Re: Moeller Techique
The book is available here:
http://www.foreverdrumming.com/books/m.html
Scroll down until you find it. Cheap.
Before going any further, let me say I'm no expert, nor am I taking sides with anyone, I'm just reporting what I've seen/read, and my experience with this mystical technique
.
FWIW, I became interested a while back, after a friend saw a Dave Weckl clinic around the time Weckl had 'converted' to it and was singing its praises. So... I went to a Weckl clinic, was blown away, blah, blah, blah, and faithfully started practicing the technique as he demonstrated it. I couldn't wait to learn it, thinking then I'd surely be the next Dave Weckl, which isn't even something I aspire to, but I figured at least I could use chops like that for my own evil purposes. I could never completely get the hang of it, so I bought the book. Funny thing, I discovered Weckl hadn't demonstrated it how Moeller himself describes it (and the blurb about the book at that site even mentions how many instructors get it wrong).
Anyway, still in my Moeller phase, I then heard that Jim Chapin was *really* the guy who could teach it (he actually studied with Moeller), so I got Chapin's video (which is really good). Hiyever, Chapin himself admits even he doesn't use the technique *exactly* as Moeller taught it, because it's derived from a technique Army drummers were using on marching snares way back in the 1800s, and that's what the technique is ideal for: rudimental drumming on old-school, slanted marching snares. For things like buzz rolls, single-stroke rolls and other things, there are better techniques, IMO (and Chapin's too, if you listen closely). If nothing else, though, it got me to where I could play paradiddles at like 900 mph.
Bottom line: I think the Moeller technique is a great *addition* to my tool kit, and the book and video really helped my playing. Once I got it through my head not to try to rely solely on it, it became useful, as I could pick and choose where it's most valuable to me. Hate to make the analogy, but it's like martial arts: no one style is necessarily superior to any other, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Bruce Lee (how am I mentioning Bruce Lee on a drummer's forum?) was of the opinion that it was wise to study them all and take the best from each, leave the worst. It's also my opinion (and just that, an opinion) that drumming is the same way (well, most things in life, really, but now I surely digress).
One last thought: through links on this forum, I've recently discovered the Gladstone technique, and am quite fascinated by it. I'd like to find some way to study it and see how incorporating it would help my playing. I also now realize, after watching some video clips on the technique, that what Weckl demonstrated way back at that clinic was at least as close to the Gladstone technique as it was to Moeller's, really a hybrid of the two. What he was doing now makes more sense to me. It seems (and I'm probably wrong) that he settled on a technique that incorporates elements of both. Even if he didn't, I don't think it's a bad idea.
Sorry for the length of this post...
Let us know how you like the book.