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No1Reviews.com >> Teach Yourself Drums >> John Blackwell (DVD) Review |
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John Blackwell: Technique, Grooving and Showmanship (DVD) Review
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Editor's Verdict: John Blackwell: Technique, Grooving and Showmanship provides four hours of unique and interesting material for drummers of nearly any skill level. The video itself makes good viewing, and John is clearly a hugely talented, versatile and experienced musician. However, the teaching style does not match that of some of our top rated products in this category, and the DVD is considerably less comprehensive, given its size, than you might expect. And whilst there are lessons here for everybody, drummers with little previous experience may find themselves overwhelmed by the speed and depth of some of the program. John Blackwell is a fantastic role model for any aspiring drummer. His level of skill is up there with the greats and this comes across on the DVD. He also comes across as a friendly teacher; perhaps not an essential characteristic of a DVD coach, but it still helps to brighten up what could otherwise be a long four hours! However, as with many similar drumming DVDs, the teaching standard does not quite match the standard of the musician, and this is perhaps to be expected. The two skills do not always go together, and some DVDs are produced on the basis of a famous and highly skilled drummer, rather than an accomplished and experienced teacher. One example of this in practice is John's playing speed. As a professional musician, he can of course play at high speeds and maintain his accuracy. However, for learners it is essential to have beats broken down and played at a much slower tempo, often repeatedly. This is not done here, and if you are stuck on a rhythm, you will need to replay it and slow it down yourself. Despite this fairly major flaw in the program, there is certainly a lot to get excited about. John discusses his influences at length, and puts drumming techniques and styles in their musical and historical context. This seamless connecting of practice and history is something that few DVDs do so well. The level of focus on showmanship also makes this course stand out from some of the competition. Although a lot of the material may go straight over the heads of a novice musician, the charisma and flair of John's playing is likely to rub off. If you are after a detailed look at the high end of drumming performance, which links showmanship, musical history and highly skilled performance, John Blackwell: Technique, Grooving and Showmanship is definitely worth taking a look at. If you are after a more general program, or one more specifically targeted at beginners, check out a product from our Top 10. Click on the button below to check out John Blackwell: Technique, Grooving and Showmanship for yourself...
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Top 10 Teach Yourself Drums Guides
Review of John
Blackwell: Technique, Grooving and Showmanship
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