Drumming Mad 1

Xanten

February 4 & 5 2006

After a break of 12 months, last weekend saw the first Drumming Mad workshop for 2006.  In all 26 Snare, Bass and Tenor Drummers came together to make groovy beats and rhythms together in the 2 day beat feast.  The workshop kicked off nearly on time with warmups by all sections.  After the warmups we started into the weekend's work of standards and a focus on Strathspey time and before long the School was pulsating the familiar Strong Weak Medium Weak.  By the afternoon, we all worked on the standards and Bert Anhalt's beginner drum salute which was a great feeling.  Everyone had the opportunity to experience the big sound of a big drum corps.

click each picture to see enlarged

The evening we headed to the local brain house "Einstein" for dinner and intelligent drum chat over our meals after a performance by the teachers who played.  Mason's Apron, Double time 3/4, Frankfurt Pipe Band's new medley, Ingold Schneider's drum salute and Alex Duthart's drum salute "Max Rayne".  It was great that all the teachers are members of the same drum corps coming from Bert Anhalt's Scottish Drum Corps Darmstadt allowing us a good sized repertoire.  Lucky it wasn't longer as the waitress, yes Maik did understandably have his eye on her, had a hard time taking orders over the volume of the drums!

Following a good night sleep, the batteries were energised and we hit the pads for more Strathspey work.  Pulsating Strong first beat in the bar was the order of the day along with more work on standards.  After lunch it was onto drums and we played our material.  The 4 parted Strathspey that was written especially for the workshop went well.  We worked on the weak points of the score and played on the drums for over one and a half hours and the players wanted more and more.  The call of "noch einmal" brought us to an enjoyably late finish.

The workshop ran very smoothly thanks to the organisational skills of Burkhard Hekkers, Leading Drummer of the German Lowland Pipes and Drums and the great teachings from the teachers Maik Reckziegel, Fabian Ochs and in his first workshop, Oliver Bernhardt.  Well done and thanks to you.  And finally thanks to the Ladies who baked great cakes and kept us in refreshments.

The only problem we had was the size and varied levels within the Bass and Tenor class and in future we will endeavour to run a separate class for Bass and another class for Tenor so that more teachings can be passed on over the duration of the course.

Apart from  that, I am happy that the course ran well to time and everyone learned and experienced new drumming expression in many time signatures and especially the theme signature, Strathspey.  

Well done to all participants who competed the course and I look forward to seeing you at another Drumming Mad Workshop!! 

Dean Hall, Drumming Mad Workshops 2006