Product Details

• Actors: Benny Greb
• Directors: Christian Striboll
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, German
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Hudson Music
• DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009
• Run Time: 192 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001NX6H96
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,429 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A revolutionary addition to drum education, this DVD presents the method created and used by internationally-acclaimed drummer Benny Greb to develop his awe-inspiring creativity, musicality and technique. From the overture and opening credits to the movie-within-a-movie menu, viewers of The Language Of Drumming will immediately sense that even though they re watching a drumming DVD they may well be seeing the beginning of a new era in music education. Beyond its amazingly clever concepts, beautiful sets and Academy-award worthy production values, this groundbreaking two-disc set also presents extraordinary European drummer Benny Greb and his advanced approach to making music that raises the art of drumming to an entirely new level. As Greb explains in his initial on-camera comments, learning to play the drums is like learning to speak a language. Greb makes the point that knowing a few basic drum beats and fills is like knowing only a few standard phrases in a language; they won t allow you to communicate clearly or have a full, interactive conversation in practical situations. Greb s carefully thought-through solution and a quantum leap in drum education is to learn the language of drumming by starting with its smallest components: the individual letters of the rhythmic alphabet. Greb then introduces his revolutionary 24-character system and shows how to use the basic binary and ternary rhythms to develop timing, technique, dynamic control and speed... even the traditional drum rudiments. Covering hands and feet, with and without a practice pad, he quickly progresses from simple alphabetical exercises to more intricate examples of words (rhythmic phrases) and syntax (sentences and vocabulary) on the full drumset. The second disc goes on to include a vast amount of additional information, from practical discussions about the importance of listening, building fills and solos using standard improvisational forms, and developing better time and expanding rhythmic comfort zones through creative use of a metronome to somewhat more esoteric examples of finding new and alternative sounds on the drumset. Throughout the entire presentation, Greb flawlessly performs exercises and patterns that illustrate his theories while referring to the comprehensive archive of printable PDF charts and exercises that are included on the discs. The double-DVD also features several drum solos as well as Greb s performances with master percussionist Pete Lockett and the Benny Greb Brass Band plus a wealth of bonus material and is recommended for all drummers (from beginners to professionals) and drum teachers. Also includes a comprehensive archive of printable PDF charts and exercises, additional drum solos, performances with percussionist Pete Lockett and the Benny Greb Brass Band, a full size poster, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The language of drumming, March 15, 2009

By	Brune Benoît (France) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple AND complex, fun, and genius, June 4, 2009

By	Andrew Van Velsor - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, entertaining, eye-popping, and jaw-dropping, April 24, 2009

By	Blackbird Crow Raven "Blackbird Crow Raven" (Oconomowoc, WI USA (but my heart is in the gold rush country of Northern California)) - See all my reviews

I didn't give this DVD 5 stars only because I hardly ever give anything five stars. That doesn't mean I didn't love this, though: Benny Greb is obviously a likeable, humorous cat - his winning personality, genuineness, and enthusiasm shine through the entire project.

And not only that, watching this DVD was a "mind-expanding" experience for me: it opens up a new way of looking at drumming methods, and offers a new set of rudiments, so to speak; also, being creative with drumset setup and configuration, and using "found" objects with or as percussion helpers or objects is displayed.

Don't miss the segment at the end of Disc 1 where Benny gets percussive on kitchen gadgets, and at the end of Disc 2 when "Old Benny" (his dad) appears in a "cameo."

The mountaintop jam with the bongo (correct terminology?) cat, and the duet with Johnny Rabb are also highlights - you'll be grinning from ear to ear and wondering aloud, "Was zum Teufel ist hier los?!?!"