Customer Reviews

Tommy Igoe Groove Essentials

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this DVD Tommy Igoe presents 47 basic grooves that will expand your range and abilities as a drummer regardless of which genre you normally play.

The first ten grooves are rock, covering 8th note, 16th note and halftime. Most of these are relatively easy to master and will launch beginning drummers into polished players if they take the time to carefully follow Mr. Igoe's instructions.

The grooves become progressively more difficult to play in the subsequent lessons that cover funk, R&B, jazz and world styles. Most of the world grooves are based on Latin, but there are some wonderful surprises like the lesson on New Orleans second line drumming.

I particularly like the way each groove is introduced, then demonstrated without music, and finally demonstrated at both slow and fast tempo with music. I also like the fact that Mr. Igoe uses both traditional and match grip, depending on the piece being played, when presenting grooves. This illustrates the fact that both grips are 'legitimate'.

There are no fancy fills or solos in this DVD, just basic groove technique, which is exceptionally well presented. As a side note, Igoe is talking throughout the playing and does so without missing a beat. That is a skill in itself although it is not what is being taught.

Regardless of your skill level or musical genre, this DVD will teach the basics for beginners and break down more complex grooves for advanced and professional drummers, as well as serve as a catalog of grooves for all drummers.

The poster that comes with this DVD contains a transcription of each groove. If you don't read music you can get started by comparing the transcription to what is being played in each lesson, then seek out instruction on reading music. Or just play and do so with the absolute joy that makes drumming special.

This DVD is a "must have" for every drummer - novice or pro. Tommy Igoe introduces 47 "grooves" encompassing all types of music: rock, jazz, funk, latin and more. He explains each rhythm in a detailed play-along style, then sets them to music (the band is smoking). Best of all, the DVD comes with a poster which charts each groove for lifetime reference. Tommy's prsentation is clear, interesting and entertaining.

Terrific dvd that demonstrates Mr. Igoe's exceptional teaching abilities. Set your kit up in front of the tube, hit your remote, and find your technique improving with every play. This is by far the finest instructional drum video on the market. No frills, just straightforward drummming (from many angles allowing the viewer to learn from Mr. Igoe's technique).

I can't stand drum videos that cut to the bass player or keyboard player when the band is demonstrating a drummer's groove. I don't want an MTV video when I'm learning a new technique. This dvd 'cuts to the chase' for the drummer. Of all the videos/dvds that I have this will be the one that I will continue to watch.

Do you want to learn basic jazz grooves, r&b, not just rock and roll, grab this dvd. He answers all of your questions.

Oh, and Vic Firth throws in a poster sized drum tablature for all 47 grooves. Very cool.

The Groove Essentials DVD contains 47 grooves instruction and demonstration in different styles. Styles include 8th-note, 16th-note and half-time Rock; Jazz waltz, shuffle and swing; R&B, Hip-Hop and Funk as well as World music styles. It comes with a poster with all the grooves in this DVD so you can practice without watch the DVD or some loose paper placed somewhere on the drumset; just tape it on the wall.

Beginners will find the Rock section helpful as they tend to be easier to pick up. The more advanced players can expand their playing styles to Jazz, World and the more advanced R&B. I have been playing for 3 years and I find this DVD very helpful. It helps me slowly progress to other styles besides rock and a little bit of hip hop. I find the World section especially helpful as Tommy demonstrated numerous World grooves including Bossa Nova, Soca, Samba, Mambo and many more.

For each groove, he provides general instruction and then demonstrates it with music, beginning by play it slow and then fast. You won't have question as to how he had played a certain groove--clear instruction and demonstration. The only thing that's left to do is to practice it.

Many instructional video out there tends to teach techniques which is very important. This DVD will stretch your learned techniques and develop your 4-limb coordination to create grooves of different style.If you master all these grooves, you will be in very good shape. Most non-professional drummers usually play in 1 or 2 styles of their choice. Learning these grooves will add variety to your playing and make you a more versatile drummer.

If you want to see a few examples, go to Vic Firth website. (Sorry, can't post URL according to guidelines)

My son fell in love with drums after he watched the bluemen group show. I got him a drum set and also bought him this DVD. At first, I would learn the basic from this DVD myself and then teaches my son about the basics. once he got the basics down, he was able to watch the DVD himself and pick up different grooves. I'm very impressed with Tommy's sincere and easy going style. He really shows he has the passion for drum playing and it's very contagious. I can see my son is sharing his passion for drum now. I would defintely give this dvd 2 thumbs up!!!

Finally, a drum instruction video that actually teaches you to play something useful on the drums! I own the Steve Smith video and Neil Peart Work in Progress, both very enjoyable and informative, but nothing for my beginning level of drumming. I can copy their rhythms, but Tommy shows how to build grooves from the ground up and lets you play along at 2 tempos. This has been great in helping me learn independence, many styles of rhythms, and it's fun to watch. He's an excellent and encouraging instructor and this video (with poster of the grooves tabbed out) is worth every penny.

I previewed my recently purchased video last night and it has everything that I wanted to build the foundation to become a versatile, well rounded drummer. This video is going to be great for any drummer out there, from the beginner to the advanced. It is designed with the student in mind and is meant to be played with and used as a practice tool. On the basic grooves, Tommy lays everything out in black and white so that you can get a fundamental understanding of coordination and what goes into drumming and playing a groove, and on the more advanced grooves, the camera angles are great at capturing his technique, which is going to be highly beneficial for the more advanced drummers.

If one were to purchase this DVD and systematically practice with it, utilizing the techniques so clearly outlined by Tommy Igoe, in no time at all you could be drumming for a band, and if you got to the point where you could comfortably play all of the grooves contained on the DVD, you would be able to adapt yourself to virtually any drum kit playing situation imaginable. I highly recommend this video to anyone who wants to become a better, more rounded drummer and has a desire to practice and learn.

Amazingly, it's difficult to find a drum instruction method based on just grooving; which, interestingly, is the point in playing the drum set almost all of the time. Igoe actually does what hardly any other author does for the drum set; he teaches one how to groove. Not only that, but this is the most fun program I've ever heard. When you take his DVD lessons and apply them to the songs from the mp3s, it's just so much fun--it's hard to even explain. I've stayed up until 4 am playing to these songs: trying out different groove variations, fills, and solos, and I don't feel like I'm working--I feel like I'm having fun and don't want to go to bed. Best DVD/book ever written for the set!

I hadn't played drums since high school - 40 years ago - and I had never assembled them from scratch. When I ordered myself a set last November I also ordered Tommy's "Getting Started on Drums". I was so impressed by the way he took the mystery out of assembling and tuning the drums as well as the starter lessons on the DVD that I decided to get "Grove Essentals" both the book and this DVD. I was not dissapointed. Once again his teaching style is friendly, animated (not a dry lecture) and easy to follow.

To be honest, I never heard of Tommy Igoe before purchasing the "Groove Essentials" DVD. I purchased this DVD because of the voluminous contentent (almost 4 hrs), and the variety of the grooves. Tommy is certainly enjoying himself, which makes this dvd both instructional and entertaining. If you are not a beginner, you will find the first grooves very easy, but the grooves get more interesting as the programme progresses. As Tommy says in this dvd - "GO FOR IT" - if you do not have it buy it now. You will not be disappointed.