SYLLABUS/OUTLINE FOR DOUBLE BASS with MIKE MANGINI

Required Book: Syncopation

Weeks 1-3:

A detailed discussion and demonstration on the three 'levels' of foot technique give the student a global perspective on using their feet as human beings first, as drummers second and lastly according to drumming style. An ankle only, floating and twitching/flexing approach is used to show why the course material is given in the order it is.

Emphasis is put on off-the-kit practicing with the ankle motion and the whole leg 'swivel' move. The key to both is the use of the eyes making sure that the knees do not raise more than 4 inches. Most importantly, putting the heel down is not allowed in class or in practicing the material as it is cancerous to the development of the hip flexors. The hip flexors sense the minute details of balance shifts and thus control drum kit playing/timing. Heel down is spoken about and introduced in week 13. The second key is the use of the hands in a systematic way in order to assure repetition with the feet. The feet must repeat the same move over and over again. Since this makes the mind go crazy, the use of the hands helps with interest and attention.

The paradiddle is the focus of these weeks as it utilizes all the above techniques. Other stickings are encouraged for student interest purposes.

Lesson 6 is first in the Syncopation book with single alternating strokes. It is learned with the hands playing in a rock 4/4 format in weeks 2&3. The hands increase in pattern difficulty for those attending class from day 1. For those that "add in," they can increase the use of hands as the semester progresses.

Weeks 4,5:

Lesson 8 is learned as an upgrade to lesson 6. Lesson 7 is not allowed as it usually promotes stomping of the whole leg on the eighth note patterns. A chance cannot be taken with anything that could be stomped. Lesson 8 forces the swivel technique to be used.

A warm up of paradiddles both with just ankles and then with swivels starts each class.

Weeks 6-Midterm:

Lesson 11 and double strokes are introduced. The swivel is put to maximum use with the doubles. This lesson is repeated in class and the hands are increased in use.

The Midterm consists of teacher chosen excerps from lessons 6,8 & 11 in Syncopation. Grading is based on student progress with technique and good management of their entire body. It is important not to demonstrate these passages too fast although the student is asked to speed up as a non-graded portion of the Midterm. It is a chance for the student to have a private moment to show what they can do and to discuss and review the semester.

Weeks 9-12:

Finally, single stroke stamina is introduced. 6 weeks have been set aside getting the technique correct before multi-hour repetition sessions are introduced. Counting 100's of repetitions is weaved into the classes and practices.

Hand coordination is added per student. This cannot get in the way of the student maximizing their practice tempos.

Lesson 11 is used to ensure balance of the strong and weak 'sides' of the body. It also still used to A/B against the double stroke version.

A 'level' mixing oriented program is introduced, learned and repeted in class.

Weeks 13-Final:

A mix of singles and doubles are weaved together based on weeks 1-12. The use (safe now) of heel down is introduced as an element of the warm up or 'fixing' process. A/B usage of heel down and heep up is used to warm up in class, but the classes are spent reviewing and preparing for the final exam.

The final exam consists of teacher chosen passages from the whole semester along with an the exercise mixing singles and doubles AND HANDS.

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