Rick - thanks for your brilliant videos. I was a pretty good drummer in my youth, played in a drum section in high school, regional orchestra and in a local rock -n- roll band. I played a lot of drums over 10 years using only traditional grip, but college and then a career took me in a different direction and my drumming ended. Now that I am retired I am getting back into playing drums. Your videos have been exactly what I needed to relearn that muscle memory and to discover many techniques that I never learned. Thank you again for all the lessons with the traditional grip. Your skills and dedication to educating drummers are amazing Rick.
Been around percussionists most of my early years---many were just what we called "Bangers" -- Joe Morello is the Finest percussionist Technician I have ever heard.
Thank you so much for the explanation of this book. It is imperative that one understands the way in which a book with such depth must be practiced. I did not understand the benefits or how to use this book but, I see now how much of an impact this can have on one's playing in a holistic manner.
You're a brilliant player and educator and I really like your kind approach. Masterstudies is a masterpiece. I bought it way back in the 80:s and picked it up again recently to work with the buzz and flam sections. When I see your level of facility, it's obvious to me that this is a lifetime of study.
Hey Rick. Just bought this book after 40 years of playing (can you believe it?). I need to find out how to utilize the exercises. You are amazing. Thank you for showing me how to work through this book. My work is cut out for me and I will be consulting this video constantly. And how lucky you were to study with the Master. Have a great day!
Great lesson! I think I see a bit of wrist turn helping the clench accents in exercise 3. It gets a little more stick height and adds weight to the finger clench.
Hi Rick! Thank you for your videos. I enjoy this Morello material, especially with the insights you've gained from the man himself! Have you explored Morello's Rudimental Jazz Application book? Any chance for a video on that? Thanks, again!
Hi Bryan Thanks for watching. Yes, I have that book but I need to get my copy back which I lent to a student but I can't remember which student has it. I have a really long list of requests so I will put it on there.
Fantastic Rick, such a brilliant and concise display of Morello "Master Studies" book. What is the best way for alloting time for practicing the different chapters? Is it wise to practice a page from each section per day and then moving to the next page or to dedicate the time with just one chapter at a time? It makes sense that after getting a few chapters down really well, running through them again everyday will take less and less time... each session. I usually can spend anywhere from 2-4hrs a day just on hands and reading. Thanks for the great video Rick.
Hi John The first part of the book, accent studies in 8th's and triplets is probably the most important part of the book so I would do some of that every day. You can really spend the rest of your life working on speed but what you want first is dynamic contrast and evenness so shoot for that. Once you get that first section you can skip around and work each part for an extended time. The stone Killer works great as a warm up.
@@rickdior Thanks Rick, I have been working the 8th's and Triplet Accent studies for a couple of years now with huge results. Also, applying them with Ostinato feet at the drumset. Even while working on new sections, I will still run through a page or two from both. The Fill- ins sections are tremendous and have helped so much with the Left hand. I have found that the Buzz roll section has helped me to identify the contact bounce point of the Left hand traditional grip quite a bit too. Thank you for answering my questions, I will add the Stone Killers to the routine. It is such a fantastic book.
Thanks for the video. When I was a teenager, I was lucky enough to take a few lessons with Joe. I also studied with one of his students for years. When we did these exercises from Master Studies, we used the Moeller technique for all of them, probably to build my wrist strength. After a 20-year "break" from the drums, I've become interested in learning the techniques again. Would you suggest using the fingers for these exercises even if I'm still trying to get my wrists back into shape? Thanks!
The wrist and fingers should work together ultimately. You should do the exercises both ways. The wrist movement is just a small part of what should be happening. It should be lots of bounce with finger support/movement and some wrist.
Thanks for the video! When doing the clinch with the right hand, would you say the set up is that you open the fingers a bit more to get more velocity for the accent compared to the other non accented finger strokes? I'm also having a bit of trobule with closing the gap between my thumb and index finger on impact which tightens up the whole hand.
Hi When you play accents you need to stick a bit higher if it's a single accent within single strokes. If you are doing multiple strokes with the same hand and accenting the last note you will need to use more fingers in a clinch like fashion. That means for that clinch the will be more space between the stick and your palm for that stroke. Try to avoid using too much wrist and rely on rebound and finger strength.
Man I wish I lived close to you. I'd be there for some lessons for sure. I've lost technique since having to change to matched grip. I'm a bit of an "old fart' now but have made my living as a drummer for a looong time. Doubt if Chick Corea would phone me though😁. I have that book plus the follow up. Watching you play is gold. Thank you...Graeme from Brisbane, Australia👍👍
Hi Rick!! Nice video!!! I'm studying Master Studies too and I have one question: Do you recommend to study line per line, separately, or play by couples or groups of lines? One of my difficulties is to keep my focus with a lot of hand and accent changes when I try to play groups of lines. I can fix better studying line per line, but I really don't know the better way.
Hi Ivan If you are talking about the first section of the book I would repeat each one many times. When I worked with Joe we would repeat each one 50 times. The key to all of this is repetition. Once you are comfortable with each separate exercise then you should put them together. You can do 8, 4, 2 or 1 time each and then go on to the next one. Make sure you use a metronome and subdivide the 8th's and then triplets for that section. Do not go too fast and record and video yourself so you can check for evenness and see how your hands look.
Hi Rick: Just got the book. BIG help to get me started. How do you recommend working through the book? For example the first section 8th notes with accents, should I work one page a day? The entire section each day, and if so for how long? One week, One month? Any thoughts would be very helpful. It is easy to become overwhelmed with this classic. Thanks!! Ron
Hi Ron Just do 5 or 6 a day...nice and slow till you have good control. The goal should be at least quarter =100. Then keep adding more. Repetition is the Key. Watch yourself in a mirror for proper technique or better yet video yourself. Always use a metronome subdivided on 8ths for the first section and triplets for the second.
Thank you for the video. One thing that's always baffled me is Joe's constant insistence to play each exercise "musically," which is quite vague. Is he recommending that we try to play these exercises to backing tracks, or just to make them sound good?
Hi Musically would mean practicing with different dynamics/phrasing and the ability to apply the studies with correct phrasing and feel when you are performing. In other words playing with a flowing, loose, relaxed, dynamic even and "musical" feel. As opposed to playing like a stiff and tight and possibly uneven robot.
Hi That is an old quiet tone practice pad resting on top of a snare drum. It has a real drum head and the feel of a real drum. It is much better to practice on then any kind of rubber pad because it closely mimics the response of an acoustic drum.
example 5 not using moeller u can definitely hear and see the difference in the flow of hands. thankx for pointing the alternative approach using wrist rick.
It depends how advanced you are but if you have not studied hand technique you should study these books in this order: Stick Control Accents and Rebounds (both by George Stone) Wrist and Finger Control (Wilcoxon) Master Studies Book 1 Master Studies Book 2 (both by Joe Morello)
Rick - thanks for your brilliant videos. I was a pretty good drummer in my youth, played in a drum section in high school, regional orchestra and in a local rock -n- roll band. I played a lot of drums over 10 years using only traditional grip, but college and then a career took me in a different direction and my drumming ended. Now that I am retired I am getting back into playing drums. Your videos have been exactly what I needed to relearn that muscle memory and to discover many techniques that I never learned. Thank you again for all the lessons with the traditional grip. Your skills and dedication to educating drummers are amazing Rick.
Been around percussionists most of my early years---many were just what we called "Bangers" -- Joe Morello is the Finest percussionist Technician I have ever heard.
Thank you for this video. It has really inspired me to open this book and start working on it. Your students are lucky to have such a great teacher!
I had a lesson with Joe. It was very inspiring. His ruff paradiddle was something that took me years to get up to level.
Thank you so much for the explanation of this book. It is imperative that one understands the way in which a book with such depth must be practiced. I did not understand the benefits or how to use this book but, I see now how much of an impact this can have on one's playing in a holistic manner.
Incredible class, congratulations on the refined technique!
That was truly excellent Rick and totally enjoyable. At age of almost 70 I try to keep up but 10 times was enough.
You're a brilliant player and educator and I really like your kind approach.
Masterstudies is a masterpiece. I bought it way back in the 80:s and picked it up again recently to work with the buzz and flam sections.
When I see your level of facility, it's obvious to me that this is a lifetime of study.
Thank You!
Hey Rick. Just bought this book after 40 years of playing (can you believe it?). I need to find out how to utilize the exercises. You are amazing. Thank you for showing me how to work through this book. My work is cut out for me and I will be consulting this video constantly. And how lucky you were to study with the Master. Have a great day!
sublime
Thank you very much! Hugely hugely appreciated!
My favorite section of this book is "Table of Time" pg 42
As soon as you said you studied with joe I started to listen
excelente explicación . un grade
Hi. Really enjoying this. Thank you.
Awesome, my teacher recommended, I love it it's hard, I'm 50 now trying to get my hands faster and loose it's taking forever though!
Thank you much.
Fantastic Rick!
Thank you
Great lesson! I think I see a bit of wrist turn helping the clench accents in exercise 3. It gets a little more stick height and adds weight to the finger clench.
Great job
Wow this is so great thank you
Beautiful stuff!!
awesome rick.
Very nice playing 👍🏻
Love the video. Trying to get better with my left hand. Moller and buzzes feel weird with the left traditional grip to me
REALY NICE
As always, an excellent instructional video. I would like to know what practice pad you use.
This is an amazing video! Question: do you practice both hands leading for the accent studies? Thanks!
Hi Rick! Thank you for your videos. I enjoy this Morello material, especially with the insights you've gained from the man himself! Have you explored Morello's Rudimental Jazz Application book? Any chance for a video on that? Thanks, again!
Hi Bryan
Thanks for watching.
Yes, I have that book but I need to get my copy back which I lent to a student but I can't remember which student has it. I have a really long list of requests so I will put it on there.
Fantastic Rick, such a brilliant and concise display of Morello "Master Studies" book.
What is the best way for alloting time for practicing the different chapters? Is it wise to practice a page from each section per day and then moving to the next page or to dedicate the time with just one chapter at a time? It makes sense that after getting a few chapters down really well, running through them again everyday will take less and less time... each session.
I usually can spend anywhere from 2-4hrs a day just on hands and reading.
Thanks for the great video Rick.
Hi John
The first part of the book, accent studies in 8th's and triplets is probably the most important part of the book so I would do some of that every day. You can really spend the rest of your life working on speed but what you want first is dynamic contrast and evenness so shoot for that.
Once you get that first section you can skip around and work each part for an extended time. The stone Killer works great as a warm up.
@@rickdior
Thanks Rick, I have been working the 8th's and Triplet Accent studies for a couple of years now with huge results. Also, applying them with Ostinato feet at the drumset. Even while working on new sections, I will still run through a page or two from both.
The Fill- ins sections are tremendous and have helped so much with the Left hand.
I have found that the Buzz roll section has helped me to identify the contact bounce point of the Left hand traditional grip quite a bit too.
Thank you for answering my questions, I will add the Stone Killers to the routine.
It is such a fantastic book.
Thanks for the video. When I was a teenager, I was lucky enough to take a few lessons with Joe. I also studied with one of his students for years. When we did these exercises from Master Studies, we used the Moeller technique for all of them, probably to build my wrist strength. After a 20-year "break" from the drums, I've become interested in learning the techniques again. Would you suggest using the fingers for these exercises even if I'm still trying to get my wrists back into shape? Thanks!
The wrist and fingers should work together ultimately. You should do the exercises both ways. The wrist movement is just a small part of what should be happening. It should be lots of bounce with finger support/movement and some wrist.
@@rickdior Makes sense. Thanks very much! I hope you keep posting videos!
Thanks for the video!
When doing the clinch with the right hand, would you say the set up is that you open the fingers a bit more to get more velocity for the accent compared to the other non accented finger strokes? I'm also having a bit of trobule with closing the gap between my thumb and index finger on impact which tightens up the whole hand.
Hi
When you play accents you need to stick a bit higher if it's a single accent within single strokes. If you are doing multiple strokes with the same hand and accenting the last note you will need to use more fingers in a clinch like fashion. That means for that clinch the will be more space between the stick and your palm for that stroke. Try to avoid using too much wrist and rely on rebound and finger strength.
@@rickdior Many thanx for explaining!
Man I wish I lived close to you. I'd be there for some lessons for sure. I've lost technique since having to change to matched grip. I'm a bit of an "old fart' now but have made my living as a drummer for a looong time. Doubt if Chick Corea would phone me though😁. I have that book plus the follow up. Watching you play is gold. Thank you...Graeme from Brisbane, Australia👍👍
Hi
Thanks
I do teach Skype lessons if you are interested. Stay safe
Great! Did you a part 2?
Not yet...it's on the list
Hi Rick!! Nice video!!! I'm studying Master Studies too and I have one question: Do you recommend to study line per line, separately, or play by couples or groups of lines? One of my difficulties is to keep my focus with a lot of hand and accent changes when I try to play groups of lines. I can fix better studying line per line, but I really don't know the better way.
Hi Ivan
If you are talking about the first section of the book I would repeat each one many times. When I worked with Joe we would repeat each one 50 times. The key to all of this is repetition. Once you are comfortable with each separate exercise then you should put them together. You can do 8, 4, 2 or 1 time each and then go on to the next one. Make sure you use a metronome and subdivide the 8th's and then triplets for that section. Do not go too fast and record and video yourself so you can check for evenness and see how your hands look.
4:23
Hey Rick, really great playing! Do you recommend playing the 8th note+triplet combo section with straight 8ths?
Hi Andrew
Play those exercises both straight and swung for maximum benefit.
Hi Rick: Just got the book. BIG help to get me started. How do you recommend working through the book? For example the first section 8th notes with accents, should I work one page a day? The entire section each day, and if so for how long? One week, One month? Any thoughts would be very helpful. It is easy to become overwhelmed with this classic. Thanks!! Ron
,m.
Hi Ron
Just do 5 or 6 a day...nice and slow till you have good control. The goal should be at least quarter =100. Then keep adding more. Repetition is the Key. Watch yourself in a mirror for proper technique or better yet video yourself. Always use a metronome subdivided on 8ths for the first section and triplets for the second.
Thank you for the video. One thing that's always baffled me is Joe's constant insistence to play each exercise "musically," which is quite vague. Is he recommending that we try to play these exercises to backing tracks, or just to make them sound good?
Hi
Musically would mean practicing with different dynamics/phrasing and the ability to apply the studies with correct phrasing and feel when you are performing. In other words playing with a flowing, loose, relaxed, dynamic even and "musical" feel.
As opposed to playing like a stiff and tight and possibly uneven robot.
@@rickdior Great, thanks for the reply!
I want to buy after seeing the content of your book.
but I have not found its contents anywhere. how can I find.
can you help me
What practice pad is that thank you for these videos!
That's an original Henry Adler Drum mute from the 1980's.
They are now made by Sabian but are somewhat different in construction.
what type of practice pad are you using, do you like it for regular practice or do you use a variety of pads?
Hi
That is an old quiet tone practice pad resting on top of a snare drum. It has a real drum head and the feel of a real drum. It is much better to practice on then any kind of rubber pad because it closely mimics the response of an acoustic drum.
bluesky i have the sabian quiettone. rick probably has an older version.
oops didnt see ricks response. its really a great pad.
example 5 not using moeller u can definitely hear and see the difference in the flow of hands. thankx for pointing the alternative approach using wrist rick.
Should I go stick control first before starting this book
It depends how advanced you are but if you have not studied hand technique you should study these books in this order:
Stick Control
Accents and Rebounds (both by George Stone)
Wrist and Finger Control (Wilcoxon)
Master Studies Book 1
Master Studies Book 2 (both by Joe Morello)
sir, it would be even better, if u give us notes in written form.
You can buy the book. Copyright laws do not allow displaying the book since I did not write it.
The question is: how can I apply these exercises musically??
The object is to use these types of exercises to gain enough control over the instrument so that you are capable of playing musically.
@@rickdior thanks for your quick response!