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RALPH SALMINS |
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There is nothing quite like watching someone at the very top of their game and so it was a great privilege to see Ralph Salmins in action at Drumtech. He gave us an insight into the world of session work and how he keeps his diary full. |
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He began by playing to a Georgie Fame big band track, which was loud and powerful as he swept through the piece with grace and finesse. This was only one of the many styles that he touched on but was a thrilling beginning to the class. Salmins went on to talk about surviving in the very competitive business and explained how important the very basic but never forgotten technique that we know as time is when on a session. He stressed how playing to a metronome is the key to strengthening your internal clock so that you can trust yourself no matter what is going on around you. Salmins then demonstrated this by setting up a click and began playing eighth notes with a brush on the snare drum. He took a good three or so minutes to really settle into the click as he explained it is important to stay with the eighth notes until you feel comfortable and don’t have to concentrate so hard on the click. Bit by bit he then added more as it slowly became a groove but still stayed solid with the click. Salmins explained about pushing and pulling the click as he played slightly ahead and behind the click creating a totally different feel with each. It was incredible, the ease with which he performed this simple but effective exercise and made it groove! After telling a few anecdotes about a session with Danny Elfman and meeting Steve Gadd, Salmins went on to play a couple of tracks with musicians from the college. He switched from different styles effortlessly and made each sound like he was a master of the genre. From a more complex and choppy jazz piece to a simple, groove dominated Steely Dan piece, Salmins kept everyone at the edge of their seats. Like most master classes here at Drumtech, students were left with smiles smeared across their faces and the urge to get to a drum kit no matter what. |
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