{"id":62424,"date":"2014-06-24T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-24T07:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/62424\/get-your-beat-on\/"},"modified":"2014-06-24T09:59:46","modified_gmt":"2014-06-24T07:59:46","slug":"get-your-beat-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2014\/06\/24\/get-your-beat-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Get your beat on"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you listen to music, what is the first thing you notice?<\/p>\n

Is it the guitar, the singing, or could it possibly be the beat?<\/p>

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And what is creating the beat? Drums of course.<\/p>\n

The GCN caught up with two highly skilled and experienced local drummers on Thursday.<\/p>

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Larry Rose and Marcio De Brito have recently opened The Drum Pad Drumming School, in Symhurst.<\/p>\n

The duo has a wealth of drumming experience between them, both in playing professionally and teaching, and they have taught thousands of students.<\/p>\n

Larry has been playing professionally for about 35 years and has been teaching drumming at the National School of the Arts for approximately 17 years.<\/p>\n

He has hit the skins for big bands like Hotline and Cinema, and is currently in the band Clint and Co.<\/p>\n

“During most of that time I have been teaching to supplement my income,” he said.<\/p>\n

Larry started playing the drums at the age of three and has never done anything else.<\/p>\n

Marcio, a former pupil of Larry’s, has been teaching formally and informally for 10 years, and started drumming at the age of 14.<\/p>\n

He is a graduate of the National School of the Arts and his professional playing career has comprised mainly freelance drumming.<\/p>\n

He has played with Mean Mr Mustard and Lloyd Cele, as well as in theatres, and often works as a session musician.<\/p>\n

Both drummers have all the necessary teaching qualifications and love to share their passion and skill with people wanting to learn drumming.<\/p>\n

“We are also still students of drumming ourselves,” said Marcio.<\/p>\n

“The more you drum, the more you see you have much more to learn.”<\/p>\n

Larry echoed these sentiments and said that, as your level of playing gets higher, you feel that you can always play better, and this takes hard work and practise.<\/p>\n

Larry still practices for about two hours a day, to advance his skills.<\/p>\n

Marcio added that being a good drummer is slow progress; it is not done in leaps and bounds.<\/p>\n

He said that becoming a good drummer also depends on how often you practise.<\/p>\n

“If you practise for five hours one day of the week, you are wasting your time,” he explained.<\/p>\n

“But, if you are practising every day for an hour, or even 10 minutes, you will succeed.<\/p>\n

“You should always go into your practise sessions with a goal in mind and try to achieve something.”<\/p>\n

Larry added that you must feel comfortable, then things will become easier.<\/p>\n

“It is fantastic to be able to play drums and get paid for it,” Larry said.<\/p>\n

“Drumming has taken me around the world many times.”<\/p>\n

\"Larry<\/a>
Larry Rose (left) and Marcio De Brito are ready and able to impart their knowledge to young drummers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marcio said that they are keen to impart their knowledge to others and “pass on the baton” so to speak.<\/p>\n

At the drumming school their syllabus is made up of Rock School (where you have the option of doing formal examinations and getting certificates), Trinity, and the duo’s own curriculum.<\/p>\n

They can design courses tailored-made to their students and adopt a well-balanced approach.<\/p>\n

The school also uses good equipment to teach their students, namely Roland Electronics, Spaun drums, Zildjian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks and pads.<\/p>\n

The school is open from Monday to Friday, in the afternoons, and on Saturday mornings.<\/p>\n

For more information visit www.marciodebrito.com or call Larry on 082 889 1846.<\/p>\n

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