Interview With Claus Hessler by Sina Najaflou

8/13/2019 Interview With Claus Hessler by Sina Najaflou

1/10

INTERVIEW WITH

Words : Sina Najaflou

CLAUS HESSLER


2/10

1

He is the first world-class musician who has

Launched workshop/masterclass in Iran.The act is supported by Alireza Tabatabaie whoIs one of the pioneers of Drumming/EducationIn Iran, and Sponsored by Sorna Music Store.During his3-day workshop at Sorna Music-Store, He had a Drum & Percussion duet withHoomayon Nasiri from the band Darkob.For me, as a person who was fortunate enoughTo be in contact with some great drummers inThe world, Claus Hessler wasnt just anotherOne. He is a great player but his skill as anInstructor is unbelievable. Ive learned manyThings from him in this short period of time,His edication is impressive! You cant catch upto Claus without Drumsticks and Pads!I Cannot wait to see him again, trust me if he iscoming to your country go and see him!- Sina Najaflou

C

www.Claushessler.com

LAUS HESSLERBesides being an "in demand" clinician andperformer; Claus is writing educational columnsfor the German Drums & Percussion magazineand iPad App.He is also a member of the Modern DrummerEducational Team contributing articles to thefamous US magazine.

His first book Open Hand Playing Vol.1(co-written with Dom Famularo and including aforeword by Billy Cobham) has been releasedworldwide with Alfred Publishing and earnedinternational recognition including a 4-starreview in the Modern Drummer magazine.
http://www.derekroddy.com/http://www.derekroddy.com/http://www.derekroddy.com/http://sinamusic.wix.com/sinahttp://sinamusic.wix.com/sina


3/10

2

HERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOWABOUT YOU, WE WOULD LOVE IF YOU WOULD FILL USIN ON SOME IMPORTANT THINGS!WHY DID YOU START PLAYING DRUMS?CAN YOU SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US?

CLAUS :I BASICALLY STARTED PLAYING DRUMS AROUNDTHE AGE OF 4, MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A SET OFDRUMS AT OUR HOUSE. BOTH OF MY GRANDFATHERSWERE INTO MUSIC, JUST AS MY FATHER ANDMY BROTHER, SO IT WASN'T THAT STRANGE TO BEINTO MUSIC AS WELL - NO BIG STORY TO TELL.

HOW DID YOU SIGN WITH MAPEX DRUMS ?AND HOW DID YOU GET TO KNOW JIM CHAPIN?

CLAUS :BEFORE I MADE THE SWITCH TO MAPEX.I WAS ENDORSING PEARL FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.

AT A CERTAIN POINT IT APPEARED THAT THROUGH AMIXTURE OF CERTAIN CHANGES IN THE PRODUCTLINE AND ALSO CHANGES IN DISTRIBUTION I WASREADY FOR A CHANGE.WITH MAPEX I SAW THE MOST POTENTIAL,THE COMMUNICATION WAS VERY COOPERATIVERIGHT AWAY AND OF COURSE I LIKED THE DRUMS.TODAY I CONSIDER IT TO BE ONE OF THE BESTDECISIONS THAT I HAVE EVER TAKEN.

I FIRST MET JIM AT A MUSIC SHOP IN FRANKFURTAND THEN AT A PRIVATE MUSIC SCHOOL WHEREI WAS TEACHING AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS IN 1991.

YOU HAVE RELEASED 4 BOOKS,OPEN HAND DRUMMING VOLUME 1 AND VOLUME 2,DAILY DRUM SET WORKOUT AND DRUMMING KAIROS.

WHAT WOULD BE THE NAME OF NEXT BOOK ?DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THAT ?

CLAUS :AT THIS POINT I AM WORKING ON DIGITAL VERSIONSOF OPEN HAND PLAYING 1 AND DAILY DRUM-SETWORKOUT AND THE SECOND PRINTING OFTHE COLLAPSED RUDIMENTS POSTER - THESE WILLDEFINITELY COME FIRST.THE NEXT PUBLICATION WILL BE A RUDIMENTALPLAY-ALONG BOOK WITH ORIGINAL VERSIONS OFTRADITIONAL RUDIMENTAL PIECES AND PERSONALVERSIONS OF MYSELF.I AM ALMOST THROUGH WITH THE WRITING, SO ITMIGHT BE I CAN ALREADY RELEASE IT IN FALL/WINTER

2014. IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT IT WILL APPEAR JUST INIBOOK FORMAT, NO PRINTED VERSION AT ALL ...OR MAYBE LATER, WHO KNOWS.

YOU HAVE RECENTLY RELEASED YOUR LATEST DVD,DRUMMING KAIROS,WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED SO FARFROM FANS, BEFRIENDED MUSICIANS AND STUDENTS?

CLAUS :SO FAR I AM GETTING LOTS OF GOOD FEEDBACK,PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE IT A LOT.

T

INTERVIEW WITH CLAUS HESSLERSINA NAJAFLOU


4/10

3

I THINK IT REALLY MARKS A PERSONAL BREAKPOINT INMY CAREER SINCE IT REALLY TIES TOGETHER WHATI HAVE BEEN DOING AS A TEACHER SO FAR PLUSIT ALSO BRINGS MY BOOKS INTO A LEARNINGCONTEXT.THE DVD REALLY MAKES CLEAR WHAT MY VALUES ASA PLAYER AND A TEACHER ARE, I AM VERY HAPPYWITH THAT.

YOU HAVE DESIGNED A CYMBAL WITH SABIAN,WHAT IS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THECYMBAL YOU CREATED VERSUS AN ORIGINAL SABIANCYMBAL?

CLAUS :I HAD BEEN USING A SIMILAR CYMBAL LIKE THEGARAGE RIDE THAT WAS CUSTOM MADE FOR MESINCE A COUPLE OF YEARS.WHEN WE DEVELOPED THE CYMBAL,WE BASICALLY STARTED FROM THAT POINT.FOR ME, IT HAS A UNIQUE BLEND OF STICKDEFINITION, DARK AND RAW TONE AND MOST OFALL IT NEVER GETS TOO LOUD WHEN I AM PLAYING ITWITH THE SHOULDER OF MY STICK.I ALSO HAVE A 20" VERSION OF IT, MAYBE THERE ISAN OPTION ONE DAY TO ALSO BRING THIS ONE OUT.THAT HOWEVER IS STILL IN THE FUTURE ...

AS A TOURING MUSICIAN,WHATS YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM ?ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TOO MANY ADVANTAGES,IF YOU COULD TELLS US 3 BAD REASONS ABOUTBEING A TOURING MUSICIAN , AND 3 GOOD ONES ,WHAT THEY WOULD BE ?

CLAUS :THERE USUALLY IS NO ADVANTAGE WITHOUT ADISADVANTAGE, I THINK. IT COMPLETELY DEPENDSON HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD I WOULD SAY.THE ONLY THING THAT CAN DEFINITELY BE A PAIN INTHE REAR IS A LACK OF ORGANIZATION -THAT CAN GIVE YOU A REAL CHALLENGE.

HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE YOUR PERSONAL STUFFWHILE YOURE ON TOUR ?

CLAUS :WELL, ANYTHING THAT I CAN MANAGE TO DOWHILE I AM ON THE ROAD - I TRY TRY TO GET IT DONE.IN CASE THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ONE OR THEOTHER REASON THINGS HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I CANGET BACK TO IT LATER.

YOU JUST HAVE TO PUT THINGS IN A PROPER ORDERAND MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT CAN WAITAND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE,THAT PRETTY MUCH IS IT. AS I AM WRITING THIS, THEFIRST PART OF IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE AIRPORT INBARCELONA, THE SECOND PART ON E PLANE.

YOURE A VERY BUSY MAN,HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND PRACTICINGDRUMS ?WHAT DO YOU PRACTICE ON THE TOUR ?HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON PRACTICING(RUDIMENTS ESPECIALLY) IN A DAY?

CLAUS :USUALLY THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TIMEI SPEND BEHIND THE DRUMS AND THE TIME I SPENDPRACTICING. WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD,I AM USUALLY PRACTICING ON STAGE SO TO SPEAK

AS FAR AS HAND TECHNIQUE AND RUDIMENTS GO,I ALWAYS HAVE A COLLECTION OF EXERCISES,RUDIMENTAL ETC. WITH ME ON MY IPAD.THE TIME I SPEND WITH THAT ON THE ROAD MAYDIFFER BETWEEN 1 OR 2 HOURS IN THE HOTEL ROOM(IN CASE THERE IS TIME) TO 10 MINUTES BEFOREA PERFORMANCE, AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.

THE DVD REALLY MAKES CLEAR WHAT MYVALUES AS A PLAYER AND A TEACHER ARE,I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THAT.

CLAUS HESSLER



5/10

4

MAKING THE MOST MILEAGE OUT OFTHE LEAST AMOUNT OF EFFORTIS MY PERSONAL MOTTO.

WHICH EXERCISES DO YOU PRACTICE TO IMPROVEYOUR SKILL IN DRUMMING?

CLAUS :I CANNOT ANSWER IN ONE SENTENCE.SOMETIMES OLD STUFF FROM MY PERSONALCOLLECTION OF EXERCISES, SOMETIMES THINGS THATI AM DISCOVERING NEW, THAT IS REALLY HARD TO

SAY ... MANY TIMES CLASSIC STUFF FROM "STICKCONTROL" OR "ACCENTS & REBOUNDS",COULD BE ANYTHING ...

THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICHEXERCISES CAN HELP US IN ORDER TO IMPROVINGOUR WEAKER HAND ,WHATS YOUR APPROACH FOR MAKING THE WEAKERHAND BETTER ?ARE THERE ANY MAGICAL EXERCISES OR TECHNIQUES ?

DEREK:I WOULD NOT SAY THERE IS A MAGIC EXERCISE ORA CERTAIN TRICK. FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO USE

YOUR BRAIN AND THEN YOUR WEAKER HAND -THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT. THE BRAIN IS IMPORTANT ASFAR AS YOUR PERSONAL SELECTION OF EXERCISESGOES, BE IT FROM ANY OF MY BOOKS THAT MANYTIMES FOCUS ON EQUAL USE OF BOTH HANDS,FROM "THE WEAKER SIDE" OR WHATEVER. YOUR BRAINSHOULD ALSO TELL YOU

IF YOU ARE STAYING ON COURSE OR IF YOU LOSEFOCUS AT CERTAIN TIMES.THE REST IS JUST USING YOUR WEAK HAND ANDMAINTAINING A HIGH DEGREE OF DISCIPLINE.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE ON DRUM TECHNIQUES INORDER TO IMPROVE OUR STAMINA?

CLAUS :FROM MY POINT OF VIEW THE KEYWORD HEREIS STAYING RELAXED.I THINK THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS STAMINAWHEN THERE IS TOO MUCH TENSIONAND EFFORT IN THE GAME.MAKING THE MOST MILEAGE OUT OF THE LEASTAMOUNT OF EFFORT IS MY PERSONAL MOTTO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC REASON FOR USING THE8 TOM ON THE RIGHT SIDE ?AND WHY DONT YOU HAVE A 12 ONE ON YOURSET UP ?

CLAUS :I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE 8" ON THE RIGHT SIDEALLOWS FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE POSITION OFMY RIGHT RIDE CYMBAL.12" TOMS I DO ONLY USE WHEN I HAVE NO OTHERCHOICE,MOSTLY I JUST DO NOT GET THEM LOWENOUGH.

CLAUS HESSLER


6/10

5

ON THE OTHER HAND, I JUST LIKE THE SOUND OF THE8" SIMPLY MUCH MORE, THAT HOWEVER IS JUSTA MATTER OF PERSONAL TASTE.

IVE LEARNED FROM YOU, AND MY DRUM TEACHER,THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER HOW FAST YOU CANPLAY, THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS CONTROL.BUT HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR CONTROL?

CLAUS :THERE IS NO CONTROL WITHOUT RELAXATION.WHENEVER YOUR MOVEMENTS HAVE A TENDENCY TOBE STIFF AND NOT "ROUND" YOU CAN USUALLYFORGET ABOUT CONTROL.

IF YOU COULD SUGGEST ONE DRUM METHOD FORBEGINNERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE ?

CLAUS :WELL, THAT'S AGAIN HARD TO SAY SINCE IT ALSODEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE STUDENT(SIX OR SIXTY?).FOR DRUMSET OR JUST SNARE? FOR SURE ANYBODYSHOULD HAVE "STICK CONTROL", THAT WOULD BESOMETHING THAT I WOULD ULTIMATELY RECOMMEND.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD THEY TAKE TO BECOME A PRODRUMMER THROUGH THE YEARS ?WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR THEM ?

CLAUS :AGAIN A HARD ONE. THE ANSWER COULD FILL ABOOK I AM AFRAID.FIRST OF ALL YOU SHOULD SEEK ADVICE ANDASK YOURSELF IF BECOMING A PROFESSIONALMUSICIAN IS REALLY SOMETHING YOU CAN IMAGINETO BE. IT MAY TURN OUT TO ALSO BE A LIFELONG,DEMANDING JOURNEY -AND CHANCES ARE THAT YOU ARE NOT ALWAYSHAPPY WITH THE DARKER SIDES OF THIS PROFESSION.BE AWARE, THAT ONLY BEING A GOOD DRUMMERIS NOT THE ONLY IMPORTANT ASPECT.REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO SELL A PRODUCT

THAT SHOULD HAVE MANY DIFFERENT FEATURES:YOURSELF. WHAT CAN YOU BRING TO THE TABLE THATMAKES YOU SPECIAL?BASICALLY THIS IS ALSO A LOT ABOUT MARKETING

YOURSELF, FINE-TUNING YOUR PRODUCT AND GETREADY FOR A LIFELONG LEARNING PROCESS.WHICH IS ALSO FUN! BUT NOT ALWAYS.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHY THE OPEN HAND PLAYINGCAN BE OUR FUTURE WAY OF DRUMMING ?

CLAUS :I BELIEVE IT JUST MAKES SO MUCH SENSE TO NOTCROSS HANDS WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING THE DRUMSBECAUSE YOU CAN USE ALL FOUR LIMBS IN THE MOSTEFFECTIVE WAY. PLUS IT HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY TOFIND MY PERSONAL VOICE ON THE INSTRUMENT.

WHATS YOUR PIECE OF ADVICE FOR PROFESSIONALPLAYERS IN IRAN OR ELSEWHERE WHO REALLY WANTTO GET INVOLVED WITH THE WORLD OF DRUMMING ?HOW CAN THEY CONNECT WITH OTHER BIG BANDS INTHE US OR EUROPE ?FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE A SESSION PLAYERNOT ONLY IN IRAN OR THEIR COUNTRY,BUT RATHER THE WORLD.

CLAUS :THE MUSIC BUSINESS IS ALWAYS AND CONSTANTLYCHANGING. MAKE SURE YOU NEVER JUST HAVE YOURFOCUS ON ONLY ONE CERTAIN ACTIVITY.TEACH. PLAY. COMPOSE. WRITE. NETWORK. ARRANGE.FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE ...

WHAT DOES YOUTUBE MEANS TO YOU IN THE EYES OFSUCH AN SUCCESSFUL MUSICIAN ?

CLAUS :IT CAN BE MANY THINGS. IT CAN BE A GREAT WAY TOCOLLECT INFORMATION. IT CAN BE A GREAT WAY TOLET THE WORLD KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.IT CAN ALSO BE A GREAT TOOL TO WASTE TIME ORTO COLLECT MISCONCEPTIONS.

YEARS AGO, IT WAS JUST HARD TO ACQUIRE CERTAININFORMATIONS. NOWADAYS THAT IS EASY.



7/10

6

MAKE SURE YOU NEVER JUST HAVE YOUR

FOCUS ON ONLY ONE CERTAIN ACTIVITY.TEACH, PLAY, COMPOSE, WRITE, NETWORK,ARRANGE.FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE ...

CLAUS HESSLER


8/10

Highly recommended to watchClaus Hessler at Pasic 2011 :http://youtu.be/GhRcLVvRf6c

http://youtu.be/ZaGck6FYUJY

http://youtu.be/SD3CslT9P4E

7

DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL PROJECT OR BAND ? DOYOU WANT TO BRING ANY OF THEM BACK ON THETABLE INSTEAD OF DOING WORKSHOPS AROUND THEWORLD ? WHICH ONE IS THE PLACE THAT YOU REALLYHAVE TO BE ?

CLAUS :YES, THERE IS A COUPLE OF PERSONAL PROJECTS THAT IENJOY. SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

INCREDIBLE BASS & DRUM DUET - STEFANHERGENRDER & CLAUS HESSLERCLAUS HESSLER - INCEPTION - HAMMOND B3 ORGAN!

JAN BEILING SAX THERAPY BAND - EL NINO

JUST FRIENDS & JULIANA DA SILVA: LIVE @ ARTBAR FFM

WHAT BANDS, MUSICIANS OR MUSIC GENRES AREYOUR LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT?

CLAUS :RIGHT NOW, I ENJOY LISTENING TO OZ NOY'S ALBUM"FUZZY", THERE IS ALSO A FLASHBACK TOTONY WILLIAMS SOLO PROJECTS AND GOLDBERGVARIATIONS WITH GLENN GOULD ON PIANO.

CAN YOU NAME 3 OF YOUR FAVORITE TUNES FROMTHE ANY OF THE MUSICAL PROJECTS YOU HAVEPLAYED?

CLAUS :A NIGHT IN TUNISIA - PAUL GEHRIG SUSPENDERS EXLIBRIS - EXULTATIOAVIAO - JULIANA DA SILVA

WHO WERE/ARE YOUR HEROES AND INFLUENCES ONDRUMMING ?

CLAUS :BILLY COBHAM - BUDDY RICH - NEIL PEART - PAULVERTIGO - VINNIE COLAIUTA ... JUST TO NAME A FEW.

HOW YOU CAN DESCRIBE IRANS DRUMMINGCOMMUNITY ?

CLAUS :THAT REALLY IS HARD TO SAY SINCE I DO NOT KNOWTOO MUCH ABOUT THAT TO BE QUITE HONEST.I MET OPEN MINDED AND VERY FRIENDLY PEOPLE HEREWHICHALWAYS IS A PLEASURE. IN THAT SENSE,THERE ARE ONLY GOOD WORDS TO SAY.

WHICHCITES YOU HAVE VISITED BEFORE TEHRAN,HOW ISYOUR TRIP IN TEHRAN SO FAR ?DO YOU WANT BACK AGAIN OR STAY HERE LONGER ?

CLAUS :I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO IRAN BEFORE, HOWEVER ATTHE TIME THERE ARE PLANS FOR A RETURN

IN DIFFERENT FORMATES. SO WE MIGHT MEET AGAINSOONER THAN YOU THOUGHT!

TO BE HONEST, YOURE ONE OF THE COOLEST GUYSAND ONE OF THE BEST DRUM INSTRUCTORS THAT IHAVE EVER MET, I THINK YOURE VERY DOWN TOEARTH AND YOUR DEDICATION HAS IMPRESSED MEAS A DRUMMER.WHATS BEHIND THAT SMILEY AND LOVING FACE ?WHAT HAS MADE CLAUS HESSLER THE PERSON THATWE KNOW TODAY ?WHATS YOUR IDEOLOGY IN LIFE ?

CLAUS :WELL, MAYBE IT IS THE FACT THAT I DO NOT REALLYHAVE SUCH THING AS A FIXED IDEOLOGY.

I TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY I WOULD LIKE TO BETREATED. EVERYBODY WHO IS SERIOUSLY TRYING TOFOLLOW SOME GOAL IN HIS LIFE HAS MY RESPECT.I CONSIDER MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS BEING A VERYSPECIAL SOURCE OF ENERGY.I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR WHAT MY TEACHERSHAVE SHOWED ME AND IT IS MY OBLIGATION TONOT HOLD BACK THAT INFORMATION.AT THIS POINT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO SEEK OUTDOM FAMULARO'S BOOK "THE CYCLE OF SELF-EMPOWERMENT".IT IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.IT IS NOT ABOUT CERTAIN POLITICAL SYSTEMS.IT IS SIMPLY ABOUT THINGS LIKE HUMANITY,HONESTY, DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44AOsCllsEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44AOsCllsEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imeMU882zPIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imeMU882zPIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44AOsCllsEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44AOsCllsEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imeMU882zPIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imeMU882zPIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TighbyToJshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TighbyToJshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOpzQfkS0Mhttp://youtu.be/SD3CslT9P4Ehttp://youtu.be/SD3CslT9P4Ehttp://youtu.be/ZaGck6FYUJYhttp://youtu.be/ZaGck6FYUJYhttp://store.hudsonmusiceurope.co.uk/p/derek-roddy-blast-beats-evolvedhttp://store.hudsonmusiceurope.co.uk/p/derek-roddy-blast-beats-evolved


9/10

8

Words : Sina Najaflou

Edit : Lisa LaFountaineGraphic & Design : Sina Najaflou

Photos : Siamak Mohebalian - Saeid Abdollahi

Special Thanks to :

Alireza Tabatabaei

Sorna Co.

_____________________________

for sharing and publishing please contact to me.

[email protected]

http://Sinamusic.wix.com/sina#!interviews/c10fk
http://sinamusic.weebly.com/http://sinamusic.weebly.com/mailto:[email protected]://sinamusic.weebly.com/http://sinamusic.weebly.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


10/10

!"#$%&'()*(+,-./012+!"#$%&'")*+,-./01234+.56'0' 89/!:/01

0';&/?/!;.@A:ABMoellerC;!,D:1-BClausHessler-

E/02#(F=$@/27AB4@'G,01:JimChapin

'B!*'*- 6'.0 H5IJ & II8 IK

INTEHRAN

.A=L'.!MCNE/!.www.sornaco.com%015C; 'BOPQ&!RS=;T'UVW/?/!;

Interview With Claus Hessler by Sina Najaflou

Documents

Transcript of Interview With Claus Hessler by Sina Najaflou