Marching Cymbals 101

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips Exercise 2 Gumption to Vertical, Back to Gumption This exercise works on flips from gumption to vertical and vertical back to gumption. Start with a slow three count structure, then faster to a two count structure, then finally at performance speed one count flips. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach […]

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips 5: Jones Flip Vertical to Gumption The flip from Vertical to Gumption is called the Jones Flip, created by Julian Jones, Music City Mystique alumnus. This flip requires an outward motion with the right hand and inward motion with the left hand as you move the cymbals downward. Music City

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips 4 Gumption to Vertical The flip from Gumption to Vertical is the same as the flip from Set to Gumption, except the the arms are wholely responsible for the pathway and the wrists and fingers control the rotation. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing details the flip pathway between

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips ExERCISE 1 – Set, Gumption, Set Use this exercise to practice your flip ups from set to gumption and Sones flip down from gumption back to set. Start with a slow three count structure, then faster to a two count structure, then finally at performance speed one count flips. Music

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips 2, Set to Hip Rest The Sone Flip (created by Adam Sones, Music City Mystique Alumni) takes opposite rotations between the right (outward) and left hand (inward) down from Gumption to Set.  While it takes a little time to master the contrary motions of the hands, the result is a

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips 2, Set to Hip Rest A fundamental flip to work on is the flip from set to hip rest. This flip works on isolating the wrist turn without almost no arm motion, forcing you to concentrate on the rotation in a short pathway. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Flips 1, Set to Gumption The flip from Set to Gumption is the most fundamental. In this lesson, you’ll learn the pathways and checkpoints to create an effective flip that looks great and is consistent from player to player. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing details the flip pathway between

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Vertical Position Vertical is the second playing position that you’ll use most often when performing crashes, auxilary sounds and as a transition to many of the visuals that you’ll learn later in this series. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing details the Vertical position: ESTABLISHING A PERFECT VERTICAL POSITION: When

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Gumption Position Gumption is first of two primary positions for playing crashes and crash chokes. We call it “gumption” because of the commanding attitude and boldness, “umph” that it demonstrates when correctly performed. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing details the Gumption position: ESTABLISHING A PERFECT GUMPTION POSITION: Gumption is

OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALSwith music city mystique:Hip Rest Position The Hip Rest position is often used as a check point or starting point for flips and juggles. In this video, Music City Mystique Cymbal Line Instructor Zach Blessing describes the perfect set position that you’ll use during rehearsals. Music City Mystique Cymbal Instructor Zach Blessing details the