CMU and high school students packed the Music Building’s Staples Family
Concert Hall to hear advice from percussionist Peter Erskine Friday.

Erskine, the guest artist for the 32nd annual Jazz Weekend, gave
demonstrations on how to play the eighth note and other beats during
his jazz clinic.

He said drummers should not just play on automatic when performing
music.

“I’ve learned a lot of drum beats over the years but I really
started to learn that I had to think what makes a drum beat,” he said.
“If you don’t think about how the music is supposed to feel it doesn’t
always come out how you want it to sound.”

Erskine started playing the drums at the age of four. He has worked
with groups such as Steeley Dan and the London Symphony Orchestra. He
also played drums for all three Austin Powers movies.

Erskine said drummers should be aware of note subdivisions — the
space between each note — in rhythm and each style of music has its own
subdivision.

Playing with proper posture and the shoulders down will help
maintain good rhythm. Refrain from swinging the sticks high near the
head and swing lower to get a rebound of about 1.5 inches, Erskine
said.

“The consistency of a rebound helps me to play the consistency of
the note,” he said. “Flashy drum stuff is exciting and it has its
place, but to be honest, it’s not going to have its place with most
musicians.”

Erskine said a drummer should be able to play simple beats and give
the rest of the band a musical foundation.

“Our jobs as drummers is to make the musicians feel like they’ve
played the best music they’ve ever played,” he said.

Attendees found the clinic beneficial.

“If I were a drummer I would certainly improve from what he said,”
said Kyle Kern, Caro High School senior. “Where we’re at we don’t get a
lot of outside stuff. We actually get to see someone that has a name to
himself and plays jazz — it’s kind of nice.”

Jonna Lefler, Traverse City freshman, said this was her first time
attending a clinic of this type.

“The way he talked, it was like he had a conversation and it wasn’t
like he was rattling off a bunch of information to a group of people,”
Lefler said. “He was interested in making sure people understood what
he was saying.”

Erskine said music students should continuously listen to other
musicians to see how they solve musical problems and approach the art.

“Every musical experience informs the next. That’s why I’ve always
welcomed playing different styles,” he said.

Erskine’s performance was directed by School of Music professor Eric
Culver. The eBand and Jazz Faculty Combo performed in the Staples
Family Concert Hall.

E-mail the author: defaultuser