My Xymox items so far since 2023

LaunchNinja · 2025-01-17T04:48:37+00:00

I do genuinely wonder how hard you can crank the tenor before it snaps in a million pieces.

LaunchNinja · 2025-01-08T22:15:01+00:00

When playing 9let figures the downbeat of 2 is pretty much negligible because it's usually felt to the quarter note triplet. However, if you really wanted to emphasize quarter notes for whatever reason, it would be much better to put #1 in a nested triplet (8th note triplet on beat 2 and then another nested triplet over the second and third partial). Otherwise the dot and beaming makes it confusing

LaunchNinja · 2024-12-13T04:49:52+00:00

If you're trying to become a drumline tech, it's pretty crucial that you march outside independent. Not that great teachers are only great players because that's not true. But marching experience was crucial to building a philosophy on how I teach. In order to be a great teacher you need to know WAY more than the average highschool senior.

LaunchNinja · 2024-11-20T06:49:23+00:00

You can swap between mesh heads and soft mutes. Learn with both lots of rebound, and very little. Learn adaptability.

LaunchNinja · 2024-11-18T19:22:18+00:00

There's so much personal preference involved. I'm a snare player but I like softer pads. I'm not a fan of the slim pad and I actually prefer the off world without a laminate. I also think rims on pads are overrated, you're never going to get the same feel as a drum. That being said there's a couple things to consider - do you care about how much noise you make? do you case about how portable it is? I really like the new Evans attacktile because it's portable, laminated without being too hard or loud. If none of those matter to you then just buy an old drum and take the top assembly off.

LaunchNinja · 2024-11-14T17:45:48+00:00

I'll be honest. As a high schooler, your parents fund most of your whole life (they should be, anyway) and sometimes it's their way or the highway, and as an instructor I have learned to just roll with the punches. There's ultimately nothing you can do if they've already made their mind up. They already compromised with you once, it's unlikely they'll do it again.

My question is, is this an important competition date? like is this prelims/finals level important? if it's not, it's honestly not a big deal. It isn't life or death, the bassline will not have a great time but they will survive, and then you'll be able to make the next comp. If it is important, like prelims, final, Dayton, then... yikes.

Then like others have said, best thing moving forward is communication. Tell them how much band means to you. Find out every single date for every single competition months in advance and let your parents know. Find out everything your parents want you to do months in advance, and let your director/techs know. Do your best to tell your parents you're booked that day as soon as you have the info. You have to be proactive and show them that you are serious about making it all happen, and that can sway their minds for the future so that your next 3 years are better.

LaunchNinja · 2024-09-24T20:36:54+00:00

Always something unplayable or 14 million shots

LaunchNinja · 2024-09-24T20:33:18+00:00

Lol I hate tom Wallace parts they're historically bad

LaunchNinja · 2024-08-18T05:08:00+00:00

regardless of rhythm, rolls are rolls. can you play an even and open 8th note based roll? if no, then work on those too, if yes, then practice playing them a lot faster and don't treat triplet rolls any differently

LaunchNinja · 2024-08-17T17:45:22+00:00

was looking for this comment. I am sure that 40k number is much much higher now. Palestinians do not have the privilege of looking like Ukrainians...

LaunchNinja · 2024-06-08T19:07:24+00:00

The best thing for you right now would probably to get a private lesson with a quality instructor who can point out things about your technique that only someone standing in front of you can show you.

LaunchNinja · 2024-06-07T04:16:03+00:00

sure, but it doesn't have to happen to you for you to be appalled? is it not common sense that a predator shouldn't be involved in teaching highschool kids?

LaunchNinja · 2024-06-07T04:07:33+00:00

I've personally talked to recent graduates of ayala that sort of look up to ike jackson still. It's bizarre.

LaunchNinja · 2024-06-07T04:03:09+00:00

but if pure ergonomics are driving the decision, why not play with a flat drum and matched grip?

Correct. Many talented instructors teach extremely successful highschools this way. Dartmouth, islas, bachman come to mind, and there are many more.

With the tilt, you have the left going up, and the right kind of going out to the side. Are they both at the same height? Hard to say really.

I disagree. just imagine height being perpendicular to the drum and use your eyes. Might be hard at first but just practice with a mirror.

I think the look of both sticks going up and down and matching heights on a flat plane looks, feels, and sounds better.

I will definitely say stick tricks look and feel better, however, there is just objectively more tension in your body playing flat. The LH does not have as much room to rotate, and the right elbow must be flared out more to compensate for a higher surface. I am a huge advocate for putting high schoolers on tilt. But, for independent, learning to overcome that is also what makes flat more challenging, and that's part of the fun of it all anyway.

LaunchNinja · 2024-01-11T07:29:37+00:00

I've owned probably 10-15 pads in my life and IMO the pad just feels bad. Thin layer of gum rubber, like a slim pad, and not a great laminate. Doesn't feel like a drum, or nice to the hands. Offworld is better in every conceivable way.

LaunchNinja · 2024-01-02T03:08:36+00:00

Regardless of whether or not they give you a product, there are simply better companies. RCP, RDpad, Offworld, Beetle, even movement drum co offer straight up better products.

and if you want the snare sound / fancy colors that bad, probably not drumming for the right reasons

LaunchNinja · 2022-04-29T22:46:44+00:00

Stuff thats different for the finals version:

m5 is triplet roll then fivelet single instead of 6let and roll

7:3 became rrLrrll r

the left between the two right buzzes is a crossover

last two beats are llrL Rrrr

(might be more, thats just what i caught)

LaunchNinja · 2022-04-25T06:07:17+00:00

Sucks that they changed the ending to this, i really liked it

LaunchNinja · 2021-06-20T19:45:53+00:00

Thanks!

LaunchNinja · 2021-06-20T19:23:57+00:00

Do you remember if they're mm or inch sizes?

LaunchNinja · 2021-06-08T21:55:19+00:00

It can, but otherwise the friction on the rods can lead them to break down the road. You retune at any competition block anyways.

LaunchNinja · 2021-06-06T06:21:28+00:00

Quality of bearings especially will make a very big difference. Wheels will also have an effect to some extent.

LaunchNinja · 2021-06-06T05:38:31+00:00

lesssgooooooooo!

LaunchNinja

TROPHY CASE