News James Hester Mind Over Meter

Posted 8th Jan 11

Top Mapex artist and educator James Hester has been laboring over one of the most insightful and refreshing tutorial books we have come across for some time.

No matter what level you're operating at as a drummer, this book offers insightful ways to approach linear grooves, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and more, all from a voice that makes tackling these challenges easier than ever.

Here's what James says about the book:

"I began writing the book a long time ago, although initially the ideas were just for me to work on - stickings to help me play certain subdivisions. Then I started mixing them up and incorporating the bass drum. I found I was able to improvise fills and linear grooves more easily and play tricky phrasings and rhythms with ease.

I also realised whilst teaching at BIMM (Bristol Institute of Modern Music) that I was using the same basic ideas that are in the book to teach in class and also for the tutorials we have - you name it: Polyrhythms, jazz comping, latin, four way co-ordination, fills, linear grooves, odd time signatures! everything!

More recently in the studio whilst recording with Cars On Fire, producer Jason Wilcocks was putting me through my paces and was really making me think about left and right side ideas from the perspective of the microphones and panning. I adapted the same sticking ideas to help me develop my right side/left side, hands/foot and diagonal co-ordination.

Finally my years of studying drummers and stripping back their ideas has led me to the essential seven options we have as drummers. The last chapter of the book is a study of these options and how other people have put them into practice do sound completely individual but with the same basic idea with a view to you doing the same.

I know that working through the ideas in this book will increase your ability to play whatever ideas come into your head and that by developing your coordination and control over meter, your level of creativity will be boosted”

"Mind Over Meter' is available at www.jameshester.co.uk costing £15 (UK Post and Packing £1.30).

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MIND OVER MATTER has received some fantastic feedback from the UK's top players:

"I have known James for many years and watched him grow from a keen and eager student to become a top professional drummer and a fine, dedicated educator and tutor. In his debut publication, James gives valuable insight to an interesting and varied collection of techniques that are both musical and totally relevant to today's eager student and tomorrows top pro. A must have addition to any drummers library" - STEVE WHITE

"James' book provides a fresh outlook on subdivisions and stickings (a subject quite close to my heart!). There are endless possibilities and these ideas will keep you busy for a long time. I look forward to digging deeper into this one!" - STANTON MOORE

"Mind Over Meter' is an important sticking tool every drummer, at every level should have, to broaden their creative horizons" - JASON BOWLD

"This book, for me, defines what James is as a person and a musician. Its precise, its out there, its passionate, its effective, its fun, its infectious!" - CRAIG BLUNDELL

"What an excellent book! James has managed to present this hip and challenging material in a unique and clear format that makes the path from essential building blocks to serious four way co-ordination appear achievable by anyone. Great stuff!" - PETE RILEY