D rummers as a rule spend maybe 98 percent of their time in a supportive role to other musicians. For a drummer to take a lead role

and move to the front of the stage requires a whole host of other skills that require just as much practice and development.

Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa are just two drummers who have brought drums and drumming to the forefront and exposed a wider audience to the wonders of rhythm. By combining stage theatrics, visual effects, creative set design and even comedy, these drummers with their rhythmic genius have set the stage for others to follow.

With the advancement of technology it is now possible for a solo drummer to play and trigger an accompanying band. Our case

study highlights Ed Freitas, a man doing just that. He is rapidly carving a niche for himself in the electronic music genre, playing to large audiences at festivals throughout the world and releasing his own original material.

To be successful as a solo musician, you’ll need a sizeable talent, a discernible sound, a clear, identiiable image, a good business approach and the determination to succeed.

When designing the concept for your project or product, always bear in mind who your target audience is. This will allow you to more effectively connect, entertain and inspire. Take into account the age range, musical preference and the capacity of your audiences, then tailor your performance accordingly. Having a show that is visually and musically interesting is essential to help

you engage with your audience. Exaggerating your movements can help project the visual aspect of your performance in large venues.

Seeing live gigs at theatres, clubs, arenas and festivals will show you how established artists communicate with and work their audiences – essential market research so you can stay relevant with current trends.

Good lighting can add another dimension to your audience’s experience and will help enhance the different moods in your music. Some larger festivals have camera crews relaying pictures to huge video screens, adding to the visual spectacle. To maintain quality and stay ahead of the competition, review your performance – make notes after every show on any aspects you feel need work, then address these in your down-time.

Solo ArtiStTravelling the globe performing your own material in front of thousands of people sounds like a dream job, but you’ll need more than just drumming chops to be successful as a solo performerYoUr tUtor

Darren ashforD Darren has been a professional drummer for 18 years and teaches at the ICMP.For more info: www.icmp.co.uk and www.darrenashford.com

earnings: The sky’s the limit. It’s all down to your motivation and hard work.

qualifications: N/A

NEED TO KNOW

As a solo drummer you may have to cover quite a few bases…

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Having a well-rounded skill set as a musician is very useful in today’s i ercely competitive environment. Playing a second instrument and developing your skills in composition, instrumentation and sound design can be especially useful when composing music for a tour or new album.

BusinessEmploying the talents of others in areas such as management, marketing and promotions can help accelerate your business past what you as an individual can accomplish. Delegating responsibility to others can help free up valuable time so you can concentrate on the creative process. Having an experienced sound engineer working with you who is aligned with your vision can also make a big difference and help you achieve a high level of consistency from gig to gig.

On gigs, always be ready to market yourself. Carry business cards with you, let your audience know your website/MySpace address where they can i nd out more about you and your music. Always play your best. Be friendly and accommodating to everyone you meet, be it fans or potential clients. The music industry is small and word gets round very quickly if you’re anything less than professional.

ED FREITASCurrent role: Ed is the man behind CYBA-X and has shared the stage as a clinician with the likes of Tommy Aldridge, Zoro and Gerald Heyward

Ed Freitas: knows a thing or two about going it alone

Q&A WITH ONE OF THE UK’S TOP SOLO DRUMMERS AND CLINICIANS

CASE STUDY

What venues do you play with CyBA-X?“The venues tend to be either festivals or clubs. The songs I write have to be representative of the audience I am trying to connect with, usually dance-based.”

CyBA-X keeps you pretty busy, what other projects do you get to do?“I do tours, clinics, workshops and even the occasional world record attempt. I’m also the company director of Drummerbuzz and World’s Fastest Drummer UK. All these different ventures keep me in work all year round and also allow me to improve myself as a drummer, musician and human being. I think to survive as a drummer in today’s climate you have to be fl exible and adapt to current trends.”

What advice can you give to young drummers wanting to do what you do?“Students very often ask me what is the best way to get into session playing. Those students then go on to tell me that they practise i ve or more hours every day. Now, there is nothing wrong with practising hard, but unless you actually get out and play with other musicians then you will always be a bedroom player. The phone is never going to ring on its own. You have to induce it to ring. You may have to do gigs for no money in the beginning to get your name around, but my advice is to play as much, and with as many different people, as possible.”

www.edfreitas.comwww.cybadrummer.comwww.drummerbuzz.com

Ed would like to thank his sponsors for their continued support and for providing him with the tools to express his music and vision: Mapex, Roland, Paiste, Pro-Mark, Aquarian drumheads, SE mics and Hardcase drum cases.

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