2019 has been a tremendous year. Two fantastic student recitals, a livestream series (grooveLIVE), many, many lessons taught, and our students showed a lot of growth.
Much more programming will unfold in this upcoming year - right now there are about thirty six (36!!) events planned for 2020. The next phrase for grooveKSQ is to elevate the musical arts landscape in Kennett and beyond.
A recent article caught our attention, and that was a clinical study of the enhancements in brain activity and development of drummers. Yes, drummers specifically were studied, rather than all musicians. Typically you see a more generalized study group from across all instruments.
To paraphrase the conclusion of the study, students who are trained drummers from an early age develop more communication structures across the corpus callosum, which is the structure that separates the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The right side of your brain tends to control your artistic and creative ability, and your left side of your brain controls your analytical ability. Drummers who start training early can more effectively simultaneously engage both their right side and left sides of their brains across the board.
This afternoon I had one of the Charley Wilcoxon books out to work through some finger control exercises with a student. This stuff can be really fun to work through, especially if you can work them at low volumes! Control is the key as always....
Nothing fancy: a measure of single 16th notes followed by a measure of single 32nd notes. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
For information about lessons at grooveKSQ, email me!
There is an overabundance of choice out there when it comes to new music. That makes things tough when you are trying to find music of substance, that rewards each subsequent listen. We started the grooveKSQ Spotify playlist to highlight some historic performances that every percussionist should know about, and hopefully you discover something brand new to you that you love….
