Working On Your Drumline’s Timing and Tempo Control 

 by Rich Viano

As a teacher, I use a lot of  “catch” phrases to reinforce concepts I want the kids to remember. Sometimes I use parables or metaphors. When the topic of timing and tempo arises, I tell my kids “Space is the enemy!” To me, what makes playing tight, as an ensemble difficult, is not mastering the notes we play, but mastering the space we don’t play. When I use a catch phrase, I make them say it together.  I have them repeat it over and over; at least a couple of times a day, or whenever the topic comes up. Sometimes you get kids who think it’s “stupid” but they remember the concept and I am willing to face that perception as long as it is productive. 

I have two more phrases I download into their minds. “If you can’t sing it, you can’t play it.” And “If you can’t play it slow, you CAN’T play it fast.”

In regard to tempo/timing these three phrases are unified. Here is how it works. 

Get a metronome, preferably one with the ability to be amplified. Some of the newer models have a TAP mode, so you can check the tempo by tapping the beat. That is a great tool.

Next, get your metronome amplified. You will need a generous amount of volume, so please take the appropriate ear protection precautions. Start off with a timing exercise. Set your metronome so it beats the lowest common subdivision that your group can successfully perform. For example, if you have a very young group, you may have to use the 16^th note subdivision to assist them with the appropriate space. Some may only need eighths. Have the kids sing the exercise while marking time. Take the tempo as slow as you need to play/sing it correctly with undeniable accuracy. Alternate the singing with counting. Spend about 15 minutes on this step. You will be amazed how fast this starts to work. 

If you asked yourself or your kids what makes your hands move, they would respond with “your brain.” Great! Let’s make sure our brain cognitively understands the rhythm and space before we play a note. That is the principle of this particular step.

When you feel good about that, have the kids put the drums on. Set the metronome at an appropriate tempo. Set the beat to the quarter and play your exercise to the beat. Instead of bumping the tempo up when it starts to feel good, try this: set you metronome so it beats only the downbeat of a bar, without any other subdivision. Turn down every option except “beat” and set your beat at every 4 counts etc. etc. This forces the kids to keep time for themselves for 3 of the beats. They get a “crutch” beat on the downbeat.

Take it a step further. Set the metronome so it is at half speed. Have all the quarters playing. Take the emphasized beat off, so all the beat sounds are from the same timbre. Because it’s set at half speed, you can manipulate the count to make it feel like the metronome is clapping on beats 2 and 4.

There are a million variations you can come up with. Have the metronome beat once every two bars, three bars, four bars etc.

In conclusion, I highly recommend having the kids sing and count out loud with the metronome. You can only master space by taking things very slow. It gives the brain a chance to develop a concept for the space. Kids generally over estimate the amount of time they need to invest, almost to the point where they decide it’s too much time. I try to catch that right away. To me, as teachers we need to do a better job of teaching them HOW to practice,

Good luck with this system. I am sure you will see results quickly.

Rich Viano

Rich Viano is the Manager of the Express Music Publishing Percussion Division. He is also the leader of the Village Beatniks at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom and the Percussion Designer/Writer for the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps.

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