George Spanky McCurdy Off Time/On Time DVD

Good news and bad news. The good news is that this dvd by Spanky is a good video because it is well produced and touches on a very unique way of expressing drum talent. The talent that he is an expert in is this well developed offbeat, offtime playing style. The bad news is that it is another drum video by an excellent drummer that doesn't really teach. Spanky clearly knows what he is doing and is very good at it. He tells and shows you what he is doing. There just isn't much slowing down in the tempo to actually get or digest what he is doing. There is pdfs if you know how to read drum music. But unless you can follow or understand this type of drum style, it is another drum video showcasing an excellent drummer showing off his stuff. This is the kind of playing that a drummer could use if he or she wants to show off at a drum off in an 'everybody's got talent' show. I gave it 3 stars because it is a good video, great to watch and Spanky is very good at this style. I am impressed. I just don't think it gives enough 'how' you can as opposed to 'what' you can do to develop this talent.

I have to say it has been a very disappointing experience. The dvd is entitled off time/ on time. McCurdy shows numerous examples of odd time, switching time, partial paraddidle or how the one count can be on the two, three or four. What is astonishing to me is that McCurdy never counts or explains where the one is as he plays through the vast array of examples. How can you make a dvd entitled off time/on time and not once count out what you are playing or talk about note value? He basically talks about the philosophy behind the example and tells the audience to "check it out" then plays an example with no explanation of what he's playing as he plays it or after he plays it. Then he proceeds to the next example and does more of the same. I think there are some great ideas here, but he does a poor job in conveying these ideas to the audience.

This educational DVD is absolutely insightful! He demonstrated various ways to turn a pattern into an odd-time phrase by extending it over. He is definitely not the best teacher explaining verbally (a lot of the odd-time phrasing concepts he talked about are still hard to understand without looking at the provided drum score), but his demonstration is very tight and versatile.Looking forward to more educational DVD like this.

Spanky is a monster player and hugely successful; nobody is denying that. However, the dude is naturally gifted and fails to explain much about his tricks and methods. I love his playing... the whole cd skip/echo/all that other gospel stuff is great. I just have so many unanswered questions about them. Ah well. The DVD is good, and chock full of Spanky shedding, but I didn't take much away from it that I couldn't take away from finding his performance clips on youtube. Worth a watch, but not a huge investment of time.

I have to give it 4 stars and not 5 because the music that is included is too brief to get a feel for most of what he is demonstrating. I think that he should have utilized a live band for at least some of the examples. McGurdy is extremely talented and innovative with his off beats time signatures but his drum sound is very dry but maybe that suits his style. DVD contents are well documented but Bonus footage is too short.

its actually my cousin soo i support whatever he does but its an amazing informative hands on dvd, where u get ionside the brain of a creative drum Genuiz.. enjoy!wpj drumz

I have watched the Dvd many times now since it has arrived and I have enjoyed and learned quite a bit. I enjoyed the way that Spanky broke down every concept and even included the tracks that he played on his dvd as giveaways... that's something you don't see everyday. Great Job. I would recommend buying this DVD.

Watching George "Spanky" McCurdy unpack many of the dynamics of his playing techniques alternating between on time grooves played out of time in this DVD, I believe is enough to inspire all levels of drummers. The resources provided on the DVD and play along tracks which are downloadable to your Mac/or PC are definitely added perks. i am very pleased to have added this drum instructional DVD to my collection.