His tranisition from the letters to the odd groupings jumps too quickly imho but maybe that’s just me. I am an intermediate player (20yrs exp.) and had to watch this section a few times before I picked up what he was doing. I guess I’m more of a visual person and like to see those polyrhythmic phrases written down so I can where they resolve. This is obviiously the opposite of what Beeny is trying to demonstrate and I did find that using the his phrases, ‘university’ etc away from the kit good fun to practise too.

What I found very hard was trying to do this at a different tempo. I quickly became used to feelin’ the time only at that tempo. As soon as I tried to do it a little bit faster I found myself using the syllabifications of ‘radio, university’ etc too fast.

Sorry that my response has been more about what I have been practising as a result of watching the DVD and not more about the DVD per se. I guess I was sharing what I have already gotten from the DVD after a quick run through and also watching one of the sections repeatedly.

I really liked the exercises at the beginning and are currently using these as daily practice on the pad. Can’t wait to get on the kit (hard with kids around!!) and give the bass drum exercises a try as well.

I wish there were more examples of his playing along to songs etc as I think he is a GREAT drummer from what I saw on this DVD and will definitely be chasing down some of his work.

The scene with the tabla master and Greb on the mountain top was interesting (I enjoyed it), but more time spent w/application of the ‘Language of Drumming’ preceding it would have been time better spent.

The segment on how to more sounds out of your kit was fun and informative, but some of it was a bit silly (eg water bottles).

Working with a click was a good section, especially the in/out click tracking (it’s audibly on and then off so you can gauge your internal clock) . So many drummers are never exposed to the methods of playing with a click presented on the DVD. A grade material here.

A well produced DVD that, as many are now days, would benefit from more applicable content and planning to that end. Instructional DVDs would be better served structured as a story: beginning, middle, end; and in a logical progression that sticks to the thesis. In this case, Mr Greb’s “Language of Drumming” concept. Disk two is very nearly a non-sequitur to disk one in this regard. It play as an afterthought to his concept for the DVD.

Still, a very good video worth adding to anyone’s library.

Having consistent time is a necessity but so is being able to work with a reference like a metronome.