Neal's the guy - if you're interested in Fred Gruber's system or if you just want to improve your technique, do yourself a favor and watch this video as well as the other videos Neal has made - not for himself but for the public.
Thank you John your comments mean a lot to me I’m glad they were able to assist you in some small way please feel free to use them anyway you like! If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will try to answer to the best of my ability best of luck to you NEAL!
Thanks Neal! I appreciate your videos very much! Can you talk about the sticks you use for practice vs playing? Do you ever practice exercises with the sticks you play your set with? Benefits from using a heavier, bigger stick, etc. I can see where it could build strength, but also potentially injure if not using good mechanics. Looking forward to your next lessons!
Patrick Berkery : Hello Pat,.... Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I do use different, heavier sticks when practicing then I use in actual “drum set playing. Generally on drums I will use a 5’A or 7’A depending on style of music I’m playing I might even go as heavy as a 5’B ( for pop stuff). When “PRACTICING” ( on pad) I like to use a much heavier stick! I will use for example “VIC FIRTH CORPS SERIES” sticks. For example the rubber tipped “SCO JOS or the Ralph Hardemon model. I have big hands and I like to feel the weight or mass of the stick in my hands. Tho I will move to the fore mentioned Lighter stick for drum set practicing and actual playing! Don’t over do heavy stick work though limit your time with them! Your hands will “tell you” when to go to Lighter sticks! Hope this helps! Neal Sausen....
Hi again Neil. I noticed in one of the books I worked out of with Freddie back in ‘84 that he wrote down your name and phone number from the time so that you could help me get a copy of the “rock book”. And you did back then! Thanks again 38 years later!! Also I think Freddie and I visited your house back then one time. I remember a drum kit on a platform about 5 inches high in a room right near the front door. Anyway happy new year.
Oh wow I’m just now reading your comment I’m glad I was able to help you procure that rock book and that’s a hard one to track down since it wasn’t issued from a major publisher it was a homemade job I’m sure and I think it was not in print very long! I’m glad you were able to get that book and work out Of it with Freddy! I’m curious how far did you get in the book with FRED? Freddy sure turned That book into An encyclopedia didn’t He?! I love the way he applied his techniques and concepts to those simple patterns yes that might’ve been my house you visited with Freddy I don’t think my drum set was on a platform though that usually stood on just the rug and the room was the front room front bedroom facing west what is your name I’m sure I’ll remember you if I can get your name?! Anyway thanks for remembering tha! those were great Days, the early 80s studying with Freddy weren’t they?! What a fertile time of studying that was!
@Neal Sausen Hi Neal! My name is Dean Mostrom. Yes! I remember that the room with the drums had west-facing windows! You know, unfortunately I was only with Freddie for about six months all together. So I only scratched the surface of what he was trying to teach me. I don’t remember working out of the rock book. Mostly I worked out of Bass Drum Control, and the Buddy Rich book, with Freddie. Yes, that was a great time, in the early 80s. I first met Freddie at a place in Studio City called Mulberry Street, where Buddy played a trio gig with Roger Kellaway on piano. I soon after went to his house near Gelsons supermarket on Reseda Blvd. for my first lesson. It was inspiration from that point on! Thanks again Neal for everything!
@@shvetes : Hello Dean, thanks for your message yes I remember Mulberry Street it was off of Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon I think it was on Ventura Place ( The B R Gig was in the early 80s I think like around 1982 if I’m not mistaken) you know I remember that Buddy Rich gig it was UN-announced I think you had to be invited or know about it or something and no one told me about it I was so pissed when I heard about it a few days later my other friend Les De Merle was at that gig (some friend right?!) he only told me about it like five days later lol was that the one where Roger had to tell Buddy to “ dial it back” a little bit because he was too let’s just say “ A little too enthusiastic/High energy”? Lol! In fact les Did a gig at Mulberry Street with his own group a small group around the same time and he borrowed my drum set for the gig his drum set was on the road with Harry James or something and he needed a drum set for this one nighter so he borrowed my drums for the Mulberry Street gig! Those are some great times though wish I could go back there again! Yes of course the Colin Bailey book And the Buddy book two Staples of Freddie’s teaching! Tell me though, did you go through the Roy Burns/Lew Malin Finger control book with him?! That and the rhythmic patterns Book Were / Are the core books as I recall!!! yeah Mulberry Street well that brings back some Great memories Well, stay in touch Dean are you still in the San Fernando Valley I’m in Akron Ohio right now but I’d like to get back to LA sometime stay in touch take care! Neal
@Neal Sausen Yes, you’re talking about that same Mulberry Street Club on Ventura Place where I saw Buddy with Roger Kellaway and Chuck Berghofer! Wow! I saw Nick Ceroli and Freddie in the audience! Actually Neal, Freddie didn’t ask me to get the Burnes/Malin book, but he did have me get the Cusatis Rhythmic Patterns book. I remember Freddie showing me how the hands and arms are positioned over the drums when going from drum to drum. Fascinating stuff! I still have that Cusatis book in great condition! I live with my mom now in Napa Valley. It’s just us two in our apartment. But I grew up in the SFV …. graduated from Van Nuys Junior High and Van Nuys High. I’m a driving instructor now, helping teens get their drivers license 😊 Thanks for telling me about the great memories, Neal! If you ever come to Napa, let me know!
Thaks Neal. Your video about wrist bounce helps a lot (never saw the off exersise before, even in materials made by Freddies students, it`s pricceless). About Bounce 1 - Bounce 2 Exercise: why when I leave the stick to bounce lying on the middle finger after the wrist falls, do I feel the vibration from the stick with the middle finger? Sticks are promark 5b/// p.s. sorry for my english, i`m russian)
No, your English is fine! No you are correct you SHOULD Feel the stick vibrate over the middle finger as it’s bouncing on the pad or drum that means you’re doing it correctly!
The fact that you can feel the vibrations of the stick of your middle finger means your hand is open and the stick is free to vibrate in your hand and you WANT The Stick to vibrate you want to feel stick vibrating across the “cradle” of the fingers
Yes! I did go through the four way coordination book The Dahlgren/ Fine book with Freddie Much later in my studies with him excellent book! We went through that book after we did the Jim Chapin Book and the Nick Ceroli book! In the four-way book FRED would teach jazz out of that book he would teach Latin out of that book he would show me how to utilize that book to do 12/8 Afro Cubano rhythms, very versatile book. I highly recommend that book for any serious student of the drum set!
New subscriber from Japan
Neal's the guy - if you're interested in Fred Gruber's system or if you just want to improve your technique, do yourself a favor and watch this video as well as the other videos Neal has made - not for himself but for the public.
you changed my world of drumming love you man. Wish I could have met Freddy. You give the perfect translation of the system. Also love RUFF TO ROLL
Thank you John your comments mean a lot to me I’m glad they were able to assist you in some small way please feel free to use them anyway you like! If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will try to answer to the best of my ability best of luck to you NEAL!
Neil, you are a treasure for us aspiring expert-drummers. Thank you so much for all you give us.
Shvetes: Thank you for your kind words you’re more than welcome I hope this and the other drumming videos on CZcams help you in your quest!
always a treat to see you post new videos, very informational and inspiring, keep em up!
Thank you I will and good luck to you and your drumming endeavors!
Proper title for this exercise should be:
“ BOUNCE 1 / BOUNCE 1 2”!
Thanks!!
You got it! 🤞
Thanks Neal! I appreciate your videos very much! Can you talk about the sticks you use for practice vs playing? Do you ever practice exercises with the sticks you play your set with? Benefits from using a heavier, bigger stick, etc. I can see where it could build strength, but also potentially injure if not using good mechanics. Looking forward to your next lessons!
Patrick Berkery : Hello Pat,....
Thank you for your kind words.
Yes, I do use different, heavier sticks when practicing then I use in actual “drum set playing. Generally on drums I will use a 5’A or 7’A depending on style of music I’m playing I might even go as heavy as a 5’B ( for pop stuff). When “PRACTICING” ( on pad) I like to use a much heavier stick! I will use for example
“VIC FIRTH CORPS SERIES” sticks.
For example the rubber tipped “SCO JOS or the Ralph Hardemon model.
I have big hands and I like to feel the weight or mass of the stick in my hands. Tho I will move to the fore mentioned Lighter stick for drum set practicing and actual playing!
Don’t over do heavy stick work though limit your time with them!
Your hands will “tell you” when to go to Lighter sticks!
Hope this helps!
Neal Sausen....
I'm looking forward to when You address the feet. GOOD MATERIAL !!!!
thanks!
Anytime Vince glad you enjoy it! And I so surely hope it helps in some small way at least!
Hi again Neil. I noticed in one of the books I worked out of with Freddie back in ‘84 that he wrote down your name and phone number from the time so that you could help me get a copy of the “rock book”. And you did back then! Thanks again 38 years later!! Also I think Freddie and I visited your house back then one time. I remember a drum kit on a platform about 5 inches high in a room right near the front door. Anyway happy new year.
Oh wow I’m just now reading your comment I’m glad I was able to help you procure that rock book and that’s a hard one to track down since it wasn’t issued from a major publisher it was a homemade job I’m sure and I think it was not in print very long! I’m glad you were able to get that book and work out Of it with Freddy! I’m curious how far did you get in the book with FRED? Freddy sure turned That book into An encyclopedia didn’t He?!
I love the way he applied his techniques and concepts to those simple patterns yes that might’ve been my house you visited with Freddy I don’t think my drum set was on a platform though that usually stood on just the rug and the room was the front room front bedroom facing west what is your name I’m sure I’ll remember you if I can get your name?! Anyway thanks for remembering tha! those were great Days, the early 80s studying with Freddy weren’t they?! What a fertile time of studying that was!
@Neal Sausen
Hi Neal! My name is Dean Mostrom. Yes! I remember that the room with the drums had west-facing windows! You know, unfortunately I was only with Freddie for about six months all together. So I only scratched the surface of what he was trying to teach me. I don’t remember working out of the rock book. Mostly I worked out of Bass Drum Control, and the Buddy Rich book, with Freddie.
Yes, that was a great time, in the early 80s. I first met Freddie at a place in Studio City called Mulberry Street, where Buddy played a trio gig with Roger Kellaway on piano. I soon after went to his house near Gelsons supermarket on Reseda Blvd. for my first lesson. It was inspiration from that point on! Thanks again Neal for everything!
@@shvetes : Hello Dean, thanks for your message yes I remember Mulberry Street it was off of Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Canyon I think it was on Ventura Place ( The B R Gig was in the early 80s I think like around 1982 if I’m not mistaken) you know I remember that Buddy Rich gig it was UN-announced I think you had to be invited or know about it or something and no one told me about it I was so pissed when I heard about it a few days later my other friend Les De Merle was at that gig
(some friend right?!) he only told me about it like five days later lol was that the one where Roger had to tell Buddy to “ dial it back” a little bit because he was too let’s just say “ A little too enthusiastic/High energy”? Lol!
In fact les Did a gig at Mulberry Street with his own group a small group around the same time and he borrowed my drum set for the gig his drum set was on the road with Harry James or something and he needed a drum set for this one nighter so he borrowed my drums for the Mulberry Street gig! Those are some great times though wish I could go back there again! Yes of course the Colin Bailey book And the Buddy book two Staples of Freddie’s teaching! Tell me though, did you go through the Roy Burns/Lew Malin Finger control book with him?! That and the rhythmic patterns Book Were / Are
the core books as I recall!!! yeah Mulberry Street well that brings back some Great memories Well, stay in touch Dean are you still in the San Fernando Valley I’m in Akron Ohio right now but I’d like to get back to LA sometime stay in touch take care! Neal
@Neal Sausen
Yes, you’re talking about that same Mulberry Street Club on Ventura Place where I saw Buddy with Roger Kellaway and Chuck Berghofer! Wow! I saw Nick Ceroli and Freddie in the audience!
Actually Neal, Freddie didn’t ask me to get the Burnes/Malin book, but he did have me get the Cusatis Rhythmic Patterns book. I remember Freddie showing me how the hands and arms are positioned over the drums when going from drum to drum. Fascinating stuff! I still have that Cusatis book in great condition!
I live with my mom now in Napa Valley. It’s just us two in our apartment. But I grew up in the SFV …. graduated from Van Nuys Junior High and Van Nuys High.
I’m a driving instructor now, helping teens get their drivers license 😊
Thanks for telling me about the great memories, Neal! If you ever come to Napa, let me know!
Thaks Neal. Your video about wrist bounce helps a lot (never saw the off exersise before, even in materials made by Freddies students, it`s pricceless).
About Bounce 1 - Bounce 2 Exercise: why when I leave the stick to bounce lying on the middle finger after the wrist falls, do I feel the vibration from the stick with the middle finger? Sticks are promark 5b/// p.s. sorry for my english, i`m russian)
No, your English is fine! No you are correct you SHOULD Feel the stick vibrate over the middle finger as it’s bouncing on the pad or drum that means you’re doing it correctly!
The fact that you can feel the vibrations of the stick of your middle finger means your hand is open and the stick is free to vibrate in your hand and you WANT The Stick to vibrate you want to feel stick vibrating across the “cradle” of the fingers
Also I wanted to ask you, did Freddie ever work out of the book 4-Way Coordination by Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot Fine (1963) ? Thanks
Yes! I did go through the four way coordination book The Dahlgren/ Fine book with Freddie Much later in my studies with him excellent book! We went through that book after we did the Jim Chapin Book and the Nick Ceroli book!
In the four-way book FRED would teach jazz out of that book he would teach Latin out of that book he would show me how to utilize that book to do 12/8 Afro Cubano rhythms, very versatile book. I highly recommend that book for any serious student of the drum set!
Wow!!! Thank you!!!
@@shvetes ; You’re so welcome!