Musical Instruments

Reviews

I am still enjoying and learning from the first DVD (Groove Essentials) but couldn't wait to start working on these grooves as well. Tommy does a good job at introducing the grooves and the camera angles work well. This video and the first one are highly recommended to anyone who aspires to be a versatile drummer who can play basic grooves from many styles of music (rock, jazz, r&B, funk, and latin, and world).

Whether you are an intermediate or advanced level drummer, I highly recommend this DVD with the play along as a continuation of the first Groove Essentials. I find that by learning so many styles, the correct way, my rock and fusion drumming has also improved 100%. One great thing about Tommy's DVDs is that you look forward to learning and practicing and you just can't stop playing! I never get bored and I look forward to learning new grooves. I have other DVDs by other great drummers, which I enjoy watching. Groove Essentials, I actually insert in my DVD player every single day and use as a learning tool. I have the first Groove Essentials also (which I still use all the time), so I cannot imagine what it would be like just jumping into this 2.0 one (unless you are a professional). The books and play alongs are sold separately, but they are worth every penny. I hope Tommy's next DVD will be about different fills for each groove. Wow!

I really liked the way Tommy teaches. Keeps you relaxed and makes it alot of fun to learn. He has some really great material in this video.Definatly worth the money.

I have his first dvd and the lessons are clear and easy to understand. I have been playing drums professionally for 25yrs. and the grooves that I have learned from that dvd increased my ability to play in many different situations. that's why when I found out he had another dvd out 2.0 I jumped at getting it. Big Rock delivered on time and brand new sealed in box. A++++ rating. Thanks

i think he is one of the best teachers i've seen..I also own groove essentials 1, dvd as well as book.part 1 mostly contains basic grooves whereas this part contains grooves which are more advanced.its a very good source of learning various grooves..My suggestion is buy this dvd along with the book and cd of the same, and ur learning will be complete.A must have for any drummer, beginner or intermediate or pro !!

Reviews

As already mentioned above: there is less than 20 seconds of actual performance in this video. While learning about the drummers is fascinating, it is not what i paid 20 bucks for!! I am incensed at the misleading editorial on the DVD, which doesn't even *HINT* at the fact that this is a documentary, not a performance. I didn't get what I paid for. Unacceptable business practices: just shooting themselves in the foot. You don't buy a car only to find out there's a vcr in the dash with a guy telling you how the car *would have* run if it were real... in another language, no less. I might have purchased this DVD if I had known that it had no performance, but I feel cheated now.

True, the packaging and description should be clearer about the content, but the four star rating of my review reflects the quality of this video, not the packaging and advertizing. I downrated it one star only because it might not appeal to some people, though it is not only for taiko or even Kodo buffs. For taiko or Kodo fans, consider my rating 5 stars.Like Taikophile, when I ordered this DVD, I had hoped it would be a performance, but I was open-minded. I was already a big fan of Kodo, but this new DVD had a big impact on me. It is similar to a 1983 documentary called "Kodo -- The Heartbeat Drummers of Japan", but brings us up to the present. This is Kodo fifteen years later, a group that has evolved and grown.It has a good balance of personal stories, performance clips, Earth Celebration preparation, apprenticeship trials, the development of a new composition, and an overview of the group, their philosophy and their community on Sado island. Perhaps the main theme of this video is the challenges of being an individual in a group, very appropriate for Japanese, and something I think all Japanese viewers of the original TV broadcast could relate to.Special segments include short profiles of Ryutaro Kaneko, Chieko Kojima, Yoshikazu and Yoko Fujimoto, staff member Atsushi Sugano, and Tetsuro Naito. A kind of climax is when guests from Taos, New Mexico, called the Red Arrow Dancers visit Sado Island and perform with Kodo for Earth Celebration 1998. The two groups develop strong relationships that draw tears when they have to part.I have shown this video to two non-Kodo fans so far. Both were intrigued by what they saw and developed a respect for Kodo. They have both asked to see more of them.Personally, the more I know about Kodo, the more I'm impressed with them. It has gone way past enjoying their music or respecting their talents. I love their lifestyle, philosophy, beliefs, and personalities. What great people! This video captures what makes Kodo so special. It has refined, at least a little, how I look at performing music, relating to people, and cultivating my love of drumming.

There is very little actual performance footage in this DVD. There are only the briefest of clips of actual songs. This is for fans of Kodo and/or those who want to see more into the world of these awesome artists. Kodo is much more than just what they put on stage; this is a documentary about a powerful group of people who show their passion with every heartbeat. This DVD shows the viewer about the world of Kodo that most would never get to see. There are scenes about the collaboration between Kodo and a Native American troupe that brings out the best in both groups. We are shown a glimpse of what practices are like and the critique process. There are scenes of backstage preparations and pre-show scheduling. They interview a few key members, such as Chieko Kojima, Eiichi Sato, Ryutaro Kaneko, and Tetsuro Naito. Other members are interviewed, including an apprentice who is unsure if she'll make it in or not (and I'm not about to tell!) There is some real emotion shown here by Kodo members in words and tears. Most of us will never get to see more than the performance side of Kodo, and that is truly a shame...and that makes this DVD very valuable to those who want to know more!

As the previous reviewer suggests, there's nothing here for a Kodo fan looking for a performance video. There's little here of any interest at all -- I doubt that any of the music snippets last more than 20 seconds. Well worth avoiding.

Just like the previous reviewer I bought this DVD predicated upon several factors: 1) my love for Kodo's masterful drumming 2) my desire for "Live from the Acropolis" to be released on DVD (lamentably only available in VHS) 3) the editorial review also gave the impression that this was a concert DVD. This is a documentary made for Japanese TV, and it is really lacking in places. The translations to English are quite awkward in places, and sometimes they are hard to keep up with (in one particular spot the translations kept bouncing back from the bottom and top of the screen depending upon who was talking...it was almost impossible to process the rapid fire assault of info...one time the translations were on top & bottom simultaneously!) The documentary was quite interesting but didn't show even one whole drumming piece (kind of against the point of a KODO DVD you might say.) I do have to give the documentary makers credit for thoroughly covering the subject. They did in dept interviews with everyone from the 'superstars' of the group to understudies who have never taken the stage to teachers/instructors...as well as interviewing both male & female members. This is worth watching once, but that's about it. Definately for completist KODO collectors only!

Reviews

The book was just fine however, I bought it from an individual. I hadn't received this item in a few weeks. My son needed it for an orchestra class. I emailed the individual. He said he shipped it one day after I ordered it. I received the item a few days later postmarked the day after I emailed him. He was not honest about the ship date.

A classic and encyclopedic method for playing the double bass used by bassists universally. A must for serious bassists from middle school through college which can be followed by Book 2 (thumb position and etc.) for double bass majors or conservatory students. Originally written by F. Simandl (Author); compiled by Fredrick Zimmermann, New York Philharmonic assistant-principal and principal (1930-1966) who taught at the Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, and New York University (Editor); and updated by Zimmermann's student and Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Principal Double Bass Emeritus of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra Lucas Drew, who composed, edited and published many works for double bass (Editor). I also recommend exploring publications by pianist and Juilliard-trained double bassist PhD Mark Morton that add useful musical pharase concepts and open hand techniques to the classic Simandl fingering concepts.

My son is enjoying using this book to learn upright bass before starting orchestra in the fall.

It is a great book full of bass music and a little, simple instruction. I am a professional, educated musician that plays seven instruments. I really needed something to teach me the particulars of this instrument. This book is not what I really needed, it only has a few pages about technique and practical information. But it is a good practice guide if you have a teacher that will go over those fine details with you.

This book is a very good and efficient way of learning of the positions officially. If you are an organized person and want a daily routine, this book is for you

Reviews

I was unaware when I purchased this that the brains at Suzuki, wherever they may be, have changed the bowing on the second book in many of the songs. Our teacher now has to write in corrections because this is an outdated publication. Just an FYI, get the newer one to prevent bowing headaches! (Everything is the same in the books, except the bowing.)

I have used this material for several years and find it a good source. The only information I find lacking is that it never teaches the student to read music. Thus the student is limited to playing music s/he has heard and can replay "by ear."

My daughter age 12, who has mastered the piano and flute decided her next instrument would be a violin.I researced to find the best possible Violinist in our area that offers lessons and I found a brilliant violinist from Romania. He suggested this book to me, as he preffered to use this specific book as the most valuable resource and guide to teaching beginners. My daughter has now been playing for 3 weeks, and even though I am fully aware her talent is partially responsible, the level at which she is playing after three weeks amazed me. Given all the factors above, I highly recommend this book as a teaching aid for violin.

The Suzuki program is an excellent foundation for any violin study, whether the student is a beginner or a much more advanced student. The pieces are melodic exercises in disguise that progress to more advanced pieces. The pieces are challenging, but, when accompanied with the CD, they are excellent and lend themselves to an opportunity for the violin student to mimic a beautiful sound. The program is also available in viola, bass, and cello, all of which are equally effective and lead to outstanding results.

I am still working through the book, but I have to say that it is the first book that has really helped me learn violin. I have others, but this one takes it down to a very fundamental level. Now the other books make more sense and I can enjoy them all.

Reviews

On this book you can find (almost) everything you need to know about Tradicional Japanese Music &/or Musical Instruments. Complete, nice CD and nice structure with the chapters. Perfect!