Monday, January 27, 2020

A history of drumming

A history of drumming Drumming is a great way to express emotions in a musical form. Over the years drumming has changed a lot, from using just a log to using a full drum set full of different types. Many forms have come into style over the years from jazz drumming to metal-core drumming. Drumming has changed over the years from its equipment to the styles people now use. Drumming is one of the most primitive ways to create music and it has been around for eons ever since man could hold a stick he has been hitting it against some other object. The Africans have been using drumming for a long and they still use today just for about everything, it is used for ceremonies and some even use for finding food. Back in the revolutionary war drums where used to help the soldiers walk in time for when they where marching it was also used in combat to help them over come the fear these where know as war drums. Eventually man started to use drums with other instruments to come up with more types of music such as Jazz, Swing and some of the more modern rock and blues all use drums. Over the years there have been many famous people in the drumming industry from all types of music. Some great examples are Danny Carey, Jimmy Cobb, Blake Richardson and one of these drummer are well know for there bands there in and the styles they have developed over the years of play ing drums. Now Danny Carey is from the band called Tool and is know for is very off the wall random timing drumming which is very hard for other drummers to follow when they listen to his music. His style is so hard to follow because he doesnt have a set timing he goes by he just throws his sounds in where he thinks they would sound the best and that is what makes him and his band so unique from other bands. Jimmy Cobb is from the thirties and he is known for being one of the most famous jazz drummers he is mainly a self taught drummer and in know for one of the most famous jazz songs called Kind of Blue. He has played at many famous places but the one that he played in the made his so famous was Carnegie Hall. Now North Carolina is know for a lot of things but with todays music one of the more famous drummers to come out of these hill is Blake Richardson who plays with the band Between the Buried and Me. Blake and his band are known for the more progressive style of music and Blake style is all of his own in 2008 he was voted the worlds third best drummer. (History of Drumming) A style that has become more noticeable is metal-core drumming. Metal drumming is a very misunderstood style of drumming. Some think that it is comprised of just random beats that are just thrown together; but it is actually a pretty technical form of drumming. It contains some very complex rolls and fills that require the player to be focused at all times. Metal drumming originated from both the swing and jazz style of drumming, which are some of the earliest forms of drumming. Most, if not all, metal drummers train in some version of jazz and swing style when taking lessons. Metal has always incorporated jazz and swing to help them become great drummers. Jazz helps by adding more fluidity to drumming, while swing helps with speed, precision, and foot speed. (Healthy Drumming) Metal drumming has proven to be one of the more difficult forms of drumming, because of the speed required. In addition, this style of drumming has some of the more complicated beats. Some famous drummers in the metal world is Blake Richardson from the band Between the Buried and Me, Danny Carey from Tool, and Matt Greiner from August Burns Red. Each of these drummers all have their own unique playing styles, which they have developed over many years of playing the drums. Blake Richardson took many drum lessons which included jazz and swing he says Jazz and Swing are vital to any drummer if they want to become a great drummer, it helps you in many ways it helps improve your stamina do to the constant playing at a fast tempo. (Healthy Drumming) Swing drumming is a very important drum style mainly because the music is quite fast, and the beats are complex. Swing goes by many names: swing jazz, swing music, and just swing. It has been around since the 1930s it was a new upbeat version of jazz that was created so that the music could keep up with the new faster moving dances and around 1935, it had made come into its own distinctive style. Swing drumming used a lot of a technique called double bass, which helps drummers pick up the pace of a song more quickly. The double bass is where the bass drum has to kick pedals connected together so that both feet can kick the bass drum and make it sound like the drummer is playing faster. Once swing drummers incorporated double bass, the sound to make their music have more of brutal of a sound. (Healthy Drumming) The equipment for drumming has evolved greatly since its inception millions of years ago. When man first started drumming, the set up consisted of a hollow log and a medium sized stick; in contrast, todays drum set is more sophisticated. For example, cymbals made a great improvement in the sound of music with its ability to help a drummer to keep the timing of a song. When drummers buy cymbals, they have to take in how much splash or crash they want. Splash cymbals vary in sizes from six to twelve inches. The splash is often a syncopated accent to the drum. These cymbals are often hit very hard so they had to make them a little thicker. However, this thickness can cut down on the richness of the sound that they produce. Splash is a nice little cymbal to add to a drum kit because the sound it produces can add to any genre of music, not just metal or jazz. Then there are crash cymbals which are used of occasional accents and they usually add a sharp sound to the song. The term crash wa s first used by the company Zildjian who has making cymbals for over 40 years. Crash Cymbals can be mounted on a stand and played with a stick or they can be played with mallets to give them a slower sound and a more swelling crash. (Rhythmic Power) Bass drums are another crucial part to drumming, because it adds a backbone to the song itself. In other words, it gives the beat a deeper sound. Swing utilizes the bass drum very well. Originally the bass drum was help keep timing so the drummer would not kick all that quickly they kept it to a 4/4 beat a 4/4 beat is a technique that all musicians use to mark the tempo of the song. But in Swing there was the creation of the double bass pedal which allowed drummers to create an even faster beat and let them use the bass drum in different ways from keeping time to rolling on it to add the sound. There are a majority of different types of pedals, ranging from titanium pedals and aluminum pedals, to coil pedals and chain pedals. Iron Cobra is one of the more common of the pedal distributors and there latest pedal The Iron Cobra power glide double pedal uses a coil under the pedal itself to add to the power of the pedal and it also cuts down on how much energy the player uses. (Rhythmic Power) Snare drums play an even larger role in drumming than any of there other pieces I just listed mainly because it is one the first pieces ever made. The Snare drum was created originally for combat for soldiers to use on there way to battler back during the revolutionary war. Now the snare is used for all kinds of music related things it is used a lot in drum line it is the focus piece in drum line. In drum line there is usually three snare drum players that lead the rest of the line and if they get off beat even for a moment then they through the rest of the line off rhythm. Snares are usually one type of sound but some come with a dampener on them which release the springs that are attached to the bottom of the snare and when they are released it give the drum amore bass sound. There are assortment stands that can come with the snare some are made for standing up and some made for knee height when the player is sitting down. There is also the synthesized snare drum which is a pad tha t is connected to a small computer that has a large number of sounds built into its database. This snare is used as a side snare so that the drummer can use a normal snare and then this snare to give there sound a more distinct sound from other drummers. (Rhythmic Power) In conclusion drumming has been around for many years and it has been changed about every year it has been around. The equipment has changed in many different ways over the years they have been made more modern from there original forms. Forms of drumming has changed just as much as the equipment changing from just beats people put together to more distinct styles such as jazz, swing and metal. And the history for drumming is very vast since it is one of the precursors of music. Work Cited The Recorded History of Jazz Drumming. Public domain. Web. 29 Oct. 2009. . Of, Editors, and Adam Budofsky. The Drummer 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and Invention. Minneapolis: Modern Drummer Publications, 2006. Print. Nichols, Geoff. The Drum Book The History of the Rock Drum Kit. New York: Backbeat Books, 1997. Print. History of Drums. Free Articles Directory | Submit Articles ArticlesBase.com. Web. 29 Oct. 2009. . Healthy Drumming ÂÂ » Drumming Styles and Facilitator. Healthy Drumming ÂÂ » Home. Web. 29 Oct. 2009. .

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Equality for Race Essay

As a teenager growing up in the 1990’s, I have realized the overwhelming importance of racial equality and cooperation in our society. I strongly believe that the key to the success of America’s future is the breaking down of all racial barriers and working together as one, united nation to try to bring this country back to the land of true â€Å"equal† opportunity. These past few years have been trying times for open-mindedness for Americans. Witnessing the vicious beating of Rodney King, the riots that followed the King verdict where Reginald Denny was brutally and senselessly beaten, had the whole country on edge. The single biggest court case in this country’s history – that of O.J. Simpson – was blanketed with racial overtones. The verdict had the country almost divided over the decision. Now Louis Farrakhan is preaching controversial ideas and beliefs to millions of black men across the nation, creating tension among the races. These incidents only impose more obstacles in American society’s racial relations. But the best way to mend these wounds is to create an environment were all races and creeds can work and interact together every day, to better understand and relate to other cultures and their customs, and beliefs on a person-to-person basis. I recently was asked the question: when was the last time you discussed racism with someone of another race? One of my best friends is an African-American Metco student from Dorchester, and another is of Mexican-American decent. We have been friends for so long that we openly discuss racial problems all the time. But I wondered if this question was asked of the entire country how many people could comfortably and openly discuss their views on racism with a person of different race? I’m sure there are a lot of people who don’t have the same opportunity that I do. Creating a multicultural environment, especially at the college level, where you are exposed to so many unique ideas and people, is an excellent start to try to introduce people to others in a time when you are alone for the first time, in a foreign environment, and everyone is looking to make friends. If more people stop being ignorant and start using experience and the past as a teacher, they will see that all the fighting and intolerance doesn’t get anyone anywhere. We will see that in adverse times when people pull together, positive things are almost always the result. So I am anxiously hoping to be a positive influence in achieving a multiculturally aware student body, and maybe if more campuses make this issue a top priority the country will benefit as a whole.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

The Sandman

E. T. A. Hoffmann's â€Å"The Sandman† illuminates Freud's theory of the Uncanny. Freud’s understanding of Nathaniel in E. T. A. Hoffmann’s â€Å"The Sandman† is that the Nathaniel’s â€Å"madman† like actions are the result of the return of his suppressed juvenile material. Nathaniel is the protagonist and is convinced that a frightful destiny awaits him. His fear focuses on a threatening old man whom he has understood since infantile to be the â€Å"Sandman†, a monster who takes away the eyes of children who are awake at night. He connects the â€Å"sandman† with Coppelius, a colleague of his father and he incriminates Coppelius in his father's death.As an adult, Nathaniel madness is triggered after having a visitor from what he believes to be the â€Å"sandman† whom in reality is a salesman named Coppola. Freud uses E. T. A Hoffmans â€Å"The Sandman† to describe the idea of repression of childhood complexes. E. T. A. Hoffmann's â€Å"The Sandman† is believed to be â€Å"uncanny† by Freud. Nathaniel believes in the evil â€Å"sand-man† from his childhood. He is not completely mature and has trouble growing up throughout the story. His fiancee Clara tries to help and tell not to let his stories get to him but it only maddens him.Nathaniel wants people to feed into his stories but his stories drive him to be a mad man. He is sent away to recuperate at an asylum. He meets a man named Coppola who he believes to be the evil Coppelius/ sandman. Nathaniel ends up realizing that he is just a man who sells glasses and buys a pair off of him. While he is away he falls â€Å"in love† with an inanimate object named Olimpia and forgets about his fiancee Clara. â€Å" But then he had never had such a perfect listener. † He loves the way Olimpia just sit there and listens to his stories, he falls for her womanly shaped figure. Her beautifully molded features and her sha pely figure compelled general admirations. † Nathaniel ends up destroying Olimipa, which can serve as one of his alter egos, his narcissistic side. He remembers about his lovely Clara and gets â€Å"better† he goes back home to his family but Nathaniel is not better. Clara ends up bringing up a gray bush that she spots which reminds him of the sandman and drives him mad again. He attempts to kill Clara and then ends up jumping and killing himself as well as his alter ego Coppelius.As people began to climb the stairs in order to seixe the lunatic, Coppelius laughed and said: â€Å"Ha, ha- just wait, he’ll soon come down soon by himself† and looked up, like the others. Suddenly Nathanael paused and stood stock still, he went down. Suddenly Nathanael paused and stood stock still he went down perceived Coppelius, and, with a piercing shriek of Beautiful eyes-a! Beautiful eyes- a! ’ he jumped over the parapet. By the time Nathanael was lying on the pavem ent, his head shattered, Coppelius had vanished into the throng. 118) Coppelius can be read to be an alter-ego of Nathanael; the way Hoffman states that Coppelius just vanishes once Nathanael hits the ground makes it seems as if now that Nathanael is not alive neither is the story of the â€Å"sandman† Freud does not believe that the sandman or Olimpia are Nathaniel’s alter-egos. He has other interpretations about what is wrong with Nathaniel. Freud believes that Nathanael’s obsession with the sandman and Olimpia is what someone experiences in adulthood that was repressed from their earlier stages in life.Nathaniel was told the story of the sandman as a little child by his old nurse: don’t you know yet? He’s a wicked man who comes to children when they don’t want to go to bed and throws handfuls of sand into their eyes; that makes their eyes fill blood and jump out of their heads and he throws the eyes into his bag and takes them into the cr esent moon to feed his own children (87) Freud believes that this story triggered the instability of the psych while Nathaniel was young.In the Uncanny Freud states â€Å"everything that ought to have remained hidden and secret, and yet comes to light,† (7) Whenever something reminds Nathaniel of the sandman it triggers him to turn into a â€Å"madman† and he gets lost in his own world. There are different causes that trigger one to go mad. Freud believes that one of the main sources of â€Å"uncanny† has to do with the idea of one being robbed of their eyes. â€Å" Oedipus that mythical-lawbreaker was simply carrying out a mitigated for of punishment of castration. Freud believes Nathaniel was afraid of castration not just loosing his eyes since many cherish both. Oedipus links with Nathanael, both were afraid of loosing a part of them that they both treasure. Nathanael also treasures his mother. Nathaniel seems to only see his mother as â€Å"good†, sh e is the one who protects them and the one that does not want the sandman in the house. â€Å"my mother, kissing and cuddling her darling boy who was thus restored to life. † (91) Nathanael has an attachment to his mother.Nathaniel appears to not like his father and see him as the â€Å"bad† parent. â€Å"I was comforted by the realization that his alliance with the devilish Coppelius could not have plunged him into eternal perdition. † (92) It could be because the father continues to allow the sandman in their home. Freud believes that nothing is ever forgotten and it just stays suppressed in one’s mind until something triggers one to remember. Nathanael’s suppressed memories make his narcissist.The â€Å"double† is the primary source of narcissism in a child. Only in Olimpia’s love do I recognize myself† â€Å"Olimpia had voiced his own thoughts. † This is where Nathaniel’s narcissism returns; Olimipa is a reflec tion of himself. â€Å" The idea of the â€Å"double† does not necessarily disappear with the passing of the primary narcissism, for it can receive fresh meaning from the later sages of development of the ego† (10) Olimpia is the re-birth of Nathaniel’s narcissism ways in which he begins again to be self-absorbed.The Sandman by ETA Hoffman is one of the most well known short stories throughout history. It is very unusual to other short stories. Whether we all agree with Freuds interpretation of the story, Freud makes some good arguments on why the narrator is the way he is. Nathaniel is a troubled individual who ends up taking his own life. No matter which way you take the story he ends up still being a madman.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Dynastic Mayan Rulers of Palenque

Palenque is a Maya civilization site located in the state of Chiapas, in Mexico. Occupied between about CE 200-800, Palenques heyday was under Pakal the Great [ruled CE 615-683], one of the most powerful kings of central America in Late Classic times. The rulers of Palenque were called the Holy Lord of Toktahn or Holy Lord of Baakal, and among the king list are several legendary leaders, including Snake Spine and Cha Ruler I. Snake Spine, if he was a real person, lived when the Olmec civilization ruled, and traded extensively into much of what is today considered the Maya region. The very first named ruler of Palenque is GI, the First Father, said to have been born 3122 BCE, and the Ancestral Goddess said to have been born 3121 BCE. The dynastic rulers of Palenque begin with Bahlum-Kuk or Kuk Balahm, the Quetzal Jaguar, who took the throne of Palenque in 431 CE. U-Kix-Chan (Snake Spine or O Pop) 967 BCECha Ruler I (Caspar) 252 BCEKuk Bahlam (Quetzal Jaguar) CE 431-435Cha Ruler (II) (Caspar II) 435-487Butzaj Sak Chihk (Manik) 487-501Ahkal Mo Nahb I (Lord Chaac or Chaacal I) 501-529Kan Joy Chitam (Kan Xul I), 529-565Ahkal Mo Nahb II (chaacal II, Akul Ah Nab II) 565-570Kan Bahlam (Chan Bahlum I, Kan-Balam I) 572-583Ix Yohl Iknal (Lady Kan, Lady Kanal Ikal) 583-604Ajen Yohl Mat (Aahc-Kan, Ac-Kan, Ah Kan) 605-612Janab Pakal (Pacal I) 612-612Muwaan Mat (Lady Beastie) 612-615Kinich Janab Pakal (Lord Shield, Pacal, Pakal) 615-683Kinich Kan Bahlam (Snake jaguar, Chan Bahlum), 684-702Kinich Kan Joy Chitam (Lord Hok, Kan Xul, Kan Xul II), 702-722Kinich Ahkal Mo Nahb (Chaacal III, Ah Kul Ah Nab III), 722-?Upakal Kinich Janab Pakal ?-?Kinich Kan Bahlam II ?-?Kinich Kuk Bahlam (Lord Kuk, Bahlum Kuk) 764-? Source: Robinson, Merle Green. 2002. Palenque (Chiapas, Mexico). pp 572-577 in Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopedia, Susan Toby Evans and David L. Webster, eds. Garland Publishing, Inc. New York. Stuart, David and George Stuart. 2008. Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya. Thames and Hudson.