Kenwood's Considerations for Evenness1. Velocity: Please play with consistent velocity in terms of dynamics and accents. Play equally hard with both hands. 2. Time: Please use consistency in terms of time and tempo. This is not to be confused with keeping consistency interms of rhythmic execution. 3. Height: Please use consistency in terms of stick height (focus your eyes on the height that the tips of the sticks go to). 4. Location: Please use consistency in terms of tone and location of the attack on the playing surface. 5. Angle: Please use consistency in terms of the angle of the stick when you hit the playing surface. 6. Sticks: Please use even sounding sticks. 7. Fulcrum: Please use an even sounding fulcrum balance point in both hands. 8. Rhythm: Please use consistency in terms of evenness of rhythmic execution. This is not to be confused with keeping a steady tempo. 9. Consistency in terms of interpretation: If you are performing a rudiment, please use consistent interpretation of the rhythm and grace notes, etc. 10. Bounce: Please utilize the same amount of rebound in both hands. Please grip both sticks equally hard. 11. Trajectory: Please be careful that the sticks both follow a consistent trajectory from down to up. Please don't allow the stick to stop in the middle of the trajectory, and let the trajectory be between 12 oclock and 6 oclock, not between 1 oclock and 5 oclock, etc. 12. Gears: Please be consistent in terms of which joint you use to pivot from when you raise the stick up and down: i.e. shoulders elbows, wrists, fingers. 13. Tension: Please don't use extraneous tension in the shoulders or other areas not instrumental in gripping or manipulating the stick. 14. Listening: Please make it a point to listen carefully to your playing in fine detail and use your ears to be the judge of evenness more than your intellect or eyes, etc. |