Drums...!

Whilst looking for inspiration for a current Paradox project I noticed that our mentor Mike A Prestwood has "drums" listed as an interest.
I assume he doesn't mean the 45 gallon variety so can I tempt him into cyber print by saying that even in the UK we are not that out on a limb as amongst others I own a Radio King snare, I am intrigued - tell me more Mr Prestwood !

I hope you won't be sorry for asking, but here goes...

Well, I consider myself a life-long drummer. This last summer I finished building a near sound proof music studio in my garage. Unfortunately I don't have time to play all the time, but I hope in the next few years to put another band together and start teaching again.

I played in marching band in high school, I joined the San Jose Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps. I taught the intermediate and advanced percussion classes at Ohlone Jr. College for 6 semesters and I tought privately for 12 years. I played with the Ohlone Jazz Band at the Berkely festival (that's my best performance memmory). I've been in a couple of bands, but they were more like garage bands (pop, rock, jazz, and blues). Nothing big. I had to make better money so I switched over to computers, but still maintain a great interest in drums. I have a three volumn method book titled Sight Reading Complete. It's 120 pages and 90% done. Of course it's been 90% done for 10 years!

Here are the specs for my music studio:

• 10' x 11' room (pretty small, but big enough for 3 or 4 to play)
  
  
• acoustic foam on the ceiling and one wall
  
  
• shag rug on a suspended floor
  
  
• one window with two panes of glass (1/2" and 3/8" thick each and separated by 4")
  
  
• Tascam 4 track recorder
  
  
• Pro-mics (a bunch - Shure and others)
  
  

The specs for my drums are as follows:

• Single bass with a double bass pedal
  
  
• 6 toms, Fiberskyn III heads
  
  
• 2 rides (ping ride and a flat dry ride)
  
  
• 5 crash cymbals
  
  
• 3.5" picalo snare
  
  

I have lots of extra percussion including a couple of snares, a marching snare, etc. I do plan to start teaching again if time allows in a few years.

Jazz in the UK? Just kidding. Music and computers both deal heavily with numbers and it is very common for programmers to play an instrument.

And reply in detail you did!! I'd better give you a shorter reply, sorry for the delay in rteplying... maybe I'm a couple of days older in that I've had 30 years as a (mainly) jazz/big band drummer with all sorts, styles and sizes of band. Sadly where I live now there is very little jazz and those who are in the band(s) are determined to keep it that way in case they loose their chair - if you know what I mean! So, the old Gretsch kit sits in the corner and it's back to the resonator guitar and the delta blues again. Maybe if I visit the states I can have a knock in your garage instead!



[This message has been edited by Mike Prestwood (edited December 29, 2000).]

Well you'll have to keep practising if you want to play in our garage! What key's it in or does that depend on the paper thickness....

There's no answer to this is there! Shall we quit while we're still ahead?
rt

I can play the kazoo without a kazoo How's that for skill? LOL

No paper even.. it's almost like a whistle, except you put your top front teeth just touching your lower lip and hum..

it's fun to annoy people like this in elevators, cars, etc.. as you can sometimes do it without them even noticing it's you if you pretend to bite your teeth.

Hey, i just kazooed(?) a metallica song!