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Benny Greb The Language of Drumming |  | Director: Christian Striboll
Actor: Benny Greb
Studio: Hudson Music
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $23.37
as of 7/29/2010 11:11 UTC details
You Save: $16.58 (42%)
New (19) Used (9) from $23.36
Seller: blowitoutahere
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 14929
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), German (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Region: 0
Discs: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Running Time: 192 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
A revolutionary addition to drum education, this DVD presents the method created and used by internationally-acclaimed drummer Benny Greb to develop his awe-inspiring creativity, musicality and technique. From the overture and opening credits to the movie-within-a-movie menu, viewers of The Language Of Drumming will immediately sense that even though they're watching a drumming DVD they may well be seeing the beginning of a new era in music education. Beyond its amazingly clever concepts, beauti
MPN: HL0320837
UPC: 884088310721
EAN: 0884088310721
ASIN: B001NX6H96
Theatrical Release Date: 2009
Release Date: February 17, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Special Features: Includes a comprehensive archive of printable PDF charts and exercises, additional drum solos, performances with percussionist Pete Lockett and the Benny Greb Brass Band, world tour documentary, Meinl and Promark factory visits and a full size poster | | • | Running Time: 3 hours, 12 minutes | | • | Number of Discs: 2 |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A revolutionary addition to drum education, this DVD presents the method created and used by internationally-acclaimed drummer Benny Greb to develop his awe-inspiring creativity, musicality and technique. From the overture and opening credits to the movie-within-a-movie menu, viewers of The Language Of Drumming will immediately sense that even though they're watching a drumming DVD they may well be seeing the beginning of a new era in music education. Beyond its amazingly clever concepts, beautiful sets and Academy-award worthy production values, this groundbreaking two-disc set also presents extraordinary European drummer Benny Greb and his advanced approach to making music that raises the art of drumming to an entirely new level. As Greb explains in his initial on-camera comments, learning to play the drums is like learning to speak a language. Greb makes the point that knowing a few basic drum beats and fills is like knowing only a few standard phrases in a language; they won't allow you to communicate clearly or have a full, interactive conversation in practical situations.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
 Brilliant and Efficient May 23, 2010
Nicholas R. Lang (Milwaukee, WI)
As a percussion student that is always stretched too thin on time, I'm always in search of a systematic approach to cover all of my bases on drums: rhythm, time, dynamics, sticking exercises, rudiments, four-way coordination, etc. Finding an efficient system has been the bane of my existence for years.
Benny Greb's alphabet system is a very comprehensive approach. He codifies 24 "letters" which represent all the rhythmic possibilities in music. What it shows is that in a majority of all music (rock, classical, jazz, world music, etc.), a lot of the same rhythmic material is used. Hundreds of years, encompassing millions of pieces, mainly rely on these 24 rhythms. He even challenges you to take a piece of music from classical repertoire, and point out the "letters" in that piece.
Back to the system. Like learning language, he starts with a basic understanding of the letters, and the sound they make. You start without drums, or sticks; you just clap the letters, providing a good mental workout. Then, at the snare drum, you practice rhythmic accuracy, dynamics, rudiments, and sticking exercises. Then, you move to the drum set, and apply the letters to a different limb, giving you a four-way coordination workout.
Beyond that, he talks about soloing in a more musical way, thinking of making sentences, and other materials.
Before this, I had barely heard of Benny Greb. According to another reviewer, his playing credits aren't very vast. I say, So what? And there is indeed something very "New Breed" about this approach. However, the New Breed didn't address several aspects of this DVD, like snare technique, or soloing ideas.
This system, and this DVD in general, amalgamate several methods from the past, and present them in a very gradual, comprehensive approach, that applies to beginning students, all the way through professional players. Plus, there's a printable PDF booklet of like 60 pages! Bonus, there's three german guys in lederhosen singing and playing accordion at various spots. The german guys don't help the system at all, but I find it humorous.
One of the Most Innovative Drummers in the World! May 14, 2010
William L. Makiling (Ventura, CA)
Benny's approach to music and drumming is revolutionary. He plays the drums unlike any person I've ever watched, and I've been at this for over 30 years! Exercises range from very simple to very complex. The performances are AMAZING! He makes his drum set sound like an entire drum circle. I would love to study with this guy in person.
 Who Is Benny Greb? April 28, 2010
Tom Schmidt (San Francisco, CA)
1 out of 9 found this review helpful
Who is Benny Greb? I ask this because I didn't know who Benny Greb was when I first saw this DVD with so many positive reviews. I bought the DVD on a lark, and I also did some research on Benny Greb.
On this DVD, Greb teaches a system he's devised that's already been expressed in other books/methods. That doesn't make his system bad, it's just nothing new. (Check out The New Breed, which is a truly BRILLIANT system by the late Gary Chester). Nonetheless, if you get something out of Greb's system then it's worthwhile. Personally, it doesn't add anything new to my own studies.
Basic research indicates that Greb has played with almost no one. Other than a project of his own, Greb has zero credits. Why would we drummers (who are musicians) take advice from a practice room drummer of no particular note? Even more to the point, why is Hudson Music giving a platform to a practice room drummer of no particular note? Considering the number of great drummer/musicians out there who have extensive experience and so much to offer, to give Greb his own DVD at this point in his musical life is somewhat strange. For instance, Greb plays a solo at the end of this DVD which shows his playing to be utterly pedestrian. All "drumistic" stuff. No interesting phrasing. No interesting melodic content. By a drummer, for a drummer. If those are the results of practicing his system, I'd say steer clear of it.
Two stars for Greb's system, which is useful for drummers to learn to internalize time. After that, this DVD doesn't have much to offer.
Listen to recordings of Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Bruford, Peter Erskine, Joey Baron, Bobby Previte, Bill Stewart, Jeff Watts. Listen to their phrasing. Listen to the music they make. That's what will open doors for you.
Brilliant April 8, 2010
Trevor Chambers (san jose, ca)
This is a drum-life changing DVD. Getting inside Benny's head and seeing his approach to drumming has connected me with the big picture of drumming in a powerful way. His way of breaking down the entirety of drumming into a 'simple' language is refreshing. Realizing that it will still take forever to come close to mastering the language is now a little less frustrating as he essentially gives you open ended and infinitely reaching practice exercises that only require your dedication and a little bit of creativity. A true master of the art... listen to what Benny believes is important to drums. Well made DVD with loads of valuable instruction and some good humor.
Very good, After Jojo DVD this is the one to buy February 3, 2010
O. Perry (rehovot Israel)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
You probably bought the Jojo mayer DVD, and you ask yourself what next.
Well Benny DVD is the next thing :) ,( avoid Todd DVD (not so good, doesn't teach anything ..).
In This DVD (which is beautifully edited,produced, photographed (and again photographed )) you will learn new language, new concept, this DVD is definitely not for beginners, as they could get confused.
Benny, first a great drummer, and a great person, explain every thing very clearly, you can actually feel that you are sitting with a teacher in beautiful scenic places , in a VERY good drum class. Not like many DVD that doesn't teach you anything.
the first DVD is one hour of full material that has to be learnt slowly and practiced.
The second DVD is more of tips and tricks and other stuff that usually, in most DVDs that I saw until today, doesn't show anything interesting, even in this DVD Benny manage to show some nice tricks , that can really help.
As said before this DVD is filmed in amazing places, it is even nice to look at it if you are not in the drum biz.
VERY GOOD JOB!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
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