PERCUSSION
TIME , SPACE , AND THE CLICK : PART 3 | Mark Shelton
Lay back . You ’ re dragging the tempo . Do you need more click ? Stop rushing . Try to pocket it .
Have you heard any of those lines come your way in a rehearsal ? Yeah , so have I . As a percussionist , I would sooner have my clothes mocked in public than to be accused of a tempo violation in the presence of my colleagues . To further assist you in developing your timerelated skills ( and minimize those time-related remarks ), I will close this series with a few more tips along with some encouraging words .
Practice your time-keeping and click accuracy with shaking and scraping techniques as well as stick and hand striking methods . Generally speaking , I assert that the attacks of scraped and shaken instruments open less rapidly than those of struck percussion . Therefore , the scraped and shaken instruments are a bit more forgiving than their struck cousins .
Although it is generally referred to as the click , the sound being produced by an electronic metronome can come in a variety of tones . Along with the standard click , your device might also deliver a range of sounds such as wood block , cowbell , and beeps . I find that some sounds are easier to hear and coordinate with than others . My preference is a traditional click with a sharp attack that can cut through a dense mix of guitars , keys , and vocals . However , you do not always get your choice at a rehearsal or recording session . For that reason alone , I recommend that you practice with a variety of click sounds .
During a conversation , an award-winning drummer / producer revealed that he was aware of certain points in song structure where he was prone to time-related challenges . Similar to the way a wind player learns to adjust when certain fingerings tend sharp or flat , understanding your tempo tendencies can help you guard against fluctuations . Maintain an awareness of your danger zones . Are you prone to rushing or do you seem to drag the tempo ? Do you push ahead during a crescendo ? Are you prone to relax the tempo as the groove shifts to a halftime feel ?
When you are tasked with time-keeping for a group , take charge ! Do not telegraph weakness or insecurity . Play with confidence .
Tweaking your monitor mix can help eliminate time-related problems . Experiment with the volume level of the click . Decide which of the other instruments in the band are key elements for helping you play well in time and make sure those are turned up in your mix .
While enjoying a presentation by a percussionist from a well-known band , I noticed the clinician was moving both feet in tempo as he playedsimilar to marking time in marching band . If subtle movements such as quietly tapping your heel or moving your toe inside your shoe help you with time-keeping , USE it .
Slow tempos seem to be more challenging for both click accuracy and holding steady time . As the tempo slows , the time between beats increases and accordingly the space between all subdivisions . The larger spacing allows more room for error . For this reason , I suggest that you devote a significant chunk of your timerelated practice to BPM settings in the 68 to 85 range .
Visualization might help . Try using mental images such as a light blinking along with the sound of the click or a metronome pendulum swinging at the desired tempo .
Remember that the overall goal is making music - not accumulating click accuracy points or a time-keeping trophy . It is possible to be RIGHT with the click but WRONG with the music . Do not allow yourself to focus on the click or the time at the expense of your proper interaction with the other musicians .
Some people seem to have been born with a strong internal clock . Many of us discover that we need to work on our clocks . If you have time-related challenges , you WILL improve with genuine focused practice .
You will not be perfect . You are human . Remember that it is our humanity ( including our imperfections ) that gives the human quality to music .
© 2021 Mark Shelton Productions / Percussion For Worship
Mark Shelton Mark Shelton is a freelance musician , content creator , 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