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If you've read my three-part series on my origins (The Paradiddler, Origins), then you'll already know that, at least for the moment, I'm mostly a self-taught drummer, and I learned how to play by air drumming.  You also surmised that I'm a big fan of Neil Peart, Rush drummer extraordinaire.  So when DrumChannel.com came out with the "Chad Smith Air Drumming Contest on YouTube", well, you know I had to enter!

I chose a song I'm pretty familiar with, since I've been hearing it since it came out in 1982 - "Subdivisions" by Rush.  In real life, I'll need a couple more drums and cymbals to play it to my satisfaction, and that's where air drumming comes in!

For now, I'm a pretty good air drummer (if I must say so myself!).  My real drum playing, at least by my standards, has much room for improvement, which is a nice way to say 'it's all uphill from here'!  I've gotten a hold of some drum instruction videos and documents on improving your play, and will be reviewing them extensively in the near future and letting you know what I think.

You can click on the previous link to go to DrumChannel's air drumming challenge.  Of course, anyone can enter (the details are there), but if you're not, then view my video!  The winner is the one with the most views by July 15, 2009 at 3pm EST.  And of course, for your convenience (or mine!), I've included the video here.  Tell all your YouTube-viewing friends!  And thanks for viewing.  Let me know what you think as well!



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The Paradiddler, Origins - Finale

June 24, 2009

The Paradiddler, Origins - Part 3

One fine anniversary day, not too long ago, my most awesomest wife gives me the greatest surprise of all.

Let me back up a bit.  When I met my wife to be, she got to know my obsession with drums.  I met her in the Dominican Republic, a long ways from [...]

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A Perspective on Drum Covers

June 12, 2009

Drum Covers - A Perspective

How many times have we heard a great song and thought, “Man, if I could play like that!”  This not only applies to the drums, of which this web site gives the most emphasis, but to guitars, bass, piano/keyboards - the ‘end is listless’.  I for one favor the drums (although [...]

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The Paradiddler - Origins, Part 2

June 5, 2009

As instructed by my older brother’s friend, I slipped the cassette into the player.  That one chord that started off “Tom Sawyer” would change my taste in music, particularly drumming, forever.  Who was this guy?  I had never heard anyone play like that.  Such force, such precision, such creativity.  Of course, it was Neil Peart, [...]

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Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas, Drum Cover

May 27, 2009

This edition of The Paradiddler features my latest cover, “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas.

This has always been one of my favorite classic rock songs.  I pretty much learned how to ‘air drum’ this one a long time ago (as I’m sure many people had!).  It was lots of fun to play.

There are certain passages [...]

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Rudiments In Action – Single Stroke Roll and Single Stroke Four

May 17, 2009

Hello everyone!  This installment of The Paradiddler features the second video in the “Rudiments In Action” series.  Last time we focused on the single paradiddle.  This time the focus is on the single stroke roll and the single stroke four.

The “Rudiments In Action” moniker is new for The Paradiddler.  In essence, the name says what [...]

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Beyond the Drum Kit

May 13, 2009

Over the last few months, I’ve been making attempts to reach out to other drummers in the music community, through various forums and the like.  I’ve tried to write articles relating to drumming that are interesting, at least to me, and hopefully to the rest of drum-world.  But you never know who you’ll meet.

I’ve always [...]

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Dreamline, Snakes and Arrows Live, Rush Drum Cover

May 3, 2009

Omar Alvarado, The Paradiddler, coming at you yet again with another drum cover.  This time it’s a song from my favorite band, Rush, and the song is “Dreamline”.

There are a few versions of this song floating around, several of them live.  Of course, we have the original from Rush’s Roll the Bones record, back in [...]

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The Paradiddler – Origins, Part 1

May 2, 2009

Welcome to a little history lesson on TheParadiddler.com about, who else - me, The Paradiddler!

On the ‘About’ page of this web site, the question is posed:  “Who is Omar Alvarado?”  Here’s the answer provided there:  “Omar is, really, just a fan!  A fan of drumming.”  That’s it?  That’s all I have to say?  No way!  [...]

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Toxicity, System of a Down Cover

April 26, 2009

Omar Alvarado, The Paradiddler, coming to you with my latest drum cover, “Toxicity” by System of a Down.

I try to approach each song I choose to cover (as of this post there haven’t been that many yet) as a means to learn new things, and to challenge myself to play as closely and faithfully to [...]

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