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Tricks of the Trade
Tricks of the Trade is a challenging, high-energy duet between drumset and marching snare drum by Danny Raymond and Rion Smith. This unique setup brings the elements of style and feel to the forefront through grooves such as drum-and-bass, funk, and rock. As the title suggests, there are opportunities to trade licks, which creates a timing challenge and produces an exciting palette of sound. The other major feature of this piece is its soloistic aspects. While the composers’ improvised solos have been transcribed in this edition, players are encouraged to improvise their own. This allows for unique performances of this unique piece.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
Imagine a DCI “individuals” snare solo paired with Jojo Mayer-esqe drumset grooves and you’ll begin to get the idea behind Danny Raymond and Rion Smith’s duet. Although marching snare and drumset may seem like an odd pairing, they complement each other surprisingly well in this composition.
The piece is constructed around several groove sections including rock, funk, and drum-and-bass styles. Both parts generate a lot of timbral variety through the use of rims, the hi-hat stand, buzzes, stick shots, and rimshots. The composers encourage creative freedom within the solo sections, allowing for students to tailor the features to their personal strengths. The piece builds towards the end with an echo phrase in which various accent combinations are traded between the players. As the intensity grows through increased accent density, the work concludes strongly, much like the introductory phrase. Because the composition was originally improvised, it possesses a simplicity in structure that allows the performers to shine. The drumset part can be played on a standard four-piece kit with two crash cymbals. An optional second snare drum can be positioned to the left of the hi-hat.
The composers do a great job of incorporating softer sections that give the piece a dynamic variety often lacking in this type of instrumentation. The marching snare part requires knowledge of various stick tricks commonly found in contemporary rudimental vocabulary. Information on these specific techniques can be found on Raymond’s instructional DVD, Let it Rip, also published by Tapspace. The performance video on the Tapspace website will also clear up many issues regarding visuals and tricks.
This would be a great vehicle for two all-star players who would benefit from a challenge and an opportunity to shine. The distinctive instrumentation and flexible structure make it a unique and valuable addition to the repertoire.
—John Willmarth
Percussive Notes
Vol. 52, No. 2. March 2014
This advanced-level, five-and-a-half- minute duet combines drumset and rudimental snare in an upbeat piece that features several funk and rock styles. The notation is exceptionally clear, and both performers have sections to solo, accompany, and trade fours. Use your marching chops to play Danny Raymond’s solo—he’s a two-time DCA snare champion and longtime Walt Disney World musician—or create your own. Rion Smith, a touring drummer for Blue Man Group,transcribed his kit solo but encourages you to improvise. Complete with dynamics and visuals, this score/CD-ROM package is as much fun to watch as it is to play. Check out the duo’s video at tapspace.com. ($30, Tapspace)
–Andrea Byrd
Modern Drummer
July 2015
Tricks of the Trade is a challenging, high-energy duet between drumset and marching snare drum by Danny Raymond and Rion Smith. This unique setup brings the elements of style and feel to the forefront through grooves such as drum-and-bass, funk, and rock. As the title suggests, there are opportunities to trade licks, which creates a timing challenge and produces an exciting palette of sound. The other major feature of this piece is its soloistic aspects. While the composers’ improvised solos have been transcribed in this edition, players are encouraged to improvise their own. This allows for unique performances of this unique piece.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
Imagine a DCI “individuals” snare solo paired with Jojo Mayer-esqe drumset grooves and you’ll begin to get the idea behind Danny Raymond and Rion Smith’s duet. Although marching snare and drumset may seem like an odd pairing, they complement each other surprisingly well in this composition.
The piece is constructed around several groove sections including rock, funk, and drum-and-bass styles. Both parts generate a lot of timbral variety through the use of rims, the hi-hat stand, buzzes, stick shots, and rimshots. The composers encourage creative freedom within the solo sections, allowing for students to tailor the features to their personal strengths. The piece builds towards the end with an echo phrase in which various accent combinations are traded between the players. As the intensity grows through increased accent density, the work concludes strongly, much like the introductory phrase. Because the composition was originally improvised, it possesses a simplicity in structure that allows the performers to shine. The drumset part can be played on a standard four-piece kit with two crash cymbals. An optional second snare drum can be positioned to the left of the hi-hat.
The composers do a great job of incorporating softer sections that give the piece a dynamic variety often lacking in this type of instrumentation. The marching snare part requires knowledge of various stick tricks commonly found in contemporary rudimental vocabulary. Information on these specific techniques can be found on Raymond’s instructional DVD, Let it Rip, also published by Tapspace. The performance video on the Tapspace website will also clear up many issues regarding visuals and tricks.
This would be a great vehicle for two all-star players who would benefit from a challenge and an opportunity to shine. The distinctive instrumentation and flexible structure make it a unique and valuable addition to the repertoire.
—John Willmarth
Percussive Notes
Vol. 52, No. 2. March 2014
This advanced-level, five-and-a-half- minute duet combines drumset and rudimental snare in an upbeat piece that features several funk and rock styles. The notation is exceptionally clear, and both performers have sections to solo, accompany, and trade fours. Use your marching chops to play Danny Raymond’s solo—he’s a two-time DCA snare champion and longtime Walt Disney World musician—or create your own. Rion Smith, a touring drummer for Blue Man Group,transcribed his kit solo but encourages you to improvise. Complete with dynamics and visuals, this score/CD-ROM package is as much fun to watch as it is to play. Check out the duo’s video at tapspace.com. ($30, Tapspace)
–Andrea Byrd
Modern Drummer
July 2015
