Old-school cool: "The Follies"

I got my first copy of the NARD solo book in high school, from a friend who was giving up drumming and gave me his old copy. Forty-two years later, that very same copy sits on my music stand. Since returning to rudimental drumming several years ago, I have returned to the solos in this book for pure pleasure. Each solo, written in the 1920's or 30's by a champion rudimental drummer and fouding member of NARD (National Association of Rudimental Drummers), is a little gem showcasing one or more of the original twenty-six drum rudiments. They provide plenty of inspiration for intermediate drummers and a solid challenge for more experienced players as well. The NARD book is legendary amount rudimental snare drummers; our answer to the Arbans trumpet book or Schirmer's edition of Italian art song for singers. It's a classic.

Still at home and on partial bed rest following eye surgery, I used some of my upright time this week to work up a solo from the book, "The Follies" by Jack Lynehan. It's deceptively simple to play, but timing -- and sticking -- are left up to the p;layer. There are no stickings indicated, meaning that you have to be familiar enough with traditional rudimentsl drumming to know which stickings make the most sense, and how many strokes to play in a roll (based on how fast you want to play it, and how clean your rolls are).

I had fun working this one up at a reasonable tempo today. As I tell myself regularly: Clean now, fast comes later.

When I was learning how to play, there were twenty-six officially recognized rudiments, keys to mastering the unique sounds and techniques of the snare drum. Today, thanks in large part to the influence of the modern Marching Arts, that list has expanded to forty rudiments (as codified by the Percussive Arts Society in the 1980s). Many of these are variations or expansions on the first twenty-six and others are licks best played on high-tension (Kevlar) heads. Strung together, these newer rudiments help to make up a growing library of technically demanding solo pieces whose musicality is often hard to discern by the untrained ear.

The beauty of these old-school solos is that, though they're still challenging, they have a musicality that is easy to hear and follow, with phrases and motives that make for satisfying pieces of music as well as technical training exercises. And that's why I never tire of diving into drum music from this earlier era. Because it's musical as well as technical.

Nearly ninety years after its first printing,  The NARD book is still in print and available through multiple online outlets. And it's worth every penny. If you're not familiar with this book, get a copy and have fun with it.
Happy Chopping!