Michael Dubin Academy of Rhythm Training


Curriculum

MD-ART is rooted in the Freddie Gruber Concepts or (FGC) approach to the drums. As well as the feeling and mojo of the greatest drum shop of all time Franks Drum Shop in Chicago. And lastly the approach to teaching that I have learned by being a student at the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto. 

This is a course that will take a certain amount of dedication and patience to attain MD-ART status. The student must be diligent and be willing to take the necessary steps to attain the goals at hand. This is not a fast track but a long term approach to building a solid foundation which to build upon. Anyone can do a paradiddle but it's how you do the paradiddle that is important. The motion and the body mechanics are what's import here. And lastly the sound.  Bruce Lee said, "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. Guro Dan says, "the fun is in the research." 

A white belt mentality is going to be needed on your quest. So, forget what you already know and use your beginners mind to look at the drums from a completely new point of view. Eventually you will find that your new eyes will meet up with your old eyes and you will begin to see and feel a completely new and improved drummer emerging from deep with in your soul.
*This program has been organized per the suggestion of Andy Summers 
(Drum Student and Supreme Grand Master Musician of The Police)

Phase 1 

  1. Set Up
  2. Match Grip Embouchure 
  3. French Grip vs. Match
  4. Bounce One's
  5. Bounce Two's
  6. Pick Up's
  7. Down Up's
  8. Striking
  9. Traditional Grip
  • Fingers
  • Fulcrum Wrist Bounce
  • Thumb
  • Loop
  • Balance points
  • Seating the Grip
  • The Arcs

Phase 2

  1. Bass Drum Heel Down
  2. Bass Drum Heel Up
  3. Bass Drum Flat Footed
  4. Bass Drum Roll Up
  5. Bass Drum Roll Down
  6. Bass Drum Star System Loops
  7. Constant Release
  8. Hi Hat Rocking
  9. Hi Hat Heel Up On Toe
  10. Hi Hat Star System Loops
  • As applied to Colin Baily's Bass Drum Control book (which is really bass drum pedal control using FGC concepts)

PHASE 3

  1. Modified Moeller
  2. Releases
  3. Star System and Loops
  4. System Match Grip
  5. System Traditional Grip
  6. Contrary Motion (one handed roll)
  7. Fulcrum Wrist Bounce with Rebound ON
  8. Fulcrum Wrist Bounce with Rebound OFF
  9. Finger Control with turnover

PHASE 4

  1. Up Tap Down
  2. Down Tap Up
  3. Ruffs 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 with hand motion
  4. Rolls 5, 7, 9, 13 with hand motion
  5. Paradiddle Flow Chart
  6. A Real Open Roll
  7. Single Stroke Roll
  8. Flams

Phase 5

  1. The Ride Cymbal
  2. Rhythms
  3. Poly-Rhythms
  4. Four Way Coordination
  5. Movement
  6. Time
  7. Space
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