Clinics and Workshops
I’ve given them around the US at drum stores and Universities.I offer a variety of clinics and workshops. These range from drum clinics and workshops on Anatomy of Drumming content to lectures on Groove Science content.
I also do camps and classes for kids on drums, the science of music (where kids learn simple melodies on many instruments) and groove science.
If you are interested in bringing me out or to coming out to an event, just use the contact form on the bottom right or email johnlambdrums at gmail dot com.
Anatomy of Drumming
What: This unit focuses on how the body is constructed and how that applies to drumming. The basic anatomy of posture, foot technique and hand technique is covered in a hands-on and experiential way.
Why: Drummers are athletes. They have to move to play. Properly understanding why technique is the way it is both helps drummers to learn proper technique and to assimilate it faster. Over time this prevents injury and improves facility both at the drums and away from them.
How Long: Varies. An hour is enough time for a fly-over. Posture itself could take an hour, as could foot technique and hand technique. Or they could take 2 hours each.
Ages: 8-14, 15+ Younger participants generally don’t have the attention span for a longer lecture and a hands-on, behind-the-drum-set approach is best.
Introduction to Percussion
What: This unit is a hands on demonstration of percussion instruments from around the world. These include the drum set, cajon, shakers, rattles, djembes, SE Asia metallophones, Tibetan singing bowls and more. Students get to try out the instruments. Depending on the age of the participants, we may talk about the history, geography and cultural implications of the instruments.
Why: This unit is designed to foster a love of music. By demonstrating and using instruments, students get inspired to make music of their own. It also gives the participant more information about how instruments produce sound and about how music is used around the world.
How Long: One hour. I can scale it to fit the time. Shorter versions simply fave fewer instruments. Longer versions may include drum set lessons and playing recordings of music that uses the instruments.
Who: 5-7, 8-11, 12-15, 16+ While all ages enjoy this unit, the content scales according to the age of participants. As the participants age, additional science, history and culture get added in.
Understanding Rhythm
What: A lecture on how rhythm works in the brain, based on the book A Matter of Time: The Science of Rhythm and the Groove. Topics include past models of rhythm, the sceince of how the brain is affected by music, resonance, entrainment, harmony and how all of these apply to music making, understanding music and music therapy.
Why: People do what they think will work. When people understand the fundamentals of the physics behind how sound works, then their technique improves automatically. This workshop also fosters good learning technique because is reinforces the idea that when understand the way things work, you get better results. Therefore when you approach practice time as figuring out time, you improve faster. Thirdly, it demystifies science and shows how it applies directly to day-to-day experience.
How Long: 30 mins-2 hours. Shorter versions (best for younger groups) cover the fundamentals of rhythm in music. Longer versions include more history, background and examples, and a Q&A.
Ages: 6-9, 10-14, 15+, and a version for adult music professionals/serious students.
Anatomy for All instrumentalists
What: This unit focuses on how the body is constructed and how that applies to music-making, in general. The basic anatomy of posture, breathing, and techniques for piano, guitar, bass, singing and more. Since our bodies are mostly the same, the basic anatomy applies to all instrumentalists.
Why: All musicians are athletes. They have to move to play. Properly understanding why technique is the way it is both helps musicians to learn proper technique and to assimilate it faster. Over time this prevents injury and improves facility both at their instrument and away from it.
How Long: Varies. An hour is enough time for a fly-over. Posture itself could take an hour, and this material is quite suitable for a 8-10 week course.
Ages: 8-14, 15+ Younger participants generally don’t have the attention span for a longer lecture and a hands-on, behind-the-drum-set approach is best.
Physics of Sound
What: A workshop/lecture for kids or adults on the physics of sound, as experienced through musical instruments. Topics covered are what sound is, what pitch and volume is and F=MA. Strings, metallophones and drums are used to explain the core concepts in an experiential way where participants can touch, feel hear and see how the instruments produce sound.
Why: People do what they think will work. When people understand the fundamentals of the physics behind how sound works, then their technique improves automatically. This workshop also fosters good learning technique because is reinforces the idea that when understand the way things work, you get better results. Therefore when you approach practice time as figuring out time, you improve faster. Thirdly, it demystifies science and shows how it applies directly to day-to-day experience.
How Long: 30 mins-1 hour.
What Ages: 5-7, 8-12, 13-15, 16+