10th Anniversary Celebration 2018-19!
Mastering the Tables of Time
Mastering the Tables of Time provides an inclusive framework combining studies in timekeeping, coordination, rudiments, polyrhythms and dynamic control into musical applications to benefit any player interested in developing a stronger foundation, greater confidence and freedom of expression in any musical direction.
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Chapter Studies
Introducing the Standard Timetable
The Standard Timetable focuses on duple and triple subdivisions most commonly used in popular music that expand or contract rhythmic phrases into half, double, and triple-time feels. One timetable provides several tempo applications.
Musical Phrasing
Once you can play the basic subdivisions of the Standard Timetable comfortably, musical phrasing is the logical next step. Musical styles are defined by how the subdivisions within their rhythms are phrased to give the proper feeling to the music.
4-Way Coordination
To develop coordination the drumset, think of it in the collective sense, like our body, as one instrument. Coordination is a tool for developing the freedom to spontaneously play what you hear in your head, staying focused on musical expression and not mechanics when performing.
Selected Rudimental Variations
Rudimental stickings were designed to give the snare drummer a rhythmic vocabulary and foundation for executing military cadences with consistent precision and a bit of flair. Their incorporation into classical and jazz music elevated rudimental use to a greater art form today in many styles of music.
Abstract Timetable Studies
The concept of the Abstract Timetable allows for the exploration of syncopated rhythms that vary from the common flow of subdivisions of the Standard or World Timetables, but are effectively applicable to the timetable format and musical expression.
Basic Polyrhythms & Hemiola
"Poly" means many. The use of two or more metric frameworks played simultaneously is what we define as a polyrhythm. Hemiola is a rhythmic form of counterpoint that introduces a new type of meter on top of a previously existing one, creating a polyrhythm.
Contemporary Backbeat Grooves
Syncopation is our occupation. A backbeat is synonymous with the definition of syncopation. The balance of the downbeat/backbeat continuum is less regimented in feel with an emphasis on the backbeat, instilling the urge to dance rather than march.
Modern Jazz Grooves
Jazz is built around freedom of improvisation and social democracy in its practice. As the music has evolved, freedom for the drummer has expanded as well. The influence of world culture introduced new rhythms, odd meters, and advanced polyrhythmic concepts into the language of jazz.
Soloing Applicatons
A message telegraphed across quiet African plains; the melody of tympani in a concert hall; slapping skins on a Cuban street corner; blisteringly fast logic and form in a hot NYC nightclub; an explosion of sound, lights and smoke in an arena. The song of the drum solo has been sung in many ways over the centuries.
Introducing the World Timetable
The World Timetable employs a rhythm scale that shifts its value groupings gradually, like the gears on a bike, from 1 to 9 notes (or more) per beat as follows: quarter-notes, 8th-notes, 8th-note triplets, 16th-notes, quintuplets, sextuplets, octuplets, and nontuplets, etc.
Voted Modern Drummer Readers Poll Winner 2009
Mastering the Tables of Time
Community Reviews
WINNER! #1 EDUCATIONAL BOOK
2009 Modern Drummer Readers Poll
“Dive in; you’ll find that these exercises will help build upon and improve your independence, creativity, timekeeping skills, and musical phrasing.”
RHYTHM
UK
“Fascinating, challenging possibilities through sticking, time and rhythm concepts. Easily understandable. You can feel yourself improving. A future classic!”
PERCUSSIVE NOTES
Journal of the Percussive Arts Society
“This book should become one of the perennial methods for drumset along with other books like Ted Reed’s Syncopation, Jim Chapin’s Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, and Gary Chester’s The New Breed.”
Peer
Reviews
What users say!
David Stanoch
David played his first professional gig at age 12, launching an eclectic career performing with artists in jazz, rock, R&B, Broadway, motion pictures and television. He’s written for MODERN DRUMMER, contributed to Jim Berkenstadt’s book, The Beatle Who Vanished, co-authored The 2 in 1 Drummer, and wrote Mastering the Tables of Time––voted “#1 Edu Book,” MODERN DRUMMER 2009 Readers Poll.
David studied with many of drumming’s greatest masters and now serves on the PAS Drumset Committee, the MODERN DRUMMER, Remo, and Vic Firth Educational Teams.