Charlie Heim: Education
Keep the beat.
As well as think about, manipulate, and play music on many instruments and many styles. Playing the drums is about more than just hitting things - it’s about leading the song, providing the spark, and mastering time. Let’s get started!
Education
Inspirators
Document: Drum Set Student Notes
Download: PDF
Description: This sheet provides a summary of drum set notation, as well as an introduction to basic rhythmic notation and note durations. Lastly, the sheet briefly introduces the concept of rhythmic subdivision crucial to the mastery of musical study. Worksheet ©2006 Charles Heim
Document: Percussive Arts Society Rudiments
Download: PDF | Visit PAS Website
Description: Compiled by the Percussive Arts Society, these 40 rudiments (expanded from the original 26) are the building blocks of everything we as drummers play. A throrough understanding of these rhythmic ideas is crucial to effective and skillful drum set playing. ©1984 Percussive Arts Society
Document: Rock Basics I
Download: PDF
Description: This set of exercises introduces the basics of playing drum set patterns in the Rock idiom. It systematically breaks down the components of the “beat,” and provides a number of permutations to enhance the student’s understanding of the concepts. Worksheet ©2006 Charles Heim
Document: Rock Basics II
Download: PDF
Description: This brand-new sheet is meant as a continuation of Rock Basics I worksheet above. It goes in depth with some more complicated beats, and explores limb coordination and independence. A student must master Rock Basics I before beginning study on Rock Basics II. Worksheet ©2007 Charles Heim
Document: Latin Grooves Overview
Download: PDF
Description: These exercises feature a number of popular Latin American grooves adapted for the drumset. They introduce rhythms and patterns from Afro-Cuban and Brazilian traditions. Worksheet ©2007 Charles Heim
Document: Max Roach’s Drum Solo on Joy Spring
Recording: Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Clifford Brown and Max Roach
(CD - Polygram Records Reissue 2000)
Download: PDF
Description: Here’s a transcription of Max Roach’s tasty brush solo from Clifford Brown and Max Roach’s seminal self-titled recording. His solo is led of by trading 4’s with members of the band, and followed by him taking a full chorus. A classic!
Document: Art Blakey’s Drum Solo on This I Dig of You
Recording: Hank Mobley - Soul Station (CD - Blue Note Records Reissue 1999)
Download: PDF
Description: One of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, Art Blakey is in top form on this solo from Hank Mobley’s album Soul Station. Blakey’s driving ideas and blazing chops are featured expertly here, as he takes two choruses over the classic hard bop tune.
Document: Philly Joe Jones’ Drum Solo on Four
Recording: Miles Davis - Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (CD - OJC Records 1990)
Download: PDF
Document: Philly Joe Jones’ Drum Solo on Blues By Five
Recording: Miles Davis - Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (CD - OJC Records 1991)
Download: PDF
Description: Philly Joe Jones’ drumming made a huge mark on the history of jazz drumming, and his influence will be felt for years to come. Both tunes feature Philly Joe trading fours with the ever-talented Quntet.
Document: Lewis Nash’s Drum Solo on Illuminations
Recording: McCoy Tyner - Illuminations (CD - Telarc Records 2004)
Download: PDF
Description: A transcription of Lewis Nash as heard on the title track of McCoy Tyner's 2004 record, Illuminations. Nash is heard trading 8 bar phrases with the other members of the band, then 6 bar phrases until the head of the tune is restated. A killin' solo from a killin' drummer.
Document: Bill Stewart’s Drum Solo on Wee
Recording: John Scofield - EnRoute (CD - Verve Records 2004)
Download: PDF
Description: Here's we have the improvisational stylings of one of my favorite drummers around today: Bill Stewart. This transcription is from his traded 8's with bassist Steve Swallow on John Scofield's 2004 release, EnRoute.