Roland Canada is proud to open the Montreal Drum Festival 2008 with a performance from Canadian marching drum master Nathan McLaren on the world’s first electronic marching drum, the Roland RMP-12. Roland expands its cutting edge V-Drums technology into the world of marching percussion and will feature it at the opening of this year’s Montreal Drum Festival.
Nathan McLaren has skillfully mastered all aspects of the snare drum and competes internationally with various drum lines from around the world. He is becoming one of the most in demand marching drummers in the world performing regulary in front of audiences across the globe. You won’t want to miss Nathan’s show opening performance as he goes beyond the traditional drum.
Look for Nathan on the Roland booth to get a closer look at the RMP-12 and learn some essential drumming techniques.
Come by the Roland booth to test your skills on some of the latest drum technology.
Check out the Montreal Drum Fest website for more details.
====
Live report from Montreal …
I have just walked off the stage and am taking a moment to put a quick comment on my blog … it turned out that I played not one, but four RMP-12’s as part of the opening performance. Coupled to this, I also added in sections that were generated using Garage Band to create a complete percussion ensemble, with just a touch of funk, rock, latin and a whole lot of drumming.
The addition of the three extra drums (which were on stands) and the one that I was wearing came as a last minute addition. It is a tribute to the user friendliness of these drums that I was able to quickly pop them into performance-ready mode. Don’t tell Top Secret, but I stole one of their multi-section bass drum licks … what a blast to hear that sound coming out of the RMP-12 units!
A quick flash … Nathan has just taken first place in the Individual Solo Competition at the Canadian Associates Drum Rudimental Excellence (CADRE) competition held on Saturday, October 18th in Hamilton. Check out the drum … that is a Basel model snare drum. This classic looking drum is strictly hi-tech: featuring a triple stage snare strainer system and carbon fibre shell.
This is the second time he has claimed this top prize in a competition open to drummers from around the world. Two weeks ago, he also claimed first prize in an I&E event held in Camden NY playing for the first time in competition on his traditional rope drum.
Both drums were prepared and tuned using the new Rope Drum Press which has been added to the equipment at NM Custom Drums.
The end of October will be a busy one as I have been chosen to open the Montreal Drum Fest performing on Roland’s new RMP-12 marching drum. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to perform on the prototype and this morning the production version arrived.
While I have only had a few minutes to play with it, the improvements in the sound and the sensitivity are instantly noticeable. This was a strong unit while it was in prototype … it is a superb unit now. Tracking is incredibly accurate and the response is consistent at all dynamics.
Apart from the many sounds and combinations possible, I am having an absolute ball performing complete drum section solos … including all of the instruments … while standing on stage as a solo act. Now if I could only figure a way to simultaneously add the tenor drums to the bass and snare sounds … (there probably is a button I am missing somewhere that will do that.)
If you are in Montreal on October 25th and 26th drop down to the Drum Fest and check out the Roland booth. I’ll be there and look forward to meeting you.
A week of performances, some last minute adjustments, a few fake-sticks and it was time to load the truck. As I write this I am in flight to Johannesburg, South Africa for a week of shows at the South African Tattoo with Top Secret.
Can’t tell you much, but the picture is of the place where we have been performing. The acoustics are unbelieveable. Last night the PA system failed and the announcer was able to come to the center and be heard clearly by the 6000 people watching the show. The Romans really knew something about construction.
You might get a kick out of this link => Top Secret in Rehearsal. It is a short, jerky clip of one of our final rehearsals as we added a new part to the show. It is not great but if you look on the left side at the guy wearing long pants, that is me! Yep … if you could zoom in you would see the smile.
Anyway … we land at 12:15 AM … time to put the computer away and fasten the seatbelts.
Has it been that long since I wrote anything here … life is busy, busy, sweet and busy.
Many of you know I started a new custom drum company. NM Custom Drums is manufacturing specialized drum sets, snare drums and yes, the best line of mid and bass section percussion available for the Highland Pipe Band. Each drum is meticulously hand crafted often taking longer just to perfect the bearing edges then manufactures would spend on the entire drum.
As you read this I am on tour with Top Secret. Yep, that’s right, the famous drum line out of Basel, Switzerland. We have just completed four intense days of rehearsal (10-12 hours each day!) and are opening a new show tonight. A few days of performances then off on a tour of South Africa.
By the way, the CADRE Drum Line I perform with is the DCA Ensemble Champions again this year and the Toronto Police Pipe Band on which I play on the snare line, took several “Best Drums” awards this season .. and on drums I made. I am playing drums behind Jon V-W and recently was asked by Roland to premiere a new electronic marching drum.
All this and still maintaining my students, clinics, demonstrations and performances … countless television appearances, radio interviews, newspaper articles … it does not stop. Unfortunately, all of the touring often takes me away from the internet, and so when I get online it is email, email and business. Such is life … busy, sweet and busy!
In the limited time I can get on the internet I will try to keep my Facebook page up-to-date. Check out my Facebook page to see reach me.
Keep practicing!
After recovering from my whirl-wind of a trip overseas, I have returned to all my ensembles and the weekly road trips to practices. I’ve also started private teaching and am always looking for Private Students for this upcoming year- so if that’s you, Give me a shout! I have set up a studio at home, and have also began internet tutoring for some distance students as well.
I wish the competition was upon us already, but lots of practices still remain between now and the competition season. I’m really looking forward to it!
Stay tuned for more updated information on what’s going on in the near future!
Till Next Time!~
Rotterdam was wonderful. Switzerland was a dream. Oman wasn’t!
The whirlwind of studying, playing and traveling since late August came to an abrupt end last night as I stepped off the plane in Montreal after a full day of flying. It was not how I planned to come home to Canada, but it was a relief to see a Tim Horton’s once again. Over nine months of planning, preparation, writing music and studying came to a crashing halt.
Oman is a beautiful country, of great contrasts and opportunity but, for me, it was clearly not to be. The obstacles to creating a quality drum line would not be quickly overcome and the living accommodations were not conducive to helping me realize my goals: let alone the prognosis was that there would be little, if any, change in the foreseeable future. It was simply not what I was promised or remotely prepared for. So, I pulled the plug and now begin “Plan B“.
I would like to thank those who helped me on the ground in Oman, particularly Tony, his wife and Craig along with many others. Your support during the those initial days will be remembered. It was not easy to make the decision to abandon the programme I had hoped to put in place, but as I reflected on it during the hours in the air, it was the right decision.
Cheers! Now, where’s my double-double?
Another week of my ‘Adventure’ has gone by, and what seemed to be an endless train ride from Brussels, finally came to a stop in Basel. Arriving later in the evening, I found my new friend Danny MaGay from the Wild Bunch F&D Corp at the train station, and continued onto downtown Basel to meet Fabio- the gentlemen who has taken me in for my time here.
Starting on Tuesday, I toured around Basel on foot, checking out many of my surroundings, and establishing myself with groceries and currency. With the sun shining, I put a lot of miles on my feet climbing hills, and checking different places out, and of course taking lots of pictures!
In the afternoon, I paid a visit to Alain Martins drumshop, as well as Schlebach’s drum shop which was not to far from the place I’m staying. -Which is definitely dangerous:)
Wednesday, I had tons of places I wanted to visit in the old part of Basel, and had practice with the Wild Bunch Fife and Drum Corp that night! It was a great time, and very interesting to see how they play the arrangements with their swiss touch. The lead snare drummer-Pascal, invited me to Basler Ueli on Friday night, a Basel Clique to check out his group. After the practice, Danny and I continued down to the Ancient Mariners meeting at a bar down the street, and met that group. It was almost like a brotherhood! These guys were a joy to talk with!
Friday would come, and I was very excited to check out Pascals group. Heading down to the Hahn, I met up with Pascal, and went into the restaurant and met the group. After a drink, we headed upstairs to where they practiced, and the next two hours were a blur! I was very interested in the style, but also interested in the sound they create. It’s absolutely amazing- Talk about dynamics!
Check out the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyG3921Ojko
After a relaxing weekend, and more sight seeing, as well as catching the weekend markets throughout the area, and of course tons of more picture, it was soon Sunday night. With most people eating Turkey for Thanksgiving, I was eating Pizza! That was definitely a first!
Well, until next time!- Cheers
I am in Basel, Switzerland and filling my camera and computer with pictures. I placed many of them on my Facebook account but many people who have written me have said they are not members of Facebook … so …
Take a look at my Picasa Web Gallery. I am just learning how to make this work in the few minutes that I have available each day. This is where I am going to try and keep things organized in the future.
Yep, I am back to playing, playing, playing and learning, learning and learning! Hey with all of this time and no cell phone to interrupt me … can I see that grip one more time?
Stay in touch! … Nathan
Well I’m back on the road again, and so far so good.. but SO Wet! I’m on the train right now from Brussels to Basel Switzerland, and all I can see right now is miles upon miles of mountains and green trees. It’s very pleasant to look at-and hopefully the rain will stop soon! Lots has happened the past couple days and here are the last 5 days… in a nut shell!:)
Arriving in the evening to Pierre Trudeau Airport in Montreal on Wednesday 27th, I flew over to Amsterdam via Zurich, and met up with Jean Paul Ratajczak (President Dynasty Europe) and Al Murray (Vice- President Dynasty USA).
As soon as we began to drive to Dordrecht where our hotel was, the rain had began to fall, and I was starting to get the idea of what ‘jet leg’ feels like. Landing in the early afternoon, we had many different drum corps we had to check out throughout Holland, and lots of driving around was ahead of us.
Freezing cold, and wet, we met up with a Corp from England where we had to drop off some equipment that they had ordered, and continued onto another corp- the defending champions Jubal from Dordrecht After watching their practice, we had an invitation back to their Clubhouse to chat and relax… so of course we accepted the offer. At the time I wasn’t thinking about jet leg, but it definitely hit me after an hour, a drink, and a warm comfy leather couch. I was ready to go to the hotel.
Friday, was a day full from early sun up- to sun down of visiting with corps, and meeting many new faces, but also learning and seeing many parts of Holland. That night after visiting a corp in the region of Amsterdam, we decided to visit, and check out the city. It was beautiful, and the night life was definitely busy as it was later in the day, and in the week. After doing hours of sight seeing, we packed up into the van, and headed back to the hotel. Thank God the Jet Leg would be almost gone at this time, as I had an early morning again setting up for DCE the next day.
My original invitation from Jean Paul, was based around the Drum Corp Europe Championships in Rotterdam, and I was very interested in the styles and arrangements that these corps would produce… so I looked forward to the early morning.. just not my lack of sleep.
Waking up at 6:00AM, Jean Paul picked me up, and we swung over to the stadium to prepare the Dynasty Tent, and get things set up… of course- It Rained!!! Rain,Rain,Rain… Soaking Everything! With the Semi-Finals starting at 9:00AM, corps began arriving shortly after we arrived on site, and than the tent became VERY busy-and stayed like that all day. My job for the day was to take pictures of the drum corps using Dynasty drums for the website, and that task was very simple… although everyone except a couple use Dynasty! So I was running running running getting things done and trying to catch as much as the action on the field as I could as well. Soon the semi results would be posted, and a break until the finals would take place until 6:00.
After taking things down and finishing my last picture, I jumped into the stadium to check out the finals, and Sparta stadium was filled with European fans cheering for their corps. It was quite the site! After all was complete, The Senators from England won the contest, with Beatrix in 2nd, and Jubal in 3rd. In the percussion category, Drum Spirit would take first after a great show! Saying my goodbyes to many new friends and faces, I would return to the Clubhouse to have a couple drinks before packing it in for the night.
Sunday would come, and although Saturday was an amazing time.. Sunday would touch me as a Canadian in a foreign country. Europe being so close to the surround countries, Jean Paul, Al, Neil (From Vic Firth) and myself, headed out on an excursion to visit the oldest city in Holland called Brugge.
Arriving in Brugge, the architecture of the buildings and houses filling the city would catch my eye, as their European construction, as well as historical age brought beauty to a city that I had never really seen before. With stones lining the streets as roads, horse drawn carriages pulling people around, and the marketplace with a statue in the middle in front of City Hall, and a band playing in the background, it provided such a comforting state. Finally one day we had beautiful weather, and was perfect for the setting of our day. After a great lunch at a restaurant, we headed off to the most memorable leg of the trip-Belgium’s Ieper.
Being a Canadian, and having family who have faught in WWI & WWII, Ieper was the location of one of one of the battles fought during the war and we decided to visit the graves of the soldier who have died for the freedom that we have today.
Our first stop was in a cemetery that was full of German soldiers from WWI. Off the main road quite a bit, and covered by a monument and big trees, their name plates lined the grassline of the yard with beautiful vines surrounding the cemetery. it was quite the place! Next we would continue down the road, to where a cemetery full of Belgium’s laid. Their stones grey in colur, were set back off the road quite a bit, and the shadow from the trees throughout the cemetery, shadowed the headstones. After taking some pictures, we came upon the first British memorial cemetery. Off in the mountain on a one lain road, the color of the white limestone could be seen for miles. With the tomb representing those who are known to God directly in the middle, the grave stones stood bravely with no sound to be heard for miles… a very reflective time. Just when I thought I’d seen it all, Al and Jean Paul were determined to find Hill 60- a massive site where hundreds of Soldiers would lay following the war. Driving in between cow pastures, with no cars in site we came upon Hill 60, and the power of the War hit me. Walking through the limestone gate of the cemetery, headstones seemed to line the field for miles with monuments placed throughout the yard and the green grass shinning so perfectly as the wind blew the poppy’s on the tomb stones, I really got a sense of what it really means to be a Canadian. I had lots of time to reflect, and recite the poem that I had learned as a kid about these cemeteries and the war.
Walking back to the Car, Al, Neil, and I had time to trade thoughts, and we couldn’t believe what we had been seeing, and were very touched and I know personally that I will definitely remember this day for a long time.
Starting our way back to Dordrecht, it was soon time to eat, and we stopped in Antwerpen in Holland, and grabbed a bite to eat. After walking around for a bit, and taking more pictures of the buildings throughout the area, it was back to the car for one last time. We would arrive back to the hotel ready for bed, and we would say our goodbyes to each other as Al and Neil had to leave early today.
Waking up at 8:30am, I finished packing up my bags, and waited for Jean Paul to come pick me up to head to catch the train. With the rain falling really hard, traffic was really bad and I’m happy everything was on time. Arriving in Brussels to catch my train, I had 30 minutes to purchase my ticket and figure out how to find the track that I would load on… only a couple problems.. but nothing to serious! I made it- and now it’s off to Switzerland! I’m really looking forward to it, and I hope all is well with everyone!
A big thank you to Jean Paul, and Al for everything this weekend, and Neil of course for putting up with me!:) Also of course, a big hello to my parents and friends back home… Things are good! Wish y’all could be here with me, but I’ll see you soon.
Check out my PicasaWeb Gallery on the main page for pictures!
Talk Soon,
Nathan
