Support
Looper's Delight
|
Support |
|
|
There's nothing unfair about the drummer acting as the metronome, or more accurately as the central source of tempo, for a band if that's what's been agreed upon. And that's not an uncommon agreement in most western bands. I don't agree with the idea that this stunts the ability of the players involved to grow. There are many strengths to a commitment to steady tempo, including using click tracks, samples or loops which establish this tempo, and as with any aesthetic decision, there are drawbacks, but the basic idea of "drummer (among other duties) keeps time for the band and attempts to keep said tempo as steady as required" isn't rare or oppressive. Some basketball players are centers, some people are guards, but a team needs them both, and a band is the same way. TravisH On Sunday, August 31, 2003, at 10:19 AM, Loopers-Delight-d-request@loopers-delight.com wrote: > >> If everyone's supposed to be keeping time for themselves, why is it >> so particularly important for the drummer to be able to hear the >> >loop? >> >> TravisH >>>>> That's one school of thought. The other school of >>>> thought (that the >>>>> drummer has the primary [not sole] responsibility >>>> of keeping time for the >>>>> rest of the band) has many more adherents, at >>>> least in North America. > > > My point was not that everyone should "keep time for themselves", but > rather be RESPONSIBLE for keeping time for themselves. A musician > uses a metronome as a learning tool, but does not (hopefully) seek to > play "metronomically". It is unfair for drummers to be used a "band > metronomes", and unfair, and unmusical, for other musicians to "rely" > on them as such. Certainly, while playing, we all listen to and > respond to other players' phrasing, note selection, time, cadence etc. > This is all part of the inner dialogue of music. To assign the role > of "timekeeper" to a member would inhibit this converstaion, as well > as limit the other players' ability to grow. Yet, drummers', due to > the nature of their instrument and their training, are certainly more > "aware" or sensitive to changes in tempo and time, and perhaps become > the tempo "monitor"; the first to fire off any warning flares when > things become a little too spongy.