How Murray Spivack Taught Me drums through ‘Stick Control’ Many drum enthusiasts have delved into the timeless classic ‘Stick Control.’ However, Murray, a personal acquaintance of the book’s author, had a unique perspective on its teachings. He believed that most people approached it incorrectly. Regardless of whether his interpretation was deemed right or wrong, Murray’s approach to ‘Stick Control’ had a profound impact on my drumming journey and significantly improved my skills.
Stick Control Spivack Method Exercise 1
How Murray Spivack taught me drums
Stick Control Exercise 2-4
Ken Hada Drums
Things you will need to study Murray Spivack’s Drum Method (paid links)
Joey Grijalva and I wrote the song “Home” in 1992. The song lived on the album also named “Home” by our band Shoot The Moon. In fact Joey Grijalva and I wrote the entire Home album in a single evening.
If you owned a home studio in 1992 you could make a recording like this.
The Musicians
The musicians on Home are as follows, Joey Grijalva on guitars and vocals, Ken Hada, drums, keyboards, and backing vocals, John Horne Bass, and Julie Van Duren on backing vocals.
Joey Grijalva used a Carvin DC 135 through a Korg A3 for most of the rhythm guitar parts
John Horne used a Tobias Killer B bass plugged directly into the Studiomaster.
Ken Hada (me) used a Slingerland Maple drumset, with a DW wood snare drum. Ken hada used an assortment of Zildjian and Paiste cymbals.
For more information about how Shoot The Moon recorded their songs check out the Moon Studio section of this website.
Art Podcast i had a conversation Words Push Things Around
Words Push Things Around
I few months ago I decided to give podcasts a try. You might think why podcasts? They are so stark, no pictures, no video, and no text. Instead of all the stimulating visual things that make the internet so fun podcasts rely on sound alone. Thats right, but sound can be very interesting. And why not sound? If I were you I would not underestimate sound. Sound is glorious and the sound of words are not to bad either.
As a matter of fact words have propelled this world forward for a long time. People have used words to do really great things and really bad things. Words can change a student into a doctor, and a single person into a spouse. Words push around so many things in our world. And if you use your words at someone else they might use some towards you. Sort of like a conversation.
Conversations can be very interesting to listen to or participate in. Im not talking about conversations on Reddit, a newsgroup or your favorite web forum. Im not even talking about conversations on text or dm. Im talking about real conversations (the in person type). Conversations that have no reason, nothing to sell, and nothing to prove. Conversations that talk about art of all things. That thing we do or admire that somehow makes sense. That art thing that makes us feel a feeling or elevates us. Art conversations on things like photography, skateboarding, music, poetry, or acting.
If you made it this far you might like to listen to my conversations with my friends. Friends I like and respect. Friends that I believe in. I think they have interesting things to say and you might think so too. I hope you will enjoy a series of podcast I create called “i Had a conversation”
Meeting Tony Williams was a special moment in my life. Even though at the time I didnt realize how much of a force he was. As a matter of fact when I was young, I used to follow all these famous drummers. In fact I studied with Chad Wackerman. And I loved Terry Bozzio’s drumming. And thought Vinnie Colaiuta was some kind of drum diety. Well after years of playing and listening to drums I began to hear Tony’s influence in some of my drum hero’s playing.
I was lucky enough to meet Tony Williams (thanks to the dude on bass in this video, Bunny Brunel). In fact one day while on the road with Kazumi Watanabe’s band Bunny asked John Wackerman and I if we would like to meet Tony. Of course we wanted to meet Tony! At the time we were all staying at the Keio Plaza. And Tony was in the lobby of the hotel. So we went to the lobby and there was Tony Williams! Of course Tony was kind and cordial. Unlike his We didn’t say too much to each other. But he had a depth to his presence that I have not sensed in many people. In the end I can only say that Tony still has a huge influence on me. And that to this day I try to borrow his creativity and individuality for my own art.
Here is a picture from the Kazumi Watanabe tour Boston. A year or so before this story.
I love this candid photo from NAMM 2008 of John Stamos and Jeffrey Foskett. For me, for some reason (maybe the Carl Wilson beard) this has a Beach Boys vibe to it. When I see this photo I am reminded of many funny stories about Jeff and John over the decades.
I ran into my old mentor Roy Burns today at the 2017 NAMM show in Anaheim California. I first studied drums with Roy back in 1982 or so. At that time he was just starting his company Aquarian Drumheads. He taught me about drumming with the help of his books and his mentors books (Jim Chapin). And he also taught me how the mind and emotions could interfere with one’s natural capacities via books like “Zen and the Art of Tennis”.
I was standing in front of the Aquarian booth waiting for John Wackerman to say hello to the company that supplies drumheads for promotional purposes. I saw Roy there with the usual crowd of people around him. I think John, Chuck Wackerman or maybe it was Chris Brady told Roy that his old student Ken was here. Roy said I thought that was Ken but it looks like he lost 100 pounds. Roy told me to sit next to him and that he was very happy to see me. He told me a story about his drum mentor Jim Chapin and in that moment I felt he was on some level speaking about he and I. He spoke of pride and its effect on one’s ability to embrace change. I felt as if I was 18 years old again listening Roy talk philosophy.
Someday I may write a lot more about Roy, he has this endless understanding of human nature mixed with conservative ideals. Truly someone you would want to sit and talk with for a long time. Im lucky to say that he has always felt comfortable enough around me to share some deep concepts.
I have never met anyone like Roy Burns and I have a feeling I never will. Thank you Roy I heard everything you said, and you had a profound impact on my life.
Christmas Land by Shoot The Moon. In the first place, I was at a point in my life where the feeling one gets from the Christmas Season began to fade. For the purpose of, remembering a good holiday season I decided to write a set of Christmas songs. Equally important, I asked my friend and bandmate Joey Grijalva to join me. Ultimately, we called our Christmas Album Moon Christmas.
Furthermore, the working title for this song was Christmas Land, looking back I probably should have called it Christmas Show. As a matter of fact, my original intent when writing this song was to make a story about remembering and hanging on to the good parts of Christmas. Furthermore, to sort of go back to that person you were when you really loved the Christmas holiday
As far as I remember, I composed this in Studio Visions (one of the early DAW’s). I remember mapping out the song with keyboards. And asking Joey and John to play along to the recording. In fact, they are amazing musicians because many of these tracks did not have click tracks. The wonderful backing vocals are Julie Van Duren.
Cover photo was made by Dave Sparks. Cassette sleeve created in Pagemaker. And we had this album pressed at Rainbow Records.
Recording gear used
Christmas Land by Shoot The Moon was recorded in my (home studio) garage, on an Akai MG1214 aka Akai 12 track (the same unit used to record the U2 album Rattle and Hum). Additionally, used an old Studiomaster mixing board (I bought off Chad Wackerman or John Wackerman), Studio Visions DAW, Quadra 650, assorted 421, 414, sony, and Shure mics, Alesis compressors, timecode machine, assorted keyboards, Yamaha spx90.
When I studied with Murray he was in his late 80’s. I was his last student of the day on fridays so it was my job to drive him to Farmers Market get some corned beef and cabbage then go to his apartment and dine with him. During our meals together we would talk about all the famous drummers he had taught, he talked about their skill levels temperament etc. Since I had a personal interest in sound engineering I would pick his brain about his audio career. Murray would talk about which mic Julie Andrews or Barbra Streisand preferred. How he balanced all the rounds in the parade scene of Hello Dolly. I even have some recoardings he made for me from his personal reel to reel of the board mixes from West Side Story. His apartment even had some Hollywood history. It contain his academy award from the original King Kong. And was party central for the likes of actors such as Fred Aster as well as the heads of the major studios.
