BAS: I new and know what made my dad tick. And I am not fooling you or sitting here lying to you. I worked with my dad on the practice pad. Single stroke rolls, double stroke rolls, paradiddles, 5-stroke rolls. You name it, we worked on it. LP: Was he ok with it? BAS: He was sluggish but he knew what I was doing and it was better than what the doctors or the therapists could have done. LP: So, when he passed away, you stepped into his shoes? BAS: Yes, I did. LP: How did that get started? BAS: When my dad passed away, people were calling me left and right. There are drum teachers in the LUZERNE COUNTY area who have NO CLUE TO TEACHING DRUMS. So many people called me and asked me to please teach their son or daughter because the teachers they were going to just don’t have what it takes to teach. So, slowly, I started coming up with my own style of teaching, kind of the style my dad did. But mostly my own style. LP: So you have a different style of teaching? BAS: Yes, by teaching the value of notes, time signatures, rudiments (scales of the drums), on and off beats, syncopation,
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coordinated independence, drum fills, all styles of dance beats from Waltzes, Polkas, Jazz, Rock, Country, Latin Rhythms, the right and correct way of teaching. Just like my dad did. So it is basically his and mine combined. LP: So you are like your father? BAS: No. I try to tell everyone, I am my father’s son, I am not my father. I have my own ideas and I have a lot of “OLD SCHOOL VALUES” in me but, I try to teach my way; which is the correct way. LP: So you have your own curriculum? BAS: Yes, I teach a BASIC and PROGRESSIVE style of drumming. I tear a musical note apart and show how to perform it all over a drum set with coordination and accuracy. LP: So, you’re saying? BAS: I teach you how to “KICK ASS” behind a drum set. LP: Well put! BAS: Well, you asked me and I am not holding back. I am going to tell you like it is and not make up any so called “oh- shucks, oh- gee wiz”. I always lay it right on the line. LP: In other words? BAS: I’ll give you the whole TEN yards. LP: Fair enough, I think I am going to like this.
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BAS: I sure hope you do. LP: What do you expect from your students? BAS: A lot of practice. LP: Really? BAS: YES! I can’t go from point “A” to point “B” unless point “A” is accomplished. I need to set Timing, Coordination, Accuracy, and Technique. They need to establish that first. LP: Do you have those who don’t practice? BAS: Sure I do. What Music Teacher doesn’t? They all want to play “ROCK”, which is great; but I need to set a foundation. In the words of LOUIE BELLSON, “YOU DON’T BUILD A HOUSE FROM THE ROOF DOWN!” LP: Do you know when a student has not practiced at all or not practiced enough? BAS: Yes, I do? LP: How do you know? BAS: Let me put it to you this way, it takes me thirty seconds to find out a student did not practice. LP: Then what happens? BAS: I tell them about it or I make them re-do the lesson. LP: So you really care about your students and how they perform behind a drum set?
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