Keep a strong pulse with your feet (Hi-hat on 2 and 4) while working through the hand patterns.
To truly internalize the jazz feel, set your metronome to click only on beats 2 and 4 (representing the hi-hat). This forces you to generate your own internal sense of time on beats 1 and 3. Final Thoughts: A Timeless Masterpiece
By implementing syncopated patterns, the drummer develops high-level independence between hands and feet. Keep a strong pulse with your feet (Hi-hat
: This is the most straightforward way to support the creators and get a pristine copy. The 40th Anniversary Edition is the definitive version, offering a high-quality print. You can search for it at your local music store or through online retailers like Dave's Drum Shop (which lists the new edition) and Drumland , which are known to carry it.
Jim Blackley (1927–2017) was a Scottish-born drummer and arguably one of the most influential drum instructors of the 20th and 21st centuries. Based for much of his life in Toronto, Canada, Blackley’s studio became a pilgrimage site for drummers seeking to elevate their timekeeping, musicality, and conceptual understanding of the instrument. His students include a literal who’s who of elite percussionists, including Terry Clarke, Chris Sharley, and Duris Maxwell. You can search for it at your local
Keep your hi-hat clicking strictly on counts 2 and 4, and feather your bass drum on all four quarter notes (or leave it out if practicing modern broken time). Do not let the complexity of the hands disrupt the independence of your lower limbs.
Learning to accent the second or third strike of a roll without disrupting the underlying hand-to-hand flow. Uninhibited expression in improvisation.
Jim Blackley was a legendary drummer and educator whose teaching philosophy went far beyond simply playing fast or loud. Based in Canada, Blackley influenced generations of drummers, focusing on a "musical approach" to the drum kit. His methods emphasize: on the drums. Syncopation and independence. The emotional quality of timekeeping. Uninhibited expression in improvisation.