The new breed practice routine

[doubledrums]

Wow, your patience and discipline is commendable! Great job! I never worked through the New Breed book (just an exercise here or there) but have the utmost respect for those that do.

You may or may not get a substantive reply to your wonderful post. This forum isn't as popular as it used to be. But I wanted to acknowledge your efforts and for sharing your experience with us here in Drum Chat.
Thank you!

Thanks for the encouragement! I wasn’t sure what to expect before posting my comment and it’s totally fine if there aren’t any more responses… just thought I’d put it up anyway for anyone who might Google The New Breed for more information on it. If I can get through the book, anyone can too! I’ve seen way too many comments from people who never finished the book or even got through the first 39 Systems. Generally the book isn’t that difficult, every single rhythm you’re reading is based on a 1 bar 1/16th note grid. There aren’t any tuplets (3, 5,6,7, etc), even a beginner who’s learnt how to read 1/16th subdivisions can play through the entire book.

What makes this book “difficult” is actually all of the patience it demands from you. As you’re reading and playing, you have to sing what each of your 4 limbs are doing as well as a straight quarter note (or whichever click pulse you’re using). The vast majority of drummers never count while practicing, and here you have the author instructing you to do it 5 times per Reading page! Most people just don’t have the patience for that and they just leave the book to collect dust on a shelf.

[drummer]

Most people just don’t have the patience for that and they just leave the book to collect dust on a shelf.

I'm willing to bet that's probably about 95% of the drummers out there, lol.

[rickthedrummer]

Gary Chester played on a lot of popular songs including some of my favorites. I couldn't place the name mainly because back in the day if any 1 or group was mentioned, it was Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew.

Now on to the New Breed instruction course. I wonder how many drummers actually completed the whole thing. I would guess not too many if any at all. Bomp ba Bomp Bomp etc.etc., sounds like a background for a Coasters or Drifters song.

It looks like Stone's book with more dialogue.

[ionbenz]

Hey doubledrummer!

So I started The New Breed a few months ago and have been slowly working my way through it. A few weeks ago, I was searching online for something (don't remember what, exactly) related to the book, when I came across this decade-old thread and it actually had brand new responses!

I figured this might just be a weird enough coincidence that I shouldn't pass it up, so I thought I would reach out and say hi and ask if you have any advice on left-foot hi-hat technique?

I just reached System 10 (the one where it's just steady eighths on the left foot) and I'm unsure how to "best" approach it.

How should I be playing those hi-hat chicks at this tempo (60 bpm)? I've been pretty heel-down until this point, but I feel like I don't know if I should be trying to go with some sort of heel-up/modified reeeaaally slow bounce, or if I should be sticking with the heel down, even though (or even because) that makes it less "chicky" and more splashy.

Should I really be trying to lock in on technique and getting perfectly clean (heel-up?) hi-hat technique at this tempo, or should I just be focused on keeping a steady pulse with the left foot in the spirit of what the book is trying to teach, and worry less about the technique-/muscle-building aspect of getting "100% clean" hi-hat 8th chicks for now?

I feel like this System is a gut-check for later Systems that will have the left foot playing melody on the hi-hat. Any thoughts? Heel up vs heel down? A hybrid? Am I overthinking it? (Yes)

Thanks in advance!!

[ionbenz]

Just a bit of a follow-up, for anyone who may find this useful in the future:

It ended up being heel-up/controlled bounce. At a deeper level, it's been about finding the right throne height and posture to (semi) comfortably work the pedals, either heel up or down, as the situation dictates.

Especially doing Systems 10/11 with the last few reading pages (IV-A/B, V-A/B), I found myself playing heel-up with my hi-hat foot for a consistent "chick", and shifting between heel down and up on the bass drum, depending on melodic "density" (basically the more straight sixteenths in a row, the more likely I'm going to be heel-up )

After that, it's just been a bit of a grind until my core muscles and posture have found a new equilibrium. It feels like everything has been smoothly developing from that initial level of "(semi-)" comfortable (no pain, but a bit of awkwardness and some soreness in the hip flexors as my body has adapted) to actually pretty sustainable. I've found it's gotten easier (or perhaps more effortless) every day.

At any rate, a little less than 2 weeks later and I started System 12 today! Not too bad of a grind at all! Tiny bit of a relief to get back to a System with hi-hat quarter notes, but I feel like there is still a TON of value to pull out of repping System 10 and 11 variations regularly to really lock in on grooving over that steady eighth note pulse with the hi-hat foot.

Anyway... the moral of the story is keep practicing. And have fun!