Customer Reviews

Benny Greb The Language of Drumming

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Benny Greb is a genius. He applies all the variations of sixteenth note and triplet rhythms to all sorts of excercises through clapping, pad & sticks, and eventually to the drumset.

However, you really do need to know the basics pretty well. Reading music is not necessary, but would be very helpful.

WHO THIS DVD IS FOR:
Drummers who are stuck! You don't know how to make your drumming better and are stuck on an intermediate level. This DVD opens up an endless number of complex rhythms in a way that's easy to understand, but at times, hard to apply.

Beautiful, funny, smart, and very helpful.

I recommend.

A great dvd, well thought, very original and with a lot of exercices given to devellop your creativity, your expression on drums. Shot in beautiful landscapes, really well done, funny and accessible to everyone, only the very bases are required, and still interesting to advanced drummers. A clear method, with a natural progression from the simplest concept, the "letters", to a more advanced one, "talking". Over 3h of great drumming, cool grooves and funny stuff. When humor and pleasure match with learning.One of the best dvd I ever watched. Benny Greb rules!

I am an intermediate student. I felt a little stuck in my playing... like I wasn't sure what my next step was. So when I saw the Benny Greb was coming in town for a clinic, I bought a ticket and purchased the DVD hoping for a little inspiration. I was not disappointed.

This video is going to change my life for sure. I've only had it for a week, and I am happily learning and playing the rudiments (not my most favorite part of my practices). The "rhythmic alphabet" is a brilliant concept that is SO simple and easy to remember. Assigning words to odd groupings is a ridiculously simple concept, but is REALLY helpful. The exercize he gives using your voice and clapping is awesome... now I can practice drums while I'm in the check-out line, waiting at the doctor's office or stuck in traffic. The concepts in the video literally give you unlimited amount of ideas to draw upon.

For the seasoned drummer, you may not consider this DVD groundbreaking, but I guarantee you it will help you to become more creative and a better player. For the beginner/intermediate student, it will take some of the mystery out of drumming.

I have a lot to say, so be patient.

Benny Greb has created something unique in the way of teaching "rudiments". In fact, his method is so unique some may even argue that he's not teaching "rudiments", but of course he is. But he teaches them in a style that is clearly oriented toward language which the title of this product promises. In fact, is it true that he doesn't teach "rudiments" in their standard form, but as he points out, all of the elements that he teaches can be used to build whatever "rudiment" you can dream up. He just breaks it down into a more fundamental alphabet of beats based on the various ways that beats can be grouped.

Perhaps before I go further I should explain a little bit about myself. I'm only just starting to learn to play a drum set, rather late in life. I've already purchased quite a few of Tommy Igoe's videos on Groove Essentials and "Great Hands for a lifetime" which I highly recommend for raw beginners. Tommy does indeed teach the standard rudiment forms in great detail. I was looking for something that might take it to the next level, like showing how to apply the rudiments to grooves. I can't really say that Benny Greb's video does that exactly, but he does give a completely different method of looking at timing and working with basic beats.

I would say that Greb's Language of Drummer is really tailored for drummers who have already learned the rudiments and basically want to sharpen their timing skills and add vocabulary to their basic rudiments. Because like Greb points out, when you look at basic beats as an alphabet there is no rudiment you won't be able to play. So it's more versatile in that sense. He prepares you for more artistic creativity in the long haul.

He goes through the alphabet many times using many different styles and tempos. If you actually follow along by the time you've gone through all these exercises you will definitely know your musical 'beat alphabet'. He also teaches it leading with the right hand, then the left hand, and even on the bass drum and with the left foot on the hi-hat. So if you master everything he actually teaches you will have gained a lot of limb independence to be sure. And that's just on the first DVD disc.

On the second DVD he takes you further into the drum set creating entire words and phrases using odd and compound meters. If you learn all that you'll be a pro as far as I'm concerned.

Finally, he speaks to musical artistry and goes into some detail about how to listen to music, and what to listen for specifically, and how to tune into various parts of a musical composition. I really enjoyed that part because a large part of why I bought a drum set in the first place is to improve my rhythmic musicality so I found the latter part of the second DVD to be quite enlightening, and I'm looking forward to applying some of the techniques he teaches to my own musical compositions. Not just on the drums, but for all the instruments I play and write for.

There are some weird scenes on his video. I don't think I'll be playing the drums using plastic bottles, or using an egg whisk as a drum stick. He was getting a little too 'creative' for my tastes in places. I understand his intention but I think those spots would have been better filled by just showing some examples of using things like woodblocks, sambago bells, cowbells, or other drum accessories. In fact, I wish he had included woodblocks since I have a pair on my drum set. I guess the fact that he played on a log in the first DVD will have to suffice as a 'woodblock'.

Summary in short:

If you're a raw beginner looking for detailed instructions I'd recommend Tommy Igoe's "Groove Essentials" and "Great Hands for a Lifetime". But if you're already playing and you're looking to express more artistic creativity and refine your timing, then Greb's "The Language of Drumming" might just be the ticket.

As a percussion student that is always stretched too thin on time, I'm always in search of a systematic approach to cover all of my bases on drums: rhythm, time, dynamics, sticking exercises, rudiments, four-way coordination, etc. Finding an efficient system has been the bane of my existence for years.
Benny Greb's alphabet system is a very comprehensive approach. He codifies 24 "letters" which represent all the rhythmic possibilities in music. What it shows is that in a majority of all music (rock, classical, jazz, world music, etc.), a lot of the same rhythmic material is used. Hundreds of years, encompassing millions of pieces, mainly rely on these 24 rhythms. He even challenges you to take a piece of music from classical repertoire, and point out the "letters" in that piece.
Back to the system. Like learning language, he starts with a basic understanding of the letters, and the sound they make. You start without drums, or sticks; you just clap the letters, providing a good mental workout. Then, at the snare drum, you practice rhythmic accuracy, dynamics, rudiments, and sticking exercises. Then, you move to the drum set, and apply the letters to a different limb, giving you a four-way coordination workout.
Beyond that, he talks about soloing in a more musical way, thinking of making sentences, and other materials.
Before this, I had barely heard of Benny Greb. According to another reviewer, his playing credits aren't very vast. I say, So what? And there is indeed something very "New Breed" about this approach. However, the New Breed didn't address several aspects of this DVD, like snare technique, or soloing ideas.
This system, and this DVD in general, amalgamate several methods from the past, and present them in a very gradual, comprehensive approach, that applies to beginning students, all the way through professional players. Plus, there's a printable PDF booklet of like 60 pages! Bonus, there's three german guys in lederhosen singing and playing accordion at various spots. The german guys don't help the system at all, but I find it humorous.

This DVD has quickly become a favorite. Benny is extremely talented, and perhaps even better at explaining the approach and the building blocks that go into making it work. His drumming will make you smile. His enthusiasm will make you want to go play your drums. The intro footage is wonderful, and unexpected. A true musician... Buy this DVD!

What a useful concept for drummers. A Grammatic perspective to drumming has made a huge impact in the way I listen, understand and play drums. Benny explained and extended immensely some insights I previously had about such approach. It may feel overwhelming at first but try seeing it again and again. It really deserves to be called a system. In addition, the production of this DVD is awesome! A new standard has been set.

Benny Greb has put together a system for teaching drumming that allows players to go beyond the acquisition of technique so that they can conceptualize the notes they play as part of the larger conversation of music. Greb presents exercises and playing examples in a variety styles and settings (the videography is quite beautiful). Playing solos, duets, and ensemble pieces, Greb proves that his methods work in any playing situation. His on-camera personality is very relaxed and enjoyable.

If you base your playing style off the ideas in this DVD, you really will become an excellent player. Benny runs through everything from the basics to becoming a well rounded **musician**. And I stress that, because this is not some DVD with cure-all techniques that will enable you to play really fast, without effort. That, like anything else, only comes with time and practice. Some topics on this DVD range from being from a beginners level to a little advanced, so I am not sure who I would recommend this to... Regardless, as an intermediate player, this DVD seems to be good for anyone as it can definitely help you in reflecting on your own style, and playing to better yourself musically and technically.

Wow what a DVD!

Of all my DVDs this one easily ranks as one of the best. Benny Greb is both an amazing musician and instructor. What I loved about his disk was it did not teach me anything that I did not all ready know but it taught me in such a way that the information was new! (if that makes sense)

The break downs of four note groupings in a visual format without staff lines was brilliant. When working with my students every one of them understands the concepts easily but the application of the concepts is simple to insanely difficult. The progressive nature of the exercises is extremely helpful and makes learning the concepts easy. The layout is also very motivating. Benny gives you 24 letters, so the average drummer is not overwhelmed by the information. Plus as you work through it you realize that with only 24 groupings that anyone can accomplish them, this is really inspiring. Before you know it you have the system down and that allows you to open up your playing and really move forward with more difficult concepts.

The remaining parts of the disk are wonderful. Benny is funny, approachable and challenging all at the same time. The second on why records sound better than CDs is worth the cost of the DVDs alone. Plus the advice for creativity is spot on. Finally the performances with his bands are great. I have teenagers who just think it is wonderful to see him play with a Tuba, Trombone and trumpet. This is a rarity in these days for teens to like that style of music!

The Production, sound and video are all top rate.


I believe Albert Einstein once said that genius is when someone can take a complex topic and make it understandable by everyone. If this is true, the The Language of Drumming is sheer genius.

Outstanding... simply Outstanding!!

Cheers,

Karl