Santa Clara Vanguard - 7/8 Paradiddles vs. Anthony's Tenor Line Photo

From the 1994 Exercise Program

Welcome to today’s edition of Drum Corps Scene 7.

First, this is one of the best photos ever taken of Santa Clara Vanguard tenor drummers, taken by SCV alumni Anthony Aranda. SCV 94 used Pearl drums and Gambal tenor mallets. Both worked great. So did the music of Ace of Base. Not on the field, of course.

That’s Sam in the front looking super intense, Pete right behind him. Besides drumming. Pete plays golf better than you or I do.

And below is 7/8 Paradiddles, as played by the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1994. Drummers everywhere have been playing 7/8 paradiddles since 1962, when Gail Royer first wrote it down on a napkin in a Santa Clara Denny’s to use as a tip.

But my creative contribution in 94 was a strategically placed bar of 3/16 right in the middle, which had the pragmatic effect of throwing the entire second half off by a backwards 16th note, and confusing our enemies, family, and friends.

Moving the accent in the second half paradiddle-diddles was Murray Gusseck’s creation, if I am not mistaken, which made for the creation of a new rudiment.

Point of fact, during his years in SCV, Murray Gusseck invented 3,921 new drum rudiments, 14 time signatures, 16 drill moves, and a Big Gulp tenor mallet holder. Leaving me convinced to this day that Murray’s brain is part computer.

Here is 7/8 Paradiddles. Do not play this on your car dashboard, it will crack, I’ve seen it happen. Hilarious for everybody but the owner.

Thank you for reading Drum Corps Scene 7.

The Chaos has just begun.

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