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Ed Bettinelli has been a stylized performing and recording artist
for the past 30 years. Ed's focus over the years has
been on original music, with two projects signed to major record
deals on Geffen and RCA records. Both of these bands involved Ed
assuming most of the day to day business responsibilities along
with writing and arranging contributions. Playing to coliseum capacity
crowds before such acts as PAT BENETAR, BON JOVI, ASIA, AVERAGE
WHITE BAND, SPLIT ENZE, THE TUBES, JACK BRUCE and many others has
well defined Ed's experiences as a dynamic performer.
Recording
with high profile producers such as Keith Olsen, David Thoener,
Gary Lyons, David Prater and Auther Pason has contributed to his
skills as a player and has added to his musical sensibility. Ed's
musical background includes graduating from the Berklee College
of Music, and years of private study with such instructors as Alan
Dawson, Peter Erskine, Gary Burton, Al Miller, Joe Hunt and Kim
Planfield, contribute to his playing and teaching philosophy. Ed
operated E.K.G Music, a music house based in New York City. E.K.G.
Music wrote music for film and T.V commercials.
The
following list of albums credits best represents Ed's playing:
| ARTIST |
ALBUM |
| Preview |
Preview |
| Beg
Borrow & Steal |
Deep
Down Dirty |
| Quandaries |
Who
Needs You |
| Poker
|
Devil's
in the House |
| Chronic
Fatigue |
Cool
Water |
| Kelly
Ward |
Simple
as This |

Private
Instruction Available
Teaching
has been a passion of Ed's for the past 20 years. Ed's students
include aspiring 10 year olds to drummers who play with platinum
artists, some known in the music community as "rock star status
drummers". Teaching such a broad range of students calls on Ed's
ability to size up a student and personalize a program for each
student. Ed stresses the awareness of timing in relationship to
beats and the space between them. Once you become comfortable with
where these beats are you can then take full advantage of the space
between the notes. It's the space between the notes that enables
the player to manipulate, create and control how note's feel to
us as listeners! Song structure and musical sensibility (thinking
like a musician) is also a big part of Ed's teaching. Ed's ability
to play bass guitar brings a unique dimension to his teaching. The
lesson at times transforms into a rhythm section setting.
Ed's
Three-Stage Approach
STAGE
ONE. The student and Ed creates his or her own composition.
Writing drum and bass parts that best support each other. Song structures
and tempo, along with the different ways to count through the sections
of their composition is studied. The song is then charted out and
rehearsed.
STAGE
TWO. The student is asked to play the song form with the drum
chart that the student and teacher wrote out and the student's song
memory. The student has to create and maintain the feel.
STAGE
THREE. The student takes what was learned in Stages One and
Two and plays to a click track. The purpose of stage three is to
prepare the student for any recording he or she might be called
upon to do. The ability to play along to a click track is important
and this is a pure lesson in achieving that goal.
Other
Topics Covered.
Hand and Feet Coordination
Double Bass Drum Technique
Grip & Stroke Technique
Reading and Writing Drum Parts
Listening Analysts
To
find out more about private instruction click on the "Instruction"
link.
A
Personal Note
I
find music that inspires me most is that which is saturated with
heart and soul. I look at beats and fills as words and grooves as
sentences. I try to orchestrate patterns that support the story
line of the song I'm playing (never forfeiting feel for a fill).
It's important to be well read as a player with a strong musical
vocabulary. Try to listen to as many different styles of music as
possible (listening = learning). But keep in mind that just because
you have an extensive musical vocabulary (chops, tricks & licks)
doesn't mean you have to use them all to make you're musical point
(less is more). Always remember, "It's About Time"! Some drummers
that have inspired/ influenced me (keeping me in the wood shed)
are; Tony Williams Steve Gadd Elvin Jones John Bonham Vinnie Colaiuta
Mitch Mitchel Clyde Stubblefield Jabo Starks Jack DeJohnette Jim
Keltner Bernard Purdie David Garibaldi Airto, to name a few.
Thank
you for visiting my site,
Ed Bettinelli

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