Hahahaha now I know after reading through this Thread - Why Tama asked me last Friday "Hey Eric, how come got drummers asking me to teach lah when I was at Regent watching him play, Tama don't have the time to teach really - Did you guys posted something that he is Taking Students"...I said "No LeY - Where Got " ....hahahaha - - so it's Weckl_X Kekekekeke.
Anyway back to Topic.
To me I find Alvin to be one of the most wonderful Drum Instructor I ever had. because as I've mentioned before, I was taught not only Drumming as in Drumming(of course this is core to my lessons) , but more than that - Music Education...There is a difference here-That's what makes me learn and play so much better. Time had proven that in just 6 short months - I improved so much (when I play in the Band)...I could do things I never dream't I could do in a short 6 months.
In my practice, I will practice stuffs at a slow-speed of 50, just to get it (the Timming and Sound) right and as perfect as possible. Such training, to many would feel (a Waste Of Time) - but not true, if one would have the endurance and disclipine to go through this exercises.......Let me share with you my experiences here.
I remember my Band Leader telling me oneday on my 5th month with Alvin to "Try Out what I learn from Music Lab and applied it at the Band Rehersal" - and I was scared to death saying " My Instructor get me to practice only at 50 all the Rythmn Patterns and Rudiments, I don't think I am ready lah" ..... But they say 'Do It & Try It" and.... Believe me - I thought I was out of shape and I really had no ideas what would come out applying those things I did in my lessons. What follows was something I never forget. We played the usual Bebop & Funk stuffs (but I really applied what I learn now) ... I put both my hands on the Kit and it played by themselves while I watch, and what I did played blows my KeyBoardists and my Bassists, not only was I good, but I was so much better (so much better) than I usually played. The changes was really astounding. I played totally different nowadays, my touch usually hard and strained now sounded balanced and beautiful and my feel was real good. I had discovered I am not really that bad a drummer. This makes me a believer that - my instructor knew exactly what was installed for me in all my lessons - but I found it's worth from here. If I had back out, not to do the so call (Boring-Stuffs everyday which was the most important stuffs now that I truly realised) - I would never have reach where I am today......It's like Piano 'The One-Finger Exercise or the 5 Minutes Concept Thing (I will not dwell on this) - just sometyhing that is Be Kind To Yourself, where I finally is able to let myself go and hear the Music and I became more aware of myself, and I notice some good things in these kind of practices in my musical life..
Because I read alot of stuffs today too (besides listening alot). It's not about Technical Stuffs of Drumming (I have my Instructor to planned that for me in my Physical Drumming Training each week) - it's about MUSIC EDUCATION, It's about the MIND, It's about EARS - It's about some Philosophy of Music.....where there's alot of things here - These are the Things that will play a more important part in how far I move in my drumming.....Learning from Alvin had gave me a broader perspective of what Drumming is really all about - I mean Music is all about....all I could say is - He is a great Instructor and Educator in fact the best I ever encounter.
At the end of the day, Music, drumming is about Having FUN & LOVE FOR IT, it not about Getting Stress-Up, nor Making How Much Money nor Ego - If it is - It defeat the purpose of Music & Drumming, and if we do think this way then no matter how - we will never be great in our drumming no matter how much we tried. This is something valuable that I learn too
Unfortunately, Alvin is fully booked too, so I do not know if he has any avialable time slot for any more students. If he does - Grap It !.
Eric
