Blog
9/4/2024
Analysis of Selected Flam Rudiments: A Year Study
The study of the flam family through motion capture analysis of select flam rudiments contains three trial dates: 10.29.2015, 4.23.2016, and 10.01.2016. The analysis of the flam starts with the 10.01.16 trial; this is the only trial date with the flam as the subject of investigation.
The flam tap and flam accent are the two rudiments in the flam family that is covered on all dates for this motion capture research. However, the flam itself would need to be analyzed before any other rudiment in the flam family. The only available trial for the flam is in the latest trial date 10.01.16. The graph for the Flam at 60bpm can be seen below: DATA (ResearchGate Downloadable)
As seen in the data, the flam at 60bpm has a specific movement pattern. While only two repetitions of the flam were captured, the data represents an accurate portrial of the snare drummer's execution of the rudiment. For instance, the flam tap at 120bpm has a specific movement pattern that can be seen in the data:
Based on the charts, one can see a shift in the movement of the shoulder anatomical marker in the resultant vector. As time progresses (over the three trial dates), the shoulder's movement decreases. This can be seen in some manner through the value of the standard deviation for the shoulder anatomical marker in the resultant vector. In sequential order, the values for the standard deviation for the shoulder in the resultant vector is as follows: .87, .27, and .19.
The analysis of each anatomical marker in the resultant vector is slightly more complicated than analyzing the basic strokes based on position. The frist step is to assign the positions to the flam trial, and then apply the same positions to the flam family. The basic stroke sequencing for the flam tap is as follows: (Right Hand) [rest] down, tap, up. To find the down stroke in the data, the radius in the resultant vector will have its relative maximum followed by its relative minimum value. There would then be evidence for two sequencial relative minimum values found in the same anatomical marker and vector. This concept can be further explored in the z vector, which is calibrated to be "up and down" for this trial.
In the chart above, the three hits of the drum can be seen through the oscillation of this pattern at the relative maximum value followed by the relative minimum value of the radius in the z-vector. As the radius z reaches the relative maximum value, there is a relative minimum value that occurs; per three stroke pattern.
What Does This Mean?
There is evidence that the last stroke in the Tap Stroke sequence is performed as the wrist is reaching its apex, or relative maximum value for the three stroke sequence. This allows for the next stroke to be a down stroke which is the accented portion of the Tap Stroke sequence. The data for the radius z becomes more repetitive towards the middle and end of the trial. One can see the role the wrist plays in the rebound from the down stroke to the tap, and then to the upstroke to restart the cycle.
Self-Experimentation
This data is particular to one drummer. In order to gain a better understanding of one's drumming through motion capture, that person has to perform the experiment on themselves; or find someone to perform the experiment on them. If one is a college student, I would suggest visiting the Anthropology, Sport Science, or any motion lab associated with the university one is attending in order to gain access, or learn how to gain access to motion capture technology.
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