OFFHAND FUNDAMENTALS
with 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 Blessing details the flip pathway for this exercise.
FLIPS Exercise 2: Gumption to Vertical, Back to Gumption
Take the most direct pathway between the positions. Keep the upper body as relaxed and still as possible. Always check your starting and ending positions by watching yourself in a mirror or filming yourself. It helps to film yourself in “slo-mo” if possible to really see if the path is consistent from player to player.
Here is a breakdown of the THREE count exercise:
Initiate the motion on count one
Check the flash point on count 2
End in vertical on count 3.
Hold on count four, checking the vertical position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, 2, 3 .. | Down, 2, 3 .. 😐
Here is a breakdown of the TWO count exercise:
Initiate the motion on count one
Check the flash point on the “and” of count one
End in vertical on count 2.
Hold on counts three and four, checking the vertical position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, 2, .. .. | Down, 2, .. .. 😐
Here is a breakdown of the ONE count exercise:
The final performance flip will be as fast as possible. Think of starting on one and ending on one (you’ll actually need to move SLIGHTLY before count one so that you hit the arrival point at gumption exactly together on the downbeat).
Hold on counts 2, 3 & 4, checking the vertical position. Repeat for the flip down.
|: Up, .. .. .. | Down, .. .. .. 😐