rickdior
This channel is dedicated to serious drummers and percussionists who want to develop superior technique and musicality. This is an educational channel where you will be challenged to learn the art of playing percussion and drum set at the highest levels.
Many years ago, as a student myself I was very fortunate to work and study with some of the greatest drummers and percussionists to walk this earth. My goal is to pass these skills onto the next generation of performers and to aid in the preservation and advancement of drumming and percussion techniques.
rickdior
This Friday August 1st. Come one come all!
1 month ago | [YT] | 18
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rickdior
This past weekend, I had a great time performing the world premiere of the Andrea Casarrubios MIRAGE Concerto for Cello and Orchestra with the Charlotte Symphony. Ms. Casarrubios, a wonderful cellist, performed her composition.
The piece features a Cello and Bongo duet in the 3rd movement.
They set me up in front of the orchestra, and I have to say it feels really strange being that close to the lip of the stage. I can now empathize with the first chair strings who do it all the time.
Over the years, I have performed up front many times, but there was always an instrument in front of me, such as a Marimba, Snare Drum, Drum Set, or even an Anvil. This time it was just a set of bongos. I felt.... Naked!
You can see the review here
cvnc.org/fear-of-the-new-and-modern-dissipate-at-c…
In the review the writer calls me a local Jazz Drummer even though I have been with the orchestra for 35 years.
Oh well, you take what you can get.
4 months ago | [YT] | 111
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rickdior
Here is our Charlotte Symphony anvil setup for Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner. It is from part 3 Nibelheim. The passage calls for 9 anvils played by 4 percussionists.
We used real anvils, stage weights, a Grover 2-tone anvil, and a standard accessory anvil. The idea is to get as many different pitches as possible. You can hear it here open.spotify.com/track/4F5H3knL5woawaVwpsZBPP?si=c…
It's part 3 about 42 seconds in.
5 months ago | [YT] | 71
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rickdior
Here is my setup for the movie How to Train Your Dragon with the Charlotte Symphony this weekend.
5 months ago | [YT] | 143
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rickdior
I had a great time performing Respighi's Feste Romane (sometimes known as Roman Festivals) with my percussion buddies, pictured here, this weekend with the Charlotte Symphony. The piece uses 9 percussionists plus a timpanist performing on bells, glockenspiel, cymbals, bass drum with cymbals, field drum, snare drum, ratchet, sleigh bells, tambourine, tam-tam, triangle, high and low wood blocks (horse hooves), xylophone, and Timpani. There is a killer bass drum part in the first movement, an extensive sleighbell solo in the 3rd movement, and an all-out percussion onslaught in the 4th movement. The piece is not often performed since it is difficult and incorporates several extra players. This is only my 2nd time performing it in a 45-year career.
From Wikipedia:
Feste Romane is a symphonic poem written by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi in 1928. It is the third orchestral work in his "Roman trilogy", preceded by Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome. The piece describes moments of ancient Rome set in the imperial era. Each of the four movements depicts a celebration scene from ancient or modern Rome.
Edit: Some of you have asked about listening to the concert. It was a live broadcast last night and will show up here eventually on this station, WDAV in Davidson, NC. There is no video.
wdav.org/programs/charlotte-symphony-classical-ser…
From left to right are Wiley Sykes, Wessley Strasser, Bill Congdon, Stephanie Wilson, Rick Dior, Garrett Guion, Nathan Tingler, Ryan Leveille, and Brice Burton. Jacob Lipham (not pictured) played Timpani.
5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 113
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rickdior
I just finished playing 6 performances of this in a row and I would have to agree with the comments 100%.
8 months ago | [YT] | 60
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rickdior
Hello Everyone
For all of you North Carolina music teachers and educators out there:
I have posted videos of this year's audition material for the Snare Drum/Percussion component.
Here are all of the snare drum and percussion videos for the NCMEA All District/All State Band auditions for 2024.
There are 6 total videos. They are presented as lessons as well as demonstrations of the solos.
Please feel free to share them with any and all band directors and private teachers.
I have also recorded the middle school solos as well including a longer lesson on the middle school solos.
Here are the links:
Grades 11-12 Concert Snare Drum Solo https://youtu.be/0EI7ntr1PXI
Grades 11-12 Technical Snare Drum and Tambourine Solo https://youtu.be/OMpuAvox8ag
Grades 9-10 Concert Snare and Bass Drum Solos https://youtu.be/m4S3q1e-fiA
Grades 9-10 Rudimental Solo https://youtu.be/NnQf41sO0zI
Middle School Concert, Technical Snare Drum and Tambourine Solos https://youtu.be/fpI80jdWe-o
A Lesson on the Middle School Concert, Technical Snare Drum and Tamb. Solos https://youtu.be/ws7PcL-yLc0
Thanks, and have a great audition season.
11 months ago | [YT] | 5
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rickdior
We lost another great one today. Russell Malone the incredible guitarist, composer and bandleader passed away in Japan today during a concert tour with Ron Carter. I had the honor of performing with Russell several times over the past decade. He was so much fun to make music with. Inspiring, funny as hell, and incredibly inventive I always looked forward to working with him. He will be missed by so many musicians and fans, and I know his legacy will live on through the many recordings and memories he gave us all.
1 year ago | [YT] | 160
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rickdior
Andy DeNicola my high school band director passed away this week after a lifelong battle with heart disease.
He was one of the biggest inspirations for me during my formative years. I have no words to describe how great he was as a leader, musician, father figure, ass-whooper and all-round educator. Last summer I attended his retirement celebration in New Jersey where over 400 of his former students gathered to honor him. He taught at the same school, John P. Stevens High School in Edison New Jersey, for 50 years and built a dynasty.
People like this hardly ever come along and if you are one of the lucky ones like me, you get to share their magic for a short time.
Below is his Obituary
Obituary: Andy S. DeNicola
After many years of battling heart disease, Andrew S. DeNicola rejoined his loving family in heaven on May 20, 2024. He lived a remarkable life, with a celebrated 50-year career in music education during which he was awarded innumerable accolades as Director of Bands at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ. Andy delighted generations of students with his tough love and practical jokes. He also held many titles, including Finalist for the first-ever Grammy Music Educator Award, inductee of the invite-only American Bandmasters Association (considered the highest honor in wind studies), and his self-proclaimed, “World’s Best Third Trumpet Player.” However, to those who loved him and were fortunate enough to be taught by him, he was known affectionately by many other names: “Pop pop,” “Grandpa,” “Andy Boy,” and most notably, “Dean.”
Dean was a die-hard fan of Maynard Ferguson, Tower of Power, and the New York Yankees, but his greatest love was reserved for his beloved wife of 50 years, Katherine “Kathy” DeNicola, as well as his two incredible children, Albert (Michelle) DeNicola and Katie (Jay) Roman, and his four grandchildren, Jalen, Albert, Maggie, and Gianna. He is also survived by his siblings, Albert (Gerry) DeNicola and Patty (John) Owens; his brother- and sisters-in-law, Lou (Robyn) Zandomenego, Gayle Schlett, Beth Vittor, and pre-deceased Amy Sub. He also dearly loved his nieces and nephews: John and Courtney DeNicola; Micaela and Molly Owens; Brianna (Scott) Olesen, Tyler and Matthew Zandomenego; Niki and Dan Schlett; Zachary and Gabby Vittor; Sadie and Julian Sub.
1 year ago | [YT] | 103
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rickdior
Steve Albini, one of my engineering/producing/music making heroes passed away today at the age of 61.
He worked with some of the most influential bands of the 80's including Nirvana and the Pixies and other bands of that time that defined the 80's and 90's grunge/punk sound.
I played in a punk band in NYC in the 80's and would always listen to his productions.
I also always enjoyed reading interviews and articles he wrote including this one ...The Problem with Music www.thebaffler.com/salvos/the-problem-with--music
Its harsh but true and should be recommended reading for all fledgling audio engineers.
He was the rare engineer/musician/producer who really knew how to do all of those things very well, a dying breed these days.
1 year ago | [YT] | 105
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