can you do a drum roll?

[db05]

I wonder if pianists can do drum rolls...

I had learned basic drumming last year, by that I mean I can read drum notes and tablature. I can't actually play most things because I lack speed. (Ever heard drums playing at 60 bpm??) Particularly LH and feet (but I'll practice that later).

LH doesn't do much unless it's for rolls. Which for me, is impossible. In case you've never tried it, a simple roll is like hitting with R and L alternately in 32nd notes. Or 16th notes on each hand if you prefer to think of it that way.

It has been suggested to me to move the hand/wrists in small circles - hence the word "roll" - this is faster than just hitting the drums straight down. So okay, I try that. An even roll demands that the hands play the same speed. But my LH is so much slower, I'd say it's 1/2 speed of RH. I've tried making small circles with the sticks, and the LH has a lot less control (big circles, not smooth).

So my questions are:
1. do you play the drums?
2. can you do a drum roll? (most basic one, alternate hands, not too slow)
3. anything you'd recommend to help with LH speed and control?

[franzliszt2]

I can drum roll! We used to do these rhythm masterclass things once every few months with this amazing percusionist and he used to bring loads of instruments. We asked him how to drumroll and he showed us. It's quite easy once you get the hang of it, it's just a little bit strange at first. You have to hold ths sticks in a certain way, and then let everything be totally relaxed, and then start to hit the drum. You have to get the grip so that when the stick hits, it bounces back up and falls again (so with every hit you are making 2 sounds per hand) and then do this alternating between the hands. Then you just do it fast. But if you get tense in anyway at all it will come to a halt.

I learnt to do it with pencils in school when I was bored. Just get 2 pencils of equal length (with a rubber on the end so you don't make too much noise) and just hit a table. Then when you do it on a drum it's even easier 

[db05]

I learnt to do it with pencils in school when I was bored. Just get 2 pencils of equal length (with a rubber on the end so you don't make too much noise) and just hit a table. Then when you do it on a drum it's even easier 

Many people can do drums here; they are working on the more difficult rudiments but I can't get beyond a simple roll. 

How fast on a table? Even on the drums I can't play like, 32nd-note fast. Sounds like slow 16ths at best.

But more importantly, how do you even out RH and LH speed/ feel?

[richard black]

I learned how to do a side-drum roll from a nice percussionist in some opera company's orchestra. We were doing Tosca and as there was only one percussionist, and he was in the pit, I had to do the offstage drum, of which there's quite a lot.

[a-sharp]

no - almost - I wish I could! I've tried a bunch of times but never could do it well.

Drummers are cool.

[db05]

no - almost - I wish I could! I've tried a bunch of times but never could do it well.

Drummers are cool.

It seems that
more primitive/ simple instrument = harder to play well = cooler musicians

Sometimes, keyboardists are worst... but we have the best choice of repertoire to hack.

[concerto_love]

Drum roll... T_T I can do it a little, not too fast... One of my friend from snare drum section in marching band taught me...

[a-sharp]

db05 - you are so right