BY DEB HEDLEY
ISSUE NO. 45 | NOVEMBER 2022
Modern Day Musings
Happy November! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this is a special time of year to acknowledge all we have to be thankful for! At Modern Day Music, we are thankful for the gift of music and to be able to share that with others every day.
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We are also very thankful for each and every one of our staff members and students who help make MDM the amazing place it is! November also happens to be International Drum Month! It is a known fact that drums are the most important part of the rhythm section in any band. Did you also know that most bands are famous not only by their singers and composers but also by the style of their drummers? In this month’s newsletter we are so excited to share more history on International Drum Month and what makes the drums such a dynamic instrument! Drumming dates back to Prehistoric Times. According to Historians, human beings in both Africa and India used to beat objects to produce musical sounds that were used for both communication and dancing.
HAPPY DRUM MONTH!
Drumming moved peoples minds and hearts and were often used during special events and religious ceremonies. Through the desire of rhythm, the drums evolved over time to become the modern kit we have today. The drum set is a hybrid of instruments from around the world. Immigrants from all over the world came to America, bringing their various percussion instruments. The snare and bass drum were carried over the shoulders of men in European militaries. That tradition was then carried over to American armies. The Chinese immigrants brought to America their own colorfully-painted tom-toms that were distinct from the snare and the bass drums. Cymbals evolved from bronze cisterns made in places such as Turkey and China. The discovery of the first drum kit dates back to the late nineteenth century. Edward “Dee Dee†Chandler, a drummer from New Orleans, became known as the inventor of the first drum kit. Dee Dee Chandler was credited for being one of the first to truly master the bass drum pedal. The invention of the bass pedal was crucial, allowing the bass to be played with the foot, freeing up both hands to focus on the snare, toms, and cymbals. In 1929, Avedis Zildjian III, a Turkish immigrant continued manufacturing cymbals and set up its first mainstream company in America. The company has created the most popular cymbal types used today! Remo Belli and Sam Muchnick discovered their own innovation in drum heads.
CONT...
Originally, drum heads were made of calfskin, but due to weather fluctuations, they were close to impossible to keep in tune. Shortly after World World II, Beli experimented with a film-based drum head and settled on a polyester film (mylar) because of its consistent tone - making it more reliable. In 1963, Vic Firth’s drumsticks were born! By mid to late 1960s, Funk Music was big and Rock And Roll was a well established genre in America. Drums were a hit! Today, we can hear the drums in just about every single genre of music. There are so many styles of rhythms, drumming, and drum kits to chose from, allowing endless inspiration and creativity! There are many ways to celebrate drum month! You can attend a concert, visit your local music store to check out the latest gear on sale, revisit your drumming goals, or try a new practice routine on your kit! Switching up your practice can be extremely healthy and beneficial! Ask your drum coach for a different practice routine if you feel you need it! We want to see our students continue to grow and succeed here at MDM and our coaches are more than willing to help in any way they can! Neil Peart (Rush) once said, “I’m learning all the time as a human being. I’m getting better, I hope, in all of the important waysâ€. This goes to show that there is always room to grow and improve! Neil Peart also said, “If you’ve got a problem, take it out on a drumâ€. Playing the drums has a multitude of benefits! Drumming burns more calories than many forms of exercises do. It enhances happiness, lowers stress levels, and can increase your pain threshold. If you are interested in taking drum lessons, please ask the front desk at MDM for more information!
To help celebrate International Drum Month, we had the opportunity to interview one of our drum students, Joey Plantz! Joey has been a long time student of Modern Day Music and we were so excited to get the chance catch up with him and hear all about his experience with drum lessons, guitar lessons, and the Rock School 101! How did you first get started with music? In first grade, my teacher did a unit on the Beatles and I liked how it sounded. As I kept listening to them, I wanted to be like them. I asked my mom to do guitar lessons for three months and she finally said yes. I first took lessons at my local music store (before coming to MDM). When did you start taking lessons at MDM? I joined when my first guitar instructor told my parents he taught me everything he could and he thought it would be best to find a higher level of training. When did you join the MDM Rock Band? When I was nine, we looked into a couple local music schools. I liked MDM the best! How long have you been a part of the MDM Rock Band? This is my eighth band session with MDM. I’m looking forward to my next show in December.
When I go there, it’s always a surprise of what I’m working on. With guitar, my coach Gabe has helped me so much through my few years working with him. He has also helped me prepare for my shows and events I have played at. Any tips for fellow drum students? First, pay attention and practice what the coaches assign for homework or what you work on in lessons. You’ll get better over time so have patience and don’t stress. Thank you Joey for your time and insight! We are so happy to have you a part of Modern Day Music and cannot wait to see you perform at the next MDM rock show! Good luck!
When were you first introduced to the drums? When I was playing in my first band session with MDM, I met a drummer named Lucas. I loved playing with him because he was really good at drums. I also love the sound of them. Also, I’ve been known to bang on things since I was a small child. How long have you been playing the guitar and drums? I started playing guitar five years ago and I’ve been playing drums for almost a year. Is there one instrument you gravitate towards the most and why? I gravitate most towards guitar because that’s what I started with, and I’m more experienced. However, when I’m stressed or have had a long day I like to play drums to calm myself down. Are you involved in music at your school? Yes. This year I joined the school band to play percussion. I wanted the experience of playing in a larger group aside from MDM. What are a couple favorite things about your lessons? My favorite thing about drums is that my coach, Mike, keeps lessons rotating so lessons aren’t boring.
M: Which upcoming gig(s) are you most looking forward to and why? D: I have a monthly gig called “Psykick Dancehall†the first Saturday of every month at a little bar called Pint Sized in Saratoga from 8pm-12am. It’s a lot of fun DJing a mix of Soul, Reggae and even a little early Punk and Rock n roll. I think we can all assume that David is very involved in music outside of MDM, but that is not the only thing! He is also a loving husband and father and tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife and son when he is not at MDM. David’s shared that “I can say without a doubt I would not be where I am today without their love and support!†They have supported David in innumerable ways over the recent months as he took on this new role at MDM, and they were even a part of the MDM family long before that! David’s son was a member of our Little Rockers program for a number of sessions before testing out private lessons where he caught on to everything very quickly. Even back then, David and his family were thrilled to be a part of MDM, and the experience also gave David a look at what things are like from the student perspective. Now that his son is a little bit more mature at age 7, he plans to start private piano lessons in the fall! David’s son loves playing piano in his room and we can’t wait to see where he goes in his private lessons. He also takes after his dad and started his own record collection, which he spends much of his time listening to. David is so proud, and we can tell that music definitely does run in the family! We are all so excited to have David on board, are are looking forward to many great years to come. There are so many possible directions for the future of MDM, but we know that no matter what, that direction will be up!
David's Corner
NOVEMBER CALENDAR
4 - Ben Solo Gig at Katie O’Byrnes (Schenectady) 7-10pm 5 - Ben Solo Gig at Spa City Tap and Barrel (Saratoga) 6:30pm - 9:30pm 5 - PSYKICK DANCEHALL w/ Selector David Suede. Spinning VINYL ONLY sets of Reggae, Punk and 60’s Junk. Pint Sized Saratoga 8pm- 12am Free 6 - Daylight Savings Time Ends 7- Open Mic Night, Cafe Lena in Saratoga, 7pm-10:30pm 11 - Veterans Day 11 - Under The Den (Ben) at Spa City Tap and Barrel 10pm- 2am 12 - Under The Den (Ben) at Scally’s (Hudson Falls) 6pm 13 - Symphonic Metal Day 14 - Open Mic Night, Cafe Lena in Saratoga, 7pm-10:30pm 19 - Under The Den (Ben) at Great Flats Brewing (Schenectady) 21 - Open Mic Night, Cafe Lena in Saratoga, 7pm-10:30pm 24 - Thanksgiving (MDM closed) 25 - Black Friday (MDM closed) 25 - Ben Solo Gig at JJ Rafferty’s (Latham) 7pm-10pm 26 - Small Business Saturday 26 - Under The Den (Ben) at Pauly’s Hotel (Albany) 27 - On this day, Jimi Hendrix is born (1942) 28 - Open Mic Night, Cafe Lena in Saratoga, 7pm-10:30pm
Fall is here and so is a new session of Little Rockers! This group class is for those who are 3-5 years old to develop a musical foundation that will allow them to play and appreciate music for a lifetime. Keep an eye out for new dates and times! Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEW STUDENTS in OCTOBER!
Lily F Laili R Jackson K Jaxson F Pete L Michael F Domenic M Grace T Daisy B Tyler N Anthony T Adam B Noah C Lila T Evelynn T Claire J Joel W Mya M Harvey W
1673 RT9, Clifton Park, NY 12065 ~ 518-261-1920 ~ www.moderndaymusicschool.com
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