓

[@BmakinFilm]

The Wolverine at 39:03!!
Bellson is still perhaps the only drummer I know of to solo with the Jingle Sticks!
Louis is quite the stylish gentleman and model of humility and respect: so patient, quiet and still with his teacher.
This solo captures the spirit we drummers share of the endless drum solo in our parent's basement: always the kid looking for non-stop adventures: God bless Louis Bellson and Murray Spivak!

[@baboom70]

I studied with Murray and it was an incredible experience. This video is what the lessons were like. 2 masters here. He was knowledgeable, patient and taught excellence. His explanations were always very clear…the grip is the most fundamental aspect of having great hand technique. Everything else is built on that. Those of you who think that spending 45 minutes on grip are missing the whole point of having good foundational skills. Watching Louie play is proof that it works when applied!

[@justhadrums]

Another classic, I always loved the sound of remo drums

[@joebruno8533]

Absolute gold Adrian. Thank you so much. 😊

[@lencuriel]

At last!!!! I loaned this VHS tape to a "friend" and I never got it back because he moved away and when I found out it was too late. I am so thankful to see this again!!!🙏🥁

[@HarryJoiner]

What an incredible student Louis is! ⭐️

[@jeanclaude4]

Louie Bellson with the old school classic double breasted gold button blue blazer, pocket square, stripped French Cuff shirt. Just as classy as it gets. Never goes out of style for the stylish

[@Nevernow721]

Charlie Watts and Louie were snappy dressers. Class never goes out of style.

[@corradomanganaro7150]

Una delle lezioni più stratosferiche mai vista 🎵🎵🎼🎼👍

[@NewMusic.FreshIdeas]

Amazing! Thank you.

[@johnseabrook1562]

This video has made me practise rudiments once more…quite brilliant.

[@breal1183]

These are REAL drummers!!

[@Fiddlenguy]

Thank you! This is too much!❤

[@stephanmarcouxdrums4877]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@neboyd]

Very special vedeo lesson thank you murray spidvak and Louie bellson for this wonderful technique

[@KenHada]

The way Louie is talking to Murray😂 It brings me right back to my Murray Spivack lessons! “Make your blow”

[@mladenmoraca5720]

Louie was the King in Drumming

[@radiosonos]

Masters ❤❤

[@jordimolet7012]

Mil gracias por el vídeo !!

[@boblazo1]

What a treasure.

[@zg-mzga]

beautiful

[@joecap2919]

Great drummer and never lost his wig while playing.

[@leedsdrumacademy]

It's so interesting seeing Louie struggling with the flams at a slow tempo. This is something that I nag my students about endlessly. It feels very validating to see Murray do the same 😅

[@raymondkarlsson9794]

Great to see this! Cool old man, Mr Spivack. I have played with first finger/thumb fulcrum for decades but began using middle finger recently. This lesson explain it furthermore. Read that Chad Wackerman was a Spivack disciple, right? Heard Chad live real upclose three years ago. Amazing technique, power and sound. And Louie Bellson, some student (jazz legend)!

[@KarlLatham]

TY amazing!

[@rodrigoaquinoofficial]

Pure GOLD!

[@CrappyProducts]

Nothing like the Murray/Willson technique, nothing comes close to it

[@maxytaxy]

Wow excellent

[@danbunge9787]

Louie endorsed a couple of books written my drum teacher Gil Breines, Modern Reading Text. These books can be interpreted many ways.

[@SopranoPizzaJMFNJ]

I subscribed! Very little video of Murray Spivack out there but it's definitely an important document.

[@TheZappawizard]

Louie had such great double bass drum technique, he should have done at least one metal album!

[@williamperri3437]

😂 no doubt! I saw him at the Modern Drummer festival and his BD technique was killer. Buddy had unreal bass drum technique as well.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!!

[@foredrums]

thank youuuu so muchhh!

[@CelsoEduardo]

Tks! Tks! Tks! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@tgw85]

Seamless transition from Matched grip to Traditional.

[@shapiradani]

This is gold! I love how Murray disses Louies double stroke.😂

[@williamperri3437]

I missed that! 😂 what time was that at?

[@DaBaronSamedi]

@@williamperri3437 from 30:04

[@keyringer]

I would love to have that snare!

[@mancuniancandidatem]

I had two of these acousticon (a wood fibre) drums and unfortunately they were not very durable.
I like to have a medium high snare tuning. Both drums bearing edges collapsed inward. I had the full remo kit and didnt have the problem with the toms or bass drum but both the first snare and it's replacement both collapsed inward. It could partially have been due to the cold damp climate in the uk, however Remo discontinued these not long after. I think they realised the acousticon material was not durable enough for drum construction.

[@RjBenjamin353]

Rest In Peace Murray. You were greatness.

[@DanielMonteiroBaterista]

Sensacional

[@Gretsch0997]

😳
The painting behind Loui .....

[@laverdadesmejor]

Ahhhh, back on the days when great drummers would "play" the drums and not just BANG on them.

[@jimmypaxson3980]

That’s some serious generalizing… In many ways the art form is as alive if not more alive today. I studied w/Murray a long time. He could only take on so many students and you had to audition to get on board. He always said this stuff could not be taught in an hour nor on a video… He was a true genius - but there’s less banging today than there was when this was shot.

[@laverdadesmejor]

@@jimmypaxson3980 Of course I'm "generalizing".

[@marksimpson2321]

Louie's technique looks fabulous here doing fundamental rudiments at different speeds.

[@NEALBABBITT]

I think this may really help me, I've been having trouble for a long time with my grip.

[@bomkfort9428]

Rikki Rocket from Poison uses the Murray Spivack system as well.

[@toothnail605]

lmFAO LOL LOL LOL

[@jimhardiman3836]

Rikki No Pocket Rocket..

[@user-KRS77]

❤️🥁❤️

[@StephenSpivack]

am i related to this guy? fellow drummer whatup

[@spercoco]

That looks like two snares combined into one. It must be 8 inches deep or more.

[@keyringer]

What size is that snare? 14x8 or 14x10?

[@robertcarli1969]

14"×8" brother❤

[@keyringer]

@@robertcarli1969 Thanks! Does that have a narrow brass ring in the middle of it?

[@jonathandavid9720]

Interest that Bellson could not tighten up his flam as the teacher wanted.

[@xenprovence6126]

Having studied with Richard Wilson, a student of Murray’s, and worked for years on this grip I have concluded that he was wrong. Through my own experience of hard work, I now use a whole hand approach which requires muscle development to turn the wrist to its maximum. Studying rebound delays the necessary work required to turn the wrist. Better late than never I tell myself.

[@richwilson5969]

Hey that’s my name. 😮

[@Paul-yz4gx]

​@@richwilson5969"I don't belieeeeve it"

[@citydrums7525]

Very interesting. Some might agree with you. Are you using the thumb and index finger fulcrum combined with all fingers? I'm moving towards that myself.

[@SopranoPizzaJMFNJ]

Wrong? NO. You simply developed another technique that works better for you.

[@justincase2271]

I hihgly doubt that this is from 1995, since Spivack passed away in 1994.

[@adriancapili5752]

@@justincase2271 Yes Murray Spivack passed away in 1994. In 1992, Louie Bellson proposed the idea of documenting the approach of his teacher, Murray Spivack, in the form of filming a lesson with Louie as the student. VHS video version released in 1995. DVD version release in 2010.

[@deathshead357]

LB is ripping the hole. I'm over here still trying to do the flam and he's running round the kit with 2 sticks in each hand, Come on!

[@Frontdesk99]

1995? Did they dig up Spivack for the interview? He died in 1994.

[@adriancapili5752]

@Frontdesk99 Yes Murray Spivack died in 1994. In 1992, Louie Bellson proposed the idea of documenting the approach of his teacher, Murray Spivack, in the form of filming a lesson with Louie as the student. VHS version released in 1995. DVD version release year 2010.

[@Voynich1865]

Buddy Richs mate

[@justhadrums]

31:01 lol

[@bomkfort9428]

Louie’s toupee is first rate

[@MultiMikey81]

It's just come out as trans it's a merkin now

[@grantnicolaou7216]

Poor comment

[@grantnicolaou7216]

What about his dedication to the craft 💪

[@rhythmfield]

Some guys in their 50s really need to move out if their mothers’ garages and finally start a life - best of luck to you.

[@bomkfort9428]

@@grantnicolaou7216 poor sense of humor

[@rogerwelsh2335]

Is Louie a werewolf???

[@totigerus]

Is that a 9 inch deep snare drum Holy shit!🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@adriancapili5752]

@@totigerus It's a Remo 14x8 Encore in chrome wrap

[@totigerus]

@@adriancapili5752 man why does it look so deep? It looks deeper than an eight to me, but apparently camera angles are extremely influential.

[@Frontdesk99]

It strikes me (no pun intended) that Bellson, being the magnificient drummer that he was, wasn't very creative in his solos. In the solo in this video I hear patterns and figures that I have heard him do in tons of other recordings. Seems like he 'created' a few nice things to put in a solo that he used over and over again.

[@acfinney1]

He's really trying to teach the master how to play drums? Lol

[@vonfolta]

=)

[@folhaseca863]

😂

[@davidgrout1056]

Louie was always a more interesting drummer (and better person) than that sourpuss Buddy Rich. Although the Buddy Rich big band kicked major ass.

[@ochocabra1542]

both snares sound amazing but the mid-low tuning on the kit, even the rotos and high toms, is just terrible

[@andrewgonzales4131]

Ummm. Oh my goodness! I just became an incredibly better drummer!

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

Louis has a toupet it seems. Horrific.

[@rhythmfield]

Why is it that trolls can never spell correctly, ever?

[@9ZERO6]

That's what you get from a 30 year old video of two drum OG's? Gtfo.

[@steamboatmcwrigley561]

Sorry, I don't need 45 minutes talking about how to hold a drumstick.

[@KenHada]

This is the most import lesson a drummer can study. If you don’t get this right all the rest is wrong.

[@rudyecheverri7654]

🤓🥁👍🏼

[@Kim-yk3zz]

LB one of the KINGS of drums...can still be taught,by his percussion teacher.