PERCUSSION
TIME , SPACE , AND THE CLICK : PART 1 | Mark Shelton
Are you able to sustain a steady tempo perfectly for three minutes without the aid of an external source ?
Can you align your playing perfectly with a metronomic click for an entire song ?
Few can answer those two questions affirmatively due to the inclusion of the word , perfectly .
We are humans , not machines - yet percussionists and drum set players are often expected to play with a very high level of timekeeping and click accuracy . You might feel that you must perform with stricter adherence to tempo , rhythmic subdivision , and click alignment than other instrumentalists . It might not seem fair , but that ' s the gig .
Since most percussion instruments have a very quick attack , our exposure to error is very high . The beginning of a note speaks suddenly when a drum is struck . That clarity of attack is why other musicians often depend on the percussionists to define tempo and provide helpful subdivisions . It is also why we are blamed for rushing or dragging . Our precise attack quality also makes it easier to discern whether or not we are within an acceptable relationship to the click .
As I have sought to improve in time-related areas , I have employed various methods and exercises . Throughout two articles , I will share information and tips that will assist you in improving these crucial aspects of playing percussion .
DEFINING THE TERMS The click is the mechanically or electronically generated sound that can provide an audible reference of a tempo and subdivisions . The ability to perform with a click has become a common requirement in many musical settings including worship services , recording sessions , video shoots , and concerts .
The space between subdivisions of a beat is an important factor in maintaining and altering tempo . Inconsistent space is a major factor leading to rushing or dragging .
Time is a broad term that encompasses maintaining correct tempo and proper subdivision spacing along with rhythmic coordination with the other musicians in an ensemble .
GEAR UP Although it is certainly convenient to have a metronome app on your smartphone , I recommend that you also invest in a standalone metronome that can provide helpful features such as :
• Ability to produce sound on a variety of subdivisions
• Overall volume control along with volume control of subdivisions
• Time-training feature
• Variety of click sounds
• Play-along drum set patterns
• Ability to store tempo settings
For serious click practice , I recommend a playing surface that will produce a quick attack with very little sustain . This will allow you to clearly hear the accuracy of the attack as compared to the click and the short sustain will be less likely to obscure the sound of the subsequent click . Examples include woodblock , muffled cowbell , hard surface practice pad , and temple block . The Timbre Jam by One Beat Better is a favorite of mine for dedicated click and time practice .
Recording with Digital Audio Workstation ( DAW ) software that produces a visual display of waveforms on a grid can deliver a jolt of reality . You may think that you are burying the click with your drumming , but the image on the grid lines could tell a different story . The graphic will provide accurate feedback on whether your playing is ahead or behind the click - or dead on . Recording onto a grid will also reveal subtle discrepancies in rhythmic subdivisions that can be difficult to critique while you are playing .
A DEDICATED CHUNK Reserve a portion of your practice time to concentrated work in the areas of click accuracy and developing a sense of time . Use familiar musical material so that you can aim your attention toward tempo-related issues rather than a grappling with technically challenging material . Since it is advisable to begin a warmup session with slow , uncomplicated exercises , it is a regular practice of mine to set a slow tempo on the metronome and play my early warmup motions with a focus on click alignment and timekeeping .
Now that enough fundamentals have been explained , the next article will present several exercises that will help you develop your timekeeping and click skill set .
© 2021 Mark Shelton Productions / Percussion For Worship
Mark Shelton Mark Shelton is a freelance musician and educational consultant based in Dallas / Fort Worth . Performance credits include North Carolina Symphony , Tin Roof Tango , Daystar Singers & Band , Gateway Worship , Wichita Falls Orchestra , Strata Big Band , TALEA , and Dallas Wind Symphony . www . marksheltonmusic . com percussionforworship . blogspot . com