Steve Smith - Working With Wilcoxon - Part One

In "Working With Wilcoxon Part ONE," Steve Smith gives a master class in how and why he works with the classic Charles Wilcoxon drum book, "Modern Rudimental Solos for the Advanced Drummer" to develop his hand technique and swing phrasing. The "Wilcoxon book" is based on the original 26 drum rudiments and is useful for training your hands, wrists, forearms and elbows to move efficiently and fluidly on the snare drum, which can be applied to the drumset.

[@allenrobert7111]

Really impressive to see an artist who “arrived” many years ago still on a journey (no pun intended,) of learning, growing, and challenging himself, and sharing with others. Well done, Mr. Smith!! This inspired me to pull out my old rudiment books and reincorporate them into my wood shedding.

[@sarinsahil]

Couldn't agree more. It's become a life goal for me! :)

[@jguix]

I feel humbled by your appetite to keep learning

[@cogitoergoescogito5677]

What a elegance you got Steve !

[@darrellgarlock8478]

My teacher actually studied with Wilcoxon at the Arcade in Cleveland Ohio, on Saturday. On his way home, he had another lesson with Cloyd Duff of Cleveland Orchestra fame. I was fortunate to learn the twenty six early. I still have the 150 on my stand....

[@Idontwantahandle135]

Steve’s love for drumming and growing as a drummer is seemingly unparalleled . We are fortunate that he shares his wisdom and experience with us .

[@jimhardiman3836]

Steve you are such an eloquent drummer. Thanks for this invaluable info. It's like having a master drummer in your home giving you a private lesson!

[@MichaelVLang]

Wilcoxons solos are pretty intellectually deep. Lots of great stuff to borrow. :)

[@waynedmello6248]

It has been said enough but the fact that you are constantly refining your skills and pushing new boundaries even after 5 decades is one of the most inspirational things to me personally. You are an absolute legend and we are blessed that you are sharing your knowledge with us. What a time to be alive!

[@timmcgrath3416]

Such a master of his art, a class act.

[@thebeatlabmusic749]

I’m so glad to hear you talk about counting!! The absolute biggest issue I have with my students currently is that they not only don’t want to count, but refuse to ever do it. I’ve tried everything I can think of to relate the importance of counting to them. It seems in the last few years that, collectively, they are just not interested in the benefits that counting while playing delivers.

[@drumznfishes]

It's fun to be looking at this stuff again. A good reminder to expose my students to the classics!

[@RalphOnofrio]

My favorite practice pad stuff....LOVE all the flams and Swiss triplets.....Chapin had me doing all the flam stuff in 1968.....It all stuck with me.....Ralph Onofrio

[@michaelmaraschky996]

Thank you so much for these two videos. When I was a young boy I would take the bus to down town Cleveland and study this book with Charlie Wilcoxon. I remember what a kind man he was. His wife was always there in the studio, such a gracious woman. We sat at his drum set working through the book. Later on another teacher, Robert Matson of the Cleveland Orchestra revised the book. I have to get this book out with the new Gaddiment Book. At the time I didn't know that Mr Matson studied with Charlie.

[@MatthewClise]

I used to have a blast working out of this book in college. I have vivid memories of practicing these solos in the hallway on the bottom of my shoe while awaiting my turn for juries. They're so satisfying to play once you work out the muscle memory.

[@paulmouradian8968]

HI Steve, I am from your generation and studied the same methods, counting outloud while practicing and stretching yourself, and practicing multitude of different stickings. So refreshing. Bravo

[@jonathanbussey541]

Steve- just got the Wilcoxon and GLS books. What a great day.

[@jeffreykwon3173]

The man who loves the drum the most in the universe.

[@jimreinking5282]

These solos are so much fun to play and without failure they provide a challenge for my hands the normal drum set playing does not provide!

[@garynieves2164]

Beautiful Steve, I've been a fan of your drumming since I first heard you on Jean Luc Ponty's Enigmatic Ocean and through Journey and Vital Information and everything else you've done. Love the way your technique and set up has evolved through the years and your reverence for all the great drummers who came before and the great educators like George Lawrence Stone, Wilcoxon, Moeller, Gladstone, et. al. You are an inspiration, thank you!

[@brunofarina3391]

You are incredible! Such a drum master, with your teaching skill and been so humble to share what you are keeping studying, even for a master like you. Such an inspiration for me, a 31 years old, that started to play drums on my 14yo, but yet I don't know how to master my techniques!

[@philipmcevoy7206]

Such a great teacher and humble..Yes stick twisters is an apt term for the rudiments Mr Smith. Thanks for sharing your story of how you started drumming and your progression.

[@portupic7007]

Great info and lesson! My band director back in the early 80's had the "Count!" picture on the wall behind him just as a reminder to the orchestra, he was great! Good times, thank you, Steve!

[@kevinsimmons7630]

Thank you. Steve. This is some groovy stuff!

[@SKragseth]

Thanks Steve. Cheers from Seattle

[@ryanandtricia]

Thank you Steve, truly. It is invaluable to have a peek into your thought processes and to see you strive for learning and more complete mastery. Seeing a virtuoso like yourself thirsting for knowledge so sincerely and joyfully is a profound lesson for me :)

[@ihittem3733]

Great drummer you have light hand you are my favorite drummer 👍

[@Robbie127]

Great explanations. Thanks, Steve! 🙃

[@fuelflownormal]

You have admirable work ethic. Listening since 1980.

[@devonkenny889]

Just a student of the work!....love ya Smit's! ✌🏽❤🤘🥁

[@fess04]

These are great!!! Thanks Steve.

[@nickrepice4360]

I love these solos! Paradiddle Johnny is one of my personal favorites. I can’t wait for more of these lessons. I’m going to revisit paradiddle Johnny with these lessons.

[@tylerpedersen9836]

Thank you for posting so many great/informative videos during these crazy times :)

[@briandavis9921]

As usual Totally! Awesome!! Thank You! Mr Smith

[@paradiddle1]

Yes! It’s gonna be a wonderful weekend for my 🖐 🤚

[@dereksdrumchannel]

Great lesson! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Robertmichaelfilms]

Excellent lesson Steve

[@ritabrooks9059]

Thanks for this great video. Your hands are amazing.

[@reneondrums]

This is so cool and so informative! Steve Smith has so much knowledge. Thank you for sharing! 🙏🥁

[@emilioparedes7466]

Steve is a real master..!!

[@rammstein1985234]

Thank you very much for this lesson.

[@FernandoCuadro]

it's really beautiful to see that you keep studying and finding things. thanks for sharing all of these.

[@richardmurphy8744]

THANK YOU STEVE, I started playing at 8yrs. And I have been doing it all, so much fun. GOD BLESS

[@BergR1]

Thank you, for posting

[@dorian2112]

a bit late here but i had this book when i started in 1985!!! love ALL of your work SS, VI kills it!! take care.

[@chadtownsend3744]

I love this.Thanks so much for putting this out in the world.

[@willsdrumlessons]

Great info, thanks Steve!

[@theclash435]

Thesevideos are really cool! Thanks steve!

[@claytonjohn6473]

The word Style seems to describe Steve. He definitely has Style!!!

[@johnrobinson8323]

Thanks for sharing another great video Steve! 🥁❤

[@bobweber4140]

Very cool Steve thankyou

[@Soavejo3]

Very insightful love it

[@gaelclementdrums]

Thank you! Very interesting!

[@gregkunkel8704]

Great show!!! Thanks

[@rumblepac6823]

Definetely enjoyed. I do feel tempted to get the book! Thank you Mr. Smith

[@charlescasey9799]

Great stick control and rythum from Steve

[@rusamene]

Great lesson!

[@petervad]

Fantastic insights from a legendary drummer - thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and incredibly learned opinions. (It's like watching one of the gods of drumming speak, and showing you how to be! So valuable, so amazing).

[@carlupthegrove262]

This is great stuff.... thank you

[@zvikamark6305]

Great Video many thanks

[@claudiowiesflecker413]

Thanks so much !!! I use that book too and there are so many great tips in this video! One of my teachers also had me reverse the sticking once i could play it the way it is written, which kind of helps to "even" out your hands..

[@mghc7]

Love that book

[@toolspro7612]

Thank you for this video Steve! I'm very motivated by You! b regards

[@rondeangelis7384]

Steve this is an absolutely unreal lesson that has been so overlooked with hand development. Bravo 🙏. Your explanation with wilcoxon played as swing now makes more sense to me now. Very inspirational. Hopefully see you play again at Chan’s in rhode island again 👌

[@rhythmfield]

Steve, thanks to your fantastic, informative videos, I am revisiting my Wilcoxin book too, i’m thinking about it in new ways, though keeping an old-school mentality about it. I’ve been playing for over 50 years, but trying these great old rudimental solos is humbling and makes me realize how long I have to go to really get them sounding good.

[@foodflights1408]

I've always love and admired your playing. Thanks a lot for making these videos, good sir!

[@charlescasey9799]

Great stick control and timing from Steve

[@celticpridedrums]

very clean, very nice, wonderful ideas. I will try to swing my rudiments!

[@richprincipe749]

True master... thank you Steve

[@poundaloudsound3447]

Thanks, Steve ,for this.very interesting

[@gustavoborchert]

It sounds very helpful. I will definitely revisit it as you suggested.

[@rjrichmusic]

Always inspiring. Many thanks.

[@nogoogleplus]

Thanks so much for this Steve!

[@GlobalDrumming]

These are great! Very helpful to open any drummers hand development options and also very musical playing patterns! Nice! Thanks Steve!

[@jacobhabegger6799]

Thank you for this video series! I love this book and I was planning on getting a copy of it for one of my students this week. There's definitely some wrist twisters in "The New Downfall"!!!

[@luisvillarreal5262]

Nice Drum Master Class video Steve. Though I play strictly guitar, I always enjoy watching a drummer play. You've done a excellent job with Journey, (one of my favorite bands) and your other projects. Good to see you on YT videos. I will check out part 2 when it's out. Thanks. Stay safe. Cheers.

[@davidtorras5556]

lovely!

[@vittoriobachetta5988]

Great class thanqyou Steve is a cósmica master

[@robbyboy03]

Great tuition Steve. Reminiscent if my teacher, Harry Lebler who taught me this very style.

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

Nice work

[@creativedrumming]

Thank you Steve, for all the great educational information and examples you've presented. You are amazing... Keep up the great work!

[@youngchool]

Thanks Steve for all your amazing music! I saw you only once at Yoshi's, Oakland CA. Awesome concert indeed! The book is from 1941? My father too. I love to play the Jean Luc Ponty CD you played on (along with Allan Holdsworth, RIP) and Separate ways is one of my favorite songs of all time. Thanks!!

[@bshubo]

thank you for these great lessons!

[@daggzg]

Very educational! Thank you Steve :)

[@gabrielrivas3698]

Amazing lesson! Greetings from Chile :D

[@webstercat]

Learning the feel of the motion. The Motion.

[@pacificexplorer6601]

Such a professional, always.

[@pjdahmen]

Great tutorial

[@muuriciodegollada3870]

Thank you Master

[@philipmcevoy7206]

Steve I am inspired by hearing you play drums duder

[@fiveminutedrummer5169]

Have this book in the studio and haven’t spent too much time with it. But now I am inspired and this will be on my practice rotation. Also love the reminder that it is soooo important to look at the details and nuances always SLOW first!!! No shame!!! Tempo marking as a historical reference point how interesting! Do you often practice with the pad drumset and how does that translate to your playing? Fluency fluency fluency can only build it if you are reading! This is so great. Thank you for sharing.

[@johnreilly9748]

Nice lesson Steve, I will pass this along to my drummer friends! And I as a bass/guitar player will add to my amateur drumming.

[@thebeatlabmusic749]

Absolutely love this! Bravo!

[@scottvelardo700]

This is SO good. Thank you!!!!

[@ginobanksofficial]

Fantastic

[@terrydrums]

I love this book and the Wilcoxen 150 Solos, too. Love the gong!!

[@VouVouVou_music]

Do you know the difference between the two? Which one would you suggest?

[@hannahstansfield4034]

Thanks for education . It's a great lesson but i also like that effortless going or twirling from match grip to traditional . Can you please show us how you do it ?

[@Rogeralberona]

Thanks Steve. I’m a little younger than you, but still have my Wilcoxon and Stone books too!

[@Bateria246]

You are amazing...

[@diegonardone6702]

The practice make the master!

[@MrCappon1111]

Thank you! This is so great to know, I also picked Rythmania and Paradiddle johnnie with other 3 other solos to work on ideas, also noticed that at a particular tempo they sounded right (because they are musical) . I'm curious to know about other solos that you liked. I'm eager to know more of your approach to this beautiful book. Thank you :) I'll stay tuned.