Download Moeller Hybrid Ex1 PDF
I’ve been focusing on stick control with a few dedicated students so I thought why not make a video of some of the exercises? The video above shows two exercises. The first version of the exercise is a Moeller Hybrid because it uses techniques popularized by both Sanford (Gus) Moeller and George Lawrence Stone. The quarter notes are played using a variation of Moeller’s little finger grip. Just grip the stick toward the butt end with your pinky and form a loose fist with your remaining fingers.
Little Finger Grip
The purpose of this practice grip is to make it easier to feel the stick’s rebound as a jolt of electricity–not for playing the kit. I’ve been using this grip with full strokes to help students internalize their stick-rebound timing with forearm rotation. The rest of the exercise is played with a middle finger fulcrum grip that utilizes the pull out/whip without forearm rotation, which is why I call it a Moeller-Hybrid.
Middle Finger Fulcrum Grip
The second version is the same exercise but uses open/close technique (also known as push/pull). This technique was popularized by Billy Gladstone and more recently by Gordy Knudtson. Both exercises were played in matched grip with slightly exaggerated movements.