In an extremely rare circumstance, I actually have money left over from our percussion ensemble concert! (We bring in a guest artist, hire an audio technician, etc...).

I've always wanted to keep a few percussion videos on hand but never had the cash. Any recommendations on what would be good for my students? (Grades 6-12)

It doesn't matter if they're over drumset or concert or marching. Just looking for great quality stuff. Even if it's not educational per se, an inspiring video of a stellar performance would be great, too.

Thanks in advance!

(I already have Kennan Wylie's video and love it!)

[url=http://www.hudsonmusic.com/hudson/products/the-language-of-drumming-2/]Benny Greb - The Language of Drumming.[/url]

His approach is very logical and the DVD features some amazing performances. Plus, it's absolutely [i]hilarious[/i]. Not only is he one of the most creative and musical drummers around, his sense of humor is wonderful. Just watch the DVD menu, and you'll start getting the picture. Plus, I'm not sure you'll find many drumming videos shot in the woods with Bavarian singers announcing the next rudiment. It's brilliant. :)

Wow, Jim - that looks like a pretty awesome DVD!  Might have to scoop that one up.

Any of the Modern Dummer Festival DVDs would be great to just have cool stuff around, though it's obviously mostly drumset.

Wow, that Benny Greb videos looks amazing! Definitely putting that at the top of the list.

Also, thought I might pick this up: [url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/arts/television/18itzk.html]http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/arts/television/18itzk.html[/url]

Just more for comic relief...

Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater has a two dvd set that includes in studio playing of album material. He demos a lot of his  beats at a slower tempo then progresses faster, then goes on to play the song.The audio quality us excellent. Also he features some of his tribute bands with kits that are replicated for those bands(The Who,Rush,Led Zep and The Beatles).

Nice MAX -- will have to definitely check that out.

Also considering using the cash to buy Mike McIntosh's In the Mix video. Heard it's way hip and super-informative.

[quote author=erath link=topic=3587.msg18876#msg18876 date=1270135585]
Nice MAX -- will have to definitely check that out.

Also considering using the cash to buy Mike McIntosh's In the Mix video. Heard it's way hip and super-informative.
[/quote]

I have the In the Mix vid...all I can say is GET IT!!!  To me, it is just as valuable a tool as Jim's book Up Front.  Again, all I can say is for you to GET THE VID man!  VERY GOOD STUFF!!

To me, and to most people, I would assume, the standard videos lose their appeal, because you sort of build a tolerance to seeing Dave Weckl and Steve Smith play. Not because they're any less than awesome drummers, but because you just see them so much.

With that said, if I were working in a teaching capacity, (I'd rather saw off my eyelids), I'd use the ";If it's not broke, don't fix it,"; line of reasoning and get my students familiar with books like Tommy Igoe's [i]Groove Essentials[/i], Steve Smith's [i]History of the American Drum[/i] and Dave Weckl's [i]Back to Basics[/i] and [i]The Next Step[/i]. Again, they're probably not as stimulating as [i]Virgil Portnoy's Guide to Experimental 6-Limb Time Signature Hemiodulational Gospel Speed Metal Stick Twirling[/i], but for the drummer who wants to learn the things that he or she's REALLY going to need to know in the REAL professional musician's environment, stuff like Tommy Igoe's book is just perfect.

Then again, I have negative 6,000 karma, so what could I possibly know?

lol...

I have to agree with Jim. The Benny Greb video is amazing. It inspired the heck out me even. Good stuff there.

-Chad

[quote author=Marsha N. Mambo link=topic=3587.msg18977#msg18977 date=1271278590]With that said, if I were working in a teaching capacity, (I'd rather saw off my eyelids), I'd use the ";If it's not broke, don't fix it,"; line of reasoning and get my students familiar with books like Tommy Igoe's [i]Groove Essentials[/i]...[/quote]

This was a dumb idea. I should have realized that kids in the average classroom, excepting that one or two guys who [i]really[/i] want to play drums well, don't want to investigate the academic side of music; they want to see and hear the fun stuff, with just enough of the academics to seem a little challenging, but not too challenging. Thomas Lang's thing. Aaron Spears playing Usher at the Modern Drummer Festival. That kind of stuff.

Probably not a lot of 8th graders out there who would sit still for a Jim Chapin tutorial on playing ballads with brushes.

John Riley's - The Master Drummer

Hands down one of the best drum videos I have watched in years.