Lab Involvement at Berklee
In 1984, Gil Graham originated the Advanced Chart Reading Lab at Berklee College of Music as an extension of the Required Lab Program. It offered much more advanced students additional reading challenges, such as changing time feels, meter changes, polyrhythms, and brush technique. The lab made extensive use of the "music minus one" recordings which gave students the opportunity to sight read in a simulated ensemble setting. Each week students sight read charts that included time feels such as up-tempo swing, jazz waltz, samba and funk. Form, figures and the importance of good time were stressed throughout. Materials included Beginning Drum Chart Reading by Gil Graham, and the "music minus one" recordings Contemporary Drummer + 1 (Dave Weckl) and Chord Scale Madness (Jackson Schultz, director).
In 1991, Gil Graham originated the Rhythm Section Workshop to help students prepare for entry into the Ensemble Program. The Workshop gave drummers the opportunity, often for the first time, to play in a trio setting. This lab used simple swing and bossa charts to teach the importance of playing good time, working closely with the bass player, blending with the ensemble, and accuracy in the form and figures.
Other Course Involvement:
Gil Graham was actively involved in the Percussion Department's Required Lab Program, preparing students for a career in music by strengthening their performing skills. The program was a progressive four-course sequence designed to prepare students for required percussion examinations and to increase their ability to participate in a wide range of ensembles.
Drum Lab One:- overall hand development and stick control, including basic grip and sticking techniques, rolls, ruffs, flams
- snare drum reading, including dynamics, accents, sticking, and simple embellishments in orchestral and rudimental styles
- materials included Stick Control (George Stone), Syncopation (Ted Reed), and Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer (Garwood Whaley)
- development of drum set time playing and improvisational skills
- basic knowledge of swing and bossa nova time feels
- reading basic drum charts and lead sheets
- more advanced snare drum techniques and reading studies
- "music minus one" recordings Voyage (Stan Getz, Kenny Barron, Brian Torff), Blues Alley Jazz (George Shearing, Brian Torff), Chops (Joe Pass, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen)
- materials included Modern Reading Text in 4/4 (Gil Brines, Louis Belson), Syncopation (Ted Reed), and Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer (Garwood Whaley)
- basic knowledge of waltz and samba time feels
- more advanced independence, coordination, and chart-reading skills
- brush technique on medium tempo 4/4 swing
- reading basic drum charts and lead sheets
- "music minus one" recordings Jazz Drumming (Billy Hart) and Jazz Lead Sheets (Dave Weigart)
- materials included Modern Reading Text in 4/4 (Gil Brines, Louis Belson) and Syncopation (Ted Reed)
- intermediate drum chart reading in small and large ensembles with swing, bossa, funk and samba feels
- form, figures, and the importance of good time
- "music minus one" recordings Etudes and Lead Sheets (Dave Weigart)
- materials included Beginning Drum Chart Reading (Gil Graham)