Tips for Practicing and Performing The All American Drummer by Charles Wilcoxon

I have received lots of questions since I started posting these a few weeks ago. This should help answer a few In this video I talk about how I arrive at my tempos when playing the solos as well as roll interpretation, drags, flams and stickings. I use solos 147 and 148 for demonstration material. This well known book was published in 1945 and it has been standard study material for serious percussionists since that time. Many of you have asked me how this book compares to the Modern Rudimental Swing Solos Book which I have already recorded here on YouTube (look for the playlist). The short answer is that some of these are easier and shorter (the first 50 or so) and they were written to teach fundamental rudimental drumming while the Swing Solos book was Wilcoxon's statement on modern (at the time) snare drum solo composition. There are many similarities between the two books in the application of the rudiments, rhythms and stickings, especially in the later solos. This book is written in the rudimental style so all rolls, flam, and drags should be played open. The stickings should be closely adhered to since they are a big part of the sound of each solo. There are no tempos indicated but generally the solos in 2/4 and 3/4 should be played anywhere from quarter note =90 to 126. The 6/8 solos have a wider tempo margin and they can be anywhere from dotted quarter = 70 to 144. I notate the tempo of each solo before you hear it. You can play some of these with a slight swing feel but I will be performing most of them with a straight pulse. I will be recording all of these 150 solos over the next few months usually posting 4 at a time as I am doing here. Eventually we will get to the one-pagers starting with solo 121 and I will post those one at a time. I am using a 5.5”x 14” Pearl Philharmonic Special Edition 20-ply snare drum with a Remo hazy diplomat head. The sticks are 70 gram leopard wood which I make myself. If you are interested in getting a pair of these contact me at [email protected]