Part 1: Michael Carvin Shows You How to Solo

Soloing on the drums does not mean playing fast. Master drummer Michael Carvin shows you how to construct a thoughtful drum solo.
Learn more at academy.jalc.org
Michael Carvin - Drums
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Richard Emery - Production Assistant
Seton Hawkins - Producer
Recorded May 3, 2013

[@xerxesxylophone7188]

I just watched a guy make an avante garde drum solo out of a nursery rhyme. Jazz is AMAZING

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

He takes his time to feel the sound of the drum kit. Classy creativeness.

[@staccato5144]

have to say that is the most incredible and novel conception of drum solo I 've ever seem

[@caryd67]

What he’s really demonstrating here is *musical phrasing*. Solos are about using whatever level of musical vocabulary you have to create a series of phrases, no different than verbally presenting a series of ideas to create your point. This is especially important when “trading fours” - you need to know what it is you want to say, and you also need the tools to say it.

[@charlestea3642]

Mr. Carvin is the master on the drum kit! Great video. Thank you!!

[@tmaddrummer]

Feathering the Bass was Spectacular! This has been a most wonderful lesson, Thanks and Blessings!

[@rodrigoinfante9315]

something rare today, to hear the natural sound of a drum kit.

[@mattlehnardt8035]

So wonderful to learn this kind of creativity ! This really could apply to life in general ! Having fun

[@kealanbraden]

Every video I see on this KZbin channel proves how much of a genius this guy is.

[@scotth.2306]

Beautiful drum work Michael !!!

[@longfade]

Wow. Might seem weird to some folks but this is pure wisdom. I suck at soloing because I'm not thinking this way. Also, some of the best sounding drums I've ever heard on YT!

[@webstercat]

Mr. Carvin makes it real! Very well presented and great insight. Thanks!

[@newbutold47]

WOW!! Mr. Carvin....using musicality to demonstrate how to put a solo together... and keep the whole theme together. I love it!

[@JazzAcademy]

+newbutold47 Glad you like it! Jeff Hamilton also covers a similar concept in this video, which we recommend: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6DWXnuqltp4r80

[@trueliberalreality5103]

What a nice thing to do to help other musicians understand drummers & upgrade the quality of jazz music!

[@MrJogimico]

I like this guy that elegant old fashioned way of speaking is comforting

[@bmillerdrums]

This guy is such a great teacher

[@rockrulez630]

Respect ....Sir ...I love feel and grooving on the drumkit as it my character .....I realized long back that every sound that you create on drums is your inner emotion that comes out ...in form of dynamics level and phrasing ...and the way you presented ...it is great ..in my 30s now ...I am a practice person and still trying to explore myself ...I want to achieve where I can provide something of my knowledge to drummers....still long way to go ......thanks for this video ..

[@GeometryDashDyno]

This was one of the most important videos I’ve seen in a while and I play piano

[@kpcheck1]

Thank you that was fantastic Mr Carvin

[@quickdrawmcgraw4110]

The coolest uncle ever. Thanks and God bless Michael.

[@GordonBagshaw-GBEnglishClass]

Fantastic sir... fantastic

[@timcline2799]

Brilliant❤️ Clever & Beautiful Thank you!

[@timmypena241]

I’ve never played drums before, rewind the video after what you said because all I heard was pounding now I totally understand how to listen to drums!

[@AMIR-nw8co]

Thnx Mike. I really enjoyed that

[@wannabeadrummer]

Amazing stuff

[@ogredad55]

Many may dismiss this video as being too simple. But the man is obviously a Master of Rythm with exceptional imagination. Mr. Carvin: You rock! And your drums sound awesome! I wish mine did. It's obviously my basement acoustics. That's why I prefer my E-Kit. Thanks for the video!

[@leomoore3597]

Hello Mr. Carvin, Ioved your work with Jackie Mclean & the Cosmic Brotherhood !

[@anthonya94]

I love how this guy teaches. he says like two of the most confusing sentences alive and then just does it because he's a mad lad and then it all makes sense

[@anthonya94]

oh and he says "see" and imma be honest I kinda do

[@simone17041979]

brilliant!!!!! great musician!

[@madebymarco]

For the longest time, I was having trouble doing solos, and now I finally know the secret, it's playing along an imaginary backbeat. Thanks for the lesson! :)

[@ronbarzilai5705]

If you want to play melodically, learning melodies also helps a great deal.

[@PerpetualTwilight88]

Thanks for sharing

[@mattmiller1032]

i love michael carvin

[@mapexuser1234567]

Mr. Carvin, you are a treasure, sir.

[@manuelgchapajr2000]

GREAT LESSON

[@shalomuziel6774]

Magnificent

[@Remigrator]

Awesome!

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

Thank you!

[@rembeadgc]

IMO, what this video shows is how he translates the vocabulary of drumming into expressive, musical phrasing, based on a simple melody, which, when you do it by yourself, or as a featured musical voice, is a drum solo. The level on which he does it is intuitive, because he's a well practiced, experienced and well seasoned musician, with a voice, style and approach that he has developed over decades. His communication of it through the English language is a simplification, but he basically expressed his intent. To break it down literally in a truly comprehensive manner would be extremely cumbersome and would require hours.

[@maxv5391]

Great !

[@naad2647]

MaaaAAAArrrry! Thank you for this lesson :)

[@darknodel]

Jazz on! Classy!

[@xerusaqurus2812]

Good man

[@cyberceil]

I just went and did Marry. Keep the melody in your head in time with its self. Like after Lamb start a new phrase and free solo over your singing. You can do this song all-day.. Just play over the melody it is the perfect amount of four-bar phrase. In and out easy on one or any 234.

[@zachmejia7564]

Louis Rossman also brought me here. Well, I was already here. But still showed me Michael Carvin

[@sa.t.2507]

Louis Rossman brought me here

[@MrOliver1312]

Wait is this a joke? 😂

[@javajav3004]

@@MrOliver1312 he had an interview with him

[@yellowguy4331]

u can just tell he's holding back so much lol

[@popcornsamurai]

Drums are cool.

[@timchurchill6975]

can i ask what size bass drum is that And are you using a bass drum riser so the beater hits centre of the skin ....

[@lesliethomas2081]

This is one of the best teacher ever because most of them are showing off to have the center of attention, he, s not, great lesson indeed!!, no doubt there

[@redpoint6870]

Such a máster

[@AMIR-nw8co]

Jazz drumming is da bomb.

[@revup67]

well done..not every hole needs a note, give it some breathing room and be creative as Mr. Carvin points out

[@Crog2]

Granpa knows the stuff!

[@sulimanthemagnificent4893]

i only came because of Mr Carvin, I stayed for the music.

[@TheAniPB]

WHAT KIT IS THIS IT SOUNDS AMAZING

[@fordtruck4512]

TheAniPB truth

[@TheTechAndScience]

Some sort of Pearl kit from the looks of it

[@SyeedAli]

"Now draw the rest of the owl" :)

[@babybruja5513]

tradition.

[@TJ-eq6dl]

To be honest I got London bridge is falling down.

[@olejakob9216]

Same😅😅😅

[@disc_golfing_with_d]

My whole drumming world has been turned upside down

[@ananlama1]

Out of the box.....I mean great

[@lucas.willemsen77]

"A solo is not about moving your hands fast..." *moves hands fast*

[@michaelkirk4110]

No offense but if you want to learn jazz really well you have to watch the old timers like buddy rich Jo Jones Gene Krupa. These are guys who made jazz happen and Jazz and Lincoln Center is doing a great job of keeping Jazz alive. (:

[@LukeSimpson]

So, phrasing.

[@ricg9431]

old school gentleman,by that i mean suit and tie no pretensious arm tattoos and pro musician

[@LeSpartahara]

pretentious... arm tattoos?

[@HorrorKidd88]

he is every bit of a gentlemen as you say, but he is also a cold-blooded killer...make no mistake about that. much respect for this guy.

[@AMIR-nw8co]

Sing while you play.

[@DIGITALSWOON]

his clothes match his set

[@jjjtvatbp]

That is not Mary had a little lamb... That is what you call... Mary Had A Little Drummer Boy... Para-pa-pam-pa.....