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 Neela Sakaria: You began performing at age 5 and have had a lengthy career in music, singing and playing various instruments aside from the drums. Can you tell our readers a little bit more about your career and about your passion for music?
Steve Stockmal: In a nutshell, I started playing the Trombone in the 6th grade. The next year when I was in the Junior High Jazz Band and saw that drummer going crazy I was hooked. I went home that same day and bought a cheap little drum set and started lessons the very next day. I took every music class that I could find, learned to play the upright bass, guitar, piano, voice, music theory, and of course drumming. I graduated with honors from Musicians Institute in Hollywood and have toured all over the US as well as Japan, Greenland, Australia, and spent 7 years in Greece as a singer and drummer.
Neela: As I'm sure many are wondering, what exactly is drumstick spinology, why is it important, and how did you master it?
SS: Drumstick Spinology is my book (and 56 minute DVD) that teaches people not only how to spin drumsticks, but the method behind those spins so that they can create their own style. It was originally geared for drummers who wanted to improve their stage presence, and is now being used by doctors to help kids with ADD/ADHD and other learning disorders.
Dr. Kurt Kuhn D.C., M.S.M., D.A.C.N.B. has written an amazing article (which we have on our website called "Healthystix") explaining how it works, how he discovered it, and how he is using the sticks to help his patients. It is amazing to me that my "little hobby/passion" could turn out to be something so good for people.
Neela: Who are some of your favorite drummers and drumstick spinners?
SS: My entire professional life has been centered around music and drumming so of course I have a loooong list of favorites and hero's that I talk about on my website (www.drstix.com, FAQ section).
Neela: I personally never thought about drumstick spinning as something that drummers consciously learn to do. It seems more like an instinctive skill. Is this not the case? Is it something that drummers purposely learn in order to improve their stage performances?
SS: Until now there hasn't been a way for drummers to actually sit down and have an arsenal of spins to learn from. I believe that by learning my method, drummers will easily be able to start creating their own spins and come up with a style that works for them on stage.
The funny thing is that many drummers seem to have one or two "tricks up their sleeve" but I have taken this to the next level. My goal is to teach, so I always concentrate on giving my students (and readers) a very thorough understanding of spinning. With the DVD people can work with the different spins and develop a solid "vocabulary". From there the human spirit and ingenuity takes over and people create their own style.
The Spinology DVD shows each spin in great detail, slow motion, various camera angles, etc. to help people learn to spin with ease. As of Sept. 2003 we are filming a second DVD with 8 to 10 minute routines that concentrate on helping with neuromuscular reeducation for ADD/ADHD and other learning disorders. We are working closely with Dr. Kurt Kuhn to create a fun, accessible product that the kids will be able to learn from. He says that the best thing about stick spinning (besides neuromuscular reeducation and brain development) is that the kids think it's cool so they do their "homework"… a lot.
Neela: When/how did you realize that there may actually be a market for a book on spinology? Did you worry that people may not take it seriously? What made you decide to write a book about it?
SS: Hmmm, well I had always hoped for a market…but didn't actually know until we past our first 1000 books that Spinology would do anything.
I still have the very first sheet of paper I wrote in high school when I realized that I had several spins. As the years went by and I started touring around the world the book grew and grew. In Japan I worked very hard on it and that was the first time it came to life as a "book". In Greece I had two 45 minute breaks in between sets each night (6 nights a week for 5 months!) and I disciplined myself to write for the 2nd break nightly. So it wasn't so much a concise decision to write a book, but more a process that went on for about 12 years.
As far as popularity and salability I think my instinct went with the old philosophy "if I love it, someone else out there probably will".
Neela: Often times an artist or musician has difficulty explaining techniques that are instinctive to them. In creating this book, was it challenging to actually write out the various methods and movements that need to be used in spinology?
SS: Again, this project went through a long and arduous process that included many of the lessons of life to come to fruition. One thing that had a great influence on things was my study of the Martial Arts, and specifically my work with the Nunchaku (the two sticks connected by a small rope or chain). My teacher was very methodical, and by learning the various movement through visual, oral, and written text I became very familiar with motion.
Neela: You mention that in order to be able to explain your techniques, you needed to invent some terminology. Can you tell us about this process? Did you invent terms just for the book, or had you been using them in your vocabulary before? How did you go about taking inventory of all of your motions and movements?
SS: invented a system for the drumstick, hand, directions, etc. that I felt would suffice to explain the spins. Of course the DVD is great to actually see them, but in my case the "chicken came before the egg"… that is, without the book and system I never could have kept coming up with so many spins and routines (I'm still creating them and occasionally update the book).
Neela: Who do you consider to be the audience for your book? Is it only relevant to people who are currently drummers?
SS: It used to be, but now it is for 1) drummers 2) chiropractic neurologists 3) people with ADD/ADHD or any brain related learning disability 4) anyone who wants to train and relax their fingers (guitarists, pianists, typists, etc.) With Dr. Kuhn's discovery, we are proud and happy to see people getting a real and substantial help for themselves simply by spinning the drumsticks.
Neela: Would you consider writing other musical instruction books in the future?
SS: Yes, I am already working on several projects. With Spinology I "inadvertently" became an author and a publisher. My goal is to publish several books on various musical and other subjects. First of all I have a book (published) called THE MUSIC TEACHER'S MANUAL that teaches people to do what I do…make money teaching music. I incorporated my 2 years of training as a martial arts instructor, as well as about 20 years experience as a music teacher. It covers everything you need to know about being a private music teacher. It has sold well and the comments that people write are amazing. I am helping people add extra income to their musical lives. The next books are my drum set method. I call the series "Drumology" (modeled after the Spinology name) and with the first 3 levels (2 published, working on the 3rd) I take the total beginner on a journey from A-Z in a steady and methodical approach. Each exercise is played on the accompanying CD's and many of them in slow & fast mode so that the student can practice along, then hear how it should sound "up to speed". I spent lots of time testing, re-writing, asking my students opinions and making this a comprehensive, practical, easy to follow, and fun to learn method.
As far as the future, I am almost ready to publish my guitar method, (it is finished but I like to "test drive" my books for several months with my students). I hope to make a DVD with this, but for now the CD will be fine. Again, I cover learning the way I would want to learn. A little technique, a little exercise, and a little fun (like playing songs). Since so many of my students are kids and teenagers it is of utmost importance that I keep them inspired. I have several other books on non-related music subjects that will come out in their time…but with my wife's help I am tackling "one step at a time".
Neela: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
SS: Yes, I would love to thank all of you who have supported and embraced my books and made them such a success. Anyone out there with ADD/ADHD issues should read the article and interview with Dr. Kuhn at www.drstix.com under "Healthystix". He is really having a great success with his patients helping children with a non-drug related method thus improving their concentration and growing brain power ... all with drumstick spinning!!!
Drumstick Spinology
ISBN: 0970534205
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