Carl Allen Clinic

• 5-6 hours a day minimum practice (includes a 1 hour warmup)
• 1 hour listening a day
• spend 1/2 hour on each portion of the set (ride, bass drum, hi-hat)
• (sing the melody during that practice)
• the melodic concept of a horn player should be present on the drums
• comp (or walk a bass line) while singing the melody
• know the other band members off the bandstand (this is the key to accompanying each other)
• pass listening lists and trade albums with other members of your band
• singing is a mirror of the mind
• sing the ride pattern
• stop and sing the last thing the soloist played
• sing tunes by memory
• think before starting to play (no pickups or checks)
• sing solos through changes without accompaniment
• you should try to sound like someone you like (your study of them should be audible when you solo)
• you are resting on their shoulders when you play anything (do not spit on their heads-disrespect them-by ignoring their contributions to the music)
• bass and drums are like hand and glove
• ask for observations from the students
• band members should have eye contact