Dynamics in time
By: Jim Chivers.
Publisher: Pulse Music
Published: 1988
Place of publication: Vancouver
Language: eng
Number of pages: 65
Subjects: Drum -- Methods.; Drum -- Studies and exercises.
Work titles: contact: hjachivers@telus.net
First sentence: Although it has often been said that the thing all great musicians have in common is a solid sense of time, there is a second musical element of equal significance that is often overlooked - the crucial sense of dynamics.
Description: Modern Drummer magazine:
"Most books about drumming contain page after page of exercises with  little or no attention given to  dynamics, except for the occasional  accent. In Dynamics In Time, the  study of dynamics is one of the main  concerns, and it's about time somebody discussed the subject. In this 65-page book,  Jim Chivers has come up with a well-written and well-conceived text on the subject. 

This book contains five main sections. Sections I and ll deal mainly with developing rhythmic command of what the author calls "the five most common rhythmic subdivisions."  These are 8th notes, 8th-note triplets, 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, and 32nd notes. The author states that before a drummer concentrates on dynamics, he or she must have the ability to play solid time and play these five basic rhythmic values. The examples in the first two sections are based on these rhythms played in different combinations at the drumset over a bass drum/hi-hat foundation. There are many good "pointers" in these sections to help drummers develop rhythmic accuracy and "feel." 

The rhythmic information discussed in the first two sections is applied in the rest of the book. Section III begins with a brief definition of dynamics and dynamic markings, and then proceeds into some great examples for developing dynamic control on the drums. Besides the usual dynamic markings, this book employs graphs that give the student a visual picture of the proper way to apply written dynamics. 
Once these concepts are thoroughly explained in Section lll, the examples in Section IV use dynamics on the drumset in time feels.  Section V covers such topics as dynamic independence (playing a drumset pattern and having control over the dynamic level of any limb), fours (four bars of time followed by four bars of solo, emphasizing dynamics), rolls (using dynamics in rolls), and around the toms (moving around the drumset with dynamics). 

There's a lot of valuable information in Dynamics. For the beginner, this book will give a good introduction and foundation into understanding dynamics, and for the pro, it will serve as a good reminder and way to really sharpen the use of dynamics. The author gives a lot of good tips, and he expresses them in a very easy to understand way. Dynamics In Time could definitely be a help to any drummer." 

-William F. Miller/ 
 April 1989.

"...This is another in the small but growing number of books in which the main objective is to convey a particular concept about performance rather than to present a series of impressive exercises. Without a doubt these exercises do not look difficult, nor will they sound particularly impressive to the average listener. Yet, they may actually be as demanding and have the potential of improving actual performance as much as any collection of complex exercises one could obtain.

Dynamics in Time is intended for the serious student at any level. Anyone who is looking for help in these particular areas of performance should definitely consider this publication."

Lynn Glassock/
Percussive Notes/
(Percussive Arts Society).
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

Endorsements:
“Dynamics in Time deals logically with certain basics of musical drumming which are too often overlooked, even disregarded.”
                                                                                                                                             Ed Soph /

“Jim Chivers book is an essential text for any serious drum artist. It combines time and dynamics in a truly useful way, and is a unique melding of technical and creative studies.”
                                                                                                                                             Bill Goodwin/

“Dynamics in Time is a well written different kind of drum instruction book. Not only is the academic portion of the book right on the money but all of the written material is essential for the working drummer.”
                                                                                                                                              Hal Blaine.
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