Heavy Metal Drummer Holds Free Drum Clinic in Upstate New York

Shadows Fall's drummer Jason Bittner held a drum clinic on April 21st at the beautiful Waters Edge Restaurant and Inn in Glenville, NY. The event was hosted by Drome Sound and was offered free to the public.

The clinic began with Bittner introducing himself to the crowd by pounding out a 15 minute solo drum jam. He then brought to stage and showcased his second band, Burning Human, an entity that Bittner said has been around for 12 years and has just released their first cd. To allay any fears of his fans, Bittner emphasized he has not left Shadows Fall and that band will be releasing a new cd within a couple of months.

He spent roughly an hour going over the technical aspects of drumming, and reinforced his theory that it is not speed that was important to focus on, but ability. If one doesn't have the coordination down to play something accurately at a slower tempo, then speeding it up will only produce worse results. "Drumming is not an endurance sport" he said, and made note that young upstart drummers fall into the trap of gauging their playing ability by playing machine gun-speed double-bass and forget the basic rudiments of paradiddles , flams, rolls and gallops.

To recap the evening, Bittner tied his lessons in with two recorded Shadows Fall songs coming from the p.a. and his live drumming. The techniques he covered in his syllabus were readily identifiable in the popular songs he played.

Bittner loves what he does and knows he's fortunate to have the success he enjoys. His current schedule includes recording with his two bands, various drum clinics, a teaching gig at Drome Sound in Schenectady, NY, an upcoming video shoot for Shadows Fall and touring in support of both new releases. Amongst his itinerary, Bittner made mention of his wife's upcoming birthday; a brief statement that shows his grounding in real life and not the Spinal Tap rock-god lifestyle.

Bittner pleaded to parents to nurture and support their children in their efforts to take up music, and encouraged them to 'be supportive of what they do'. Familial support is a big deal in Bittner's life as was evident by the fact that his father and wife were both at the clinic.

Bittner is a Berklee graduate and admits that he continues to take lessons when his busy schedule allows to 'stay ahead of the curve'. Bittner loves his craft and explained that he wants to always make a living in music to some capacity. Currently, he is aspiring to teach and wishes to solidify his teaching skills so he can do just that.

The event ended with a question/answer period and the handing out of door prizes. Some of the merchandise included Meinl t-shirts and hoodies, Jason Bittner signature drumsticks and a Meinl Byzance 16" china cymbal valued at $200.