Blast from the Past

There’s a drum stick maker not far from where I live that’s been raising eyebrows for a number of years now. The Headhunters “Stick with the Groove” has been a staple for drummers for decades. But Dave Rundle, the brains and energy behind Headhunters Sticks & Creations, has a knack for pushing the envelope quite a bit further.

Three recent additions to the Headhunters already-loaded roster of tools caught my attention and I just had to see which, if any, would earn a place in my stick bag. To be honest, in the past I’ve looked at some of Dave’s creations and thought, “I’ll never have a need for that” only to discover that they gave me exactly what I’d been looking for.

My Favourite Brushes of All Time
The new Vintage Jazz brushes take the original Jazz Brush and swaps out the 16-mil wires for 13-mil wires. This results in more individual wires with roughly the same weight and balance as the Jazz Brushes. The thinner wires give the brush a somewhat gentler sound, with delicate texture, but still with authority. I found the balance and feel to be excellent, and these things don’t rattle like many of the brushes I’ve used over the years. (After my “field test”, I went back and bought two more pairs.)

Unique Interpretation
Bullets are the original Headhunters Jazz Brush with a unique addition. At the business end of the grip, just shy of the brush wires, you’ll find a wedge-shaped nylon band. I jumped at this one as I tend to be a bit hard on brushes. The nylon “bullet” lets me do accents and rim shots without killing the aluminum handles. The bullet also gives you more options when playing on cymbals.  A definite winner for brush enthusiasts looking to expand their sound palette.

 

Tribute to One of the Greats

Billy Gladstone manned the Radio City Music Hall drum chair during the 1930s and 1940s. A very creative fellow, he invented many improvements and innovations for drums, his highly prized snare drums being just one example. In 1949, Gladstone was issued a patent for a unique idea: a double-ended drum brush. The design has finally been brought to life in the form of Headhunters’ Billy Gladstone tribute drum brush.

 

The total length had to be increased to 13.25 inches to accommodate two brushes and also allow for retraction. When packed, a few inches of brush extend from both ends. When extended, the ‘other’ wires mostly disappear into the handle. One end has the 16-mil wires as found in the Jazz Brush and the other end, marked with a white band, has the 13-mil wires of the Vintage Jazz Brush.

I bought these mostly out of curiosity, assuming I wouldn’t have an actual use for them (see above). But after working with them for a bit, I’m really enjoying them. The grip area is slightly longer than most brushes, and this suits me (in the past, Dave has made longer handled brushes for me). The balance and weight are just right, despite the extra material needed. And because the bushes are of the ‘Push-me-pull-you’ design, the playing end stays put better than most. It’s also interesting to use a different end in each hand, though I haven’t tried switching the brushes while playing.

Conclusion
All three of these Creations tools are now in my stick bag.

Getting Better All the Time

I've taught a lot of adults at night school, and I've found that keeping a group of tired, often distracted people sufficiently motivated is a critical part of the job. Motivated students will burrow into their assignments and apply themselves with enthusiasm even at the end of a challenging day. To keep students engaged, they need to be able to see the value in what they're working on, and they must also enjoy the process at least somewhat. In short, we need 'buy-in' and a bit of fun.

I'm prompted to muse upon this having recently read a report on the high drop-out rate among adult music students. The authors of the report cited work schedules and family as the main impediments to committing to a course of study, but motivation is also a key factor.

Learning is something we should be doing all the time. It makes us smarter and more well-rounded, and that makes us more valuable to employers and others. Plus there are other rewards to continuous learning. For example, it keeps your brain from turning to porridge.

So how do you fit music lessons and practice time into your already unmanageable grown-up or high school schedule?

Decide to Make The Time
If you can't manage to regularly set aside time to study and practice, then learning to play is not a personal goal but a 'maybe someday' fantasy. Even 5 minutes a day trumps nothing at all. I think of practicing as my personal time -- my meditation time -- and I always look forward to it.

Find A Situation That Engages You
I recommend that you find an effective teacher, someone you can relate to and whose musical approach is in tune with yours. And someone to whom you are accountable. When looking for a teacher, don't be impressed or put off by surroundings or personalities. I've had great lessons in unfinished basements and I've had lousy lessons from A-list players.

Set Sensible Goals
A good teacher will help you with this as a matter of course. A teacher will also know where you need to go and how to help you get you there.

Join A Band
You can only get so far in the practice room. Aside from a chance to apply all those lovely new drumming skills, playing music with other people is a great motivator as it gives you something to work toward. Even a couple of hours once a month will reap meaningful rewards.

Above All, Have Fun
This, in my opinion, is educational goal #1 and the best motivator I know of.

For more on practicing and setting goals, see How To Practice.