Thomas Maiwald

Your coach for drumming techniques &
performance development

Thomas Maiwald

Your coach for drumming techniques &
performance development

As an experienced drummer and teacher, I can help you expand your skills. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, I can provide you with the support you need to improve your drumming. Let’s redefine hand techniques together and unlock your full potential!

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Sound Quality

With precise hand technique, you can control every stroke and improve the sound quality of your playing.

Ergonomics

Good hand technique reduces strain and minimises repetitive strain injuries.

Efficiency

With solid technique, you can achieve more with less effort and play longer without getting tired.

Innovation

New approaches and techniques will improve your playing and expand your musical expression.

Sound quality, ergonomics, efficiency, innovation

Why good hand technique is important:

When playing the drums, people often fail to understand the importance of good hand techniques. You might think it's cooler to learn lots of grooves, fills and rudiments. These are important, but the foundation of good hand techniques improves sound, ergonomics and efficiency.

With skilled hand technique, you can improve the quality of your playing. A wide dynamic range opens up a variety of tonal nuances and makes your drumming more expressive. Ergonomic techniques promote natural, less strenuous and more efficient movements — and enable fast, precise playing.

Solid hand techniques and innovative approaches can take your playing to a new level and continuously develop it to adapt to new musical challenges. Years of experience and intensive practice will help you develop and improve your own sound and style.

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Personalised travel & support services

  • I have been fascinated by drums for over three decades. For almost 20 years, I have been intensively studying hand techniques, defining and continuously developing them during my drum studies at The Collective - School of Music, N.Y.C. (2007-2010). I would now like to pass on these four innovative techniques to help you reach your full potential and optimise your playing.

  • I will help you play in a more relaxed, effective and dynamic way without losing your style. Solid hand technique takes time and commitment, but the results are worth it: smoother playing, better sound and a more fulfilling experience. Well-developed hand technique is the foundation for all your grooves, fills and rudiments, and the key to a healthy, efficient and dynamic playing style. Invest the time and you will reap the rewards in your overall drumming.

Discover HTHT

The concept of ‘Highway to Hand Techniques’ offers a detailed introduction to the four essential hand techniques for playing the drums. It begins with clear explanations and structured exercises to help both beginners and advanced players build and improve their skills.

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The 4 HT's

Discover the four essential hand techniques through detailed descriptions and videos. Be inspired – explore the individual techniques!

Wrist & Bounce – Technique

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Moeller – Technique

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Finger – Technique

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Push/Pull – Technique

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Prices

HTHT courses & offers

Flexibility and adaptability

The courses are designed to be flexible and adaptable to suit different learning objectives and schedules. Whether you want to take a short, intensive course or a long-term, continuous course, I have a variety of options that may suit your needs. In each format, the focus is on deepening and improving your hand techniques.

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Lausitz trommelt TM&TN

Courses

My workshops

Erlebe eine Interaktive Live-Musik-Performance und Workshops am 28.09.2024 im GLADHOUSE Cottbus, beginnend um 15:00 Uhr.

Verbringe einen aufregenden Trommeltag in Kooperation mit dem Zentrum POP, das Lausitz Festival und dem Gladhouse Cottbus. Ich werde bei allen 3 Aktionen mitwirken:

  1. Workshops: Vor den Veranstaltungen finden zahlreiche Workshops statt, darunter meinen Workshop zur Handtechnik.
  2. Interaktive Live-Musik-Performance: Gemeinsam mit dem Projekt "Dusk plays Nirvana", bei dem ich seit 2019 mitwirke, bringen wir drei legendäre Nirvana-Songs zum Leben, unterstützt von 35 Schlagzeugerinnen und Schlagzeugern. Es gibt noch freie Plätze, also nutze die Chance, mit uns auf und euch vor der Bühne zu stehen!
  3. Dusk plays Nirvana, unplugged and more...: Nach der ersten Show folgt eine weitere spannende Performance für alle Anwesenden.

Weitere Informationen und Details zur Anmeldung findest du hier:

Komm vorbei und werde Teil dieses musikalischen Erlebnisses!

Mit diesem Workshop machst du den nächsten Schritt zu einem effizienteren und ausdrucksstärkeren Spiel – melde dich jetzt an und erlebe vier Stunden voller Inspiration, Technik und Praxis!

Für Schlagzeuger*innen aller Levels, die ihre Handtechniken verbessern und neue Techniken erlernen möchten.

Beschreibung des Workshops:
Dieser praxisorientierte 4-stündige Workshop ist der perfekte Einstieg in die Welt der Basic – Handtechniken. Egal, ob du Anfänger*in oder fortgeschritten bist, die vier grundlegenden Handtechniken – Wrist & Bounce, Moeller-Technik, Finger-Technik und Push–Pull-Technik – werden dir helfen, präziser, effizienter und musikalischer zu spielen. Lerne, wie du die Bewegung deiner Hände optimal kontrollierst, um Energie zu sparen und mehr Ausdruck in dein Spiel zu bringen.

Was erwartet dich:
Einführung in die Basics der vier Handtechniken
• Wrist and Bounce: Entwickle ein besseres Gefühl für Rebound und wie du ihn für schnelles und entspanntes Spielen nutzt.
• Moeller-Technik: Lerne, wie du mit dieser schwungvollen Technik Akzente mit minimalem Kraftaufwand setzt.
• Finger-Technik: Kontrolliere deine Drumsticks mit den Fingern, um präzise und schnelle Schläge auszuführen.
• Push-Pull-Technik: Lerne, schnelle, präzise Double Strokes auszuführen, indem pro Handbewegung zwei Schläge gespielt werden.

Interaktive Übungen am Übungspad und am Schlagzeug

Grafisch unterstützte Übungssequenzen

Praktische Anwendungen in Grooves und Fills

Vorstellung der Soundbrenner Metronom-Pulsuhr

Zeitplan:
• 11:00 – 11:30 Uhr: Begrüßung und Einführung in die vier Handtechniken
Erster Überblick über die verschiedenen Techniken und ihre Anwendungsgebiete.
• 11:30 – 12:30 Uhr: Praxis-Session I: Wrist and Bounce & Moeller-Technik
Übungen am Übungspad zur Verbesserung von Rebound-Kontrolle und Akzentuierung durch die Moeller-Technik.
• 12:30 – 13:00 Uhr: Praxis-Session II: Finger-Technik
Fokus auf die Fingerkontrolle: Übungen zur Verbesserung der Präzision und Schnelligkeit bei leisen und schnellen Schlägen.
• 13:00 – 13:30 Uhr: Pause und Networking
Austausch mit anderen Teilnehmern und Möglichkeit, Fragen zu stellen.
• 13:30 – 14:30 Uhr: Praxis-Session III: Push-Pull-Technik
Übungen für schnelle, präzise Double Strokes und effiziente Dynamikkontrolle in schnellen Passagen.
• 14:30 – 15:00 Uhr: Anwendung in Grooves und Fills + Vorstellung der Soundbrenner Pulsuhr
Integration der Techniken in praktische musikalische Beispiele und Einführung in die Nutzung der Pulsuhr.

Was du mitbringen solltest:
• Wenn du deine eigenen Sticks spielen möchtest, dann deine Sticks
• Lust auf interaktive und praxisnahe Übungen
• Optional: Ein Notizbuch für persönliche Anmerkungen

Zusatzinformationen:
Dieser Workshop eignet sich sowohl für Schlagzeuger*innen, die ihre Technik perfektionieren möchten, als auch für diejenigen, die eine solide Basis für fortgeschrittenes Spielen schaffen wollen. Am Ende des Workshops wirst du ein besseres Verständnis für die Handtechniken haben und wissen, wie du sie in deinem Spiel sinnvoll einsetzen kannst.
Der Ablaufplan kann im Laufe des Tages flexibel an die Wünsche und Bedürfnisse der Teilnehmenden angepasst werden.

Anmeldung:
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ZENTRUM POP

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9. Abschnitt: Six Pad Vorstellung

In der Entwicklung

Music Projects

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FAQ

FAQ

The wrist & bounce technique is a fundamental hand technique that helps improve control over the stick and generate efficient movements. It is important for creating a solid basis for all other hitting techniques.

The Moeller technique uses a combination of arm, elbow and wrist movements to generate powerful and dynamic stroke sequences with minimal effort. In contrast, the wrist & bounce technique focuses primarily on fine wrist control to produce consistent strokes when playing.

Yes, anyone can learn finger technique, regardless of their level of experience. It helps to optimise finger movements and improve speed and precision.

The push-pull technique is particularly suitable for double strokes, among other things, and helps to increase the efficiency of the movements. It is useful for fast and complex rhythms.

The time required to master the hand techniques varies depending on individual practice effort and natural ability. However, regular practice can significantly speed up the learning process.

Yes, the courses and workshops are designed to be suitable for drummers of all experience levels. Each participant can learn and progress at their own pace.

After the course, you will receive specific exercise plans and tips on how to integrate the techniques you have learned into your daily exercise routine in order to make continuous progress.

Yes, the techniques can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people.

There are specific exercises, such as controlled stroke sequences and dynamic accents, that help to perfect the Moeller technique. These are covered in detail in my courses.

Common mistakes with the push-pull technique are uneven movements and using too much force. In my courses, you will learn how to recognise and avoid these mistakes in order to develop a clean and efficient technique.

Yes, the Moeller technique is particularly effective at fast tempos, as it is based on the use of a so-called whipping motion. I will show you how to adapt this technique to fast passages.

The push-pull technique combines larger movements of the wrists with smaller movements of the fingers, while the pure finger technique focuses mainly on the movement of the fingers. Both techniques have their specific applications and advantages and can be combined well.

Good posture is crucial for the effective execution of all hand techniques. In my courses, I place great emphasis on correct posture in order to avoid injuries and optimise playing technique.

Effectively combining different hand techniques allows you to play in a more versatile and flexible manner. I will show you how to switch seamlessly between techniques and use them in different musical contexts.

Each hand technique offers unique advantages for playing complex rhythms and patterns. For example, the push-pull technique enables fast double-stroke rolls, while the Moeller technique supports powerful accents. These advantages are explained in detail and practised in the courses.

Yes, the techniques can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people.

There are specific exercises, such as controlled stroke sequences and dynamic accents, that help to perfect the Moeller technique. These are covered in detail in my courses.

Common mistakes with the push-pull technique are uneven movements and using too much force. In my courses, you will learn how to recognise and avoid these mistakes in order to develop a clean and efficient technique.

Yes, the Moeller technique is particularly effective at fast tempos, as it is based on the use of a so-called whipping motion. I will show you how to adapt this technique to fast passages.

The push-pull technique combines larger movements of the wrists with smaller movements of the fingers, while the pure finger technique focuses mainly on the movement of the fingers. Both techniques have their specific applications and advantages and can be combined well.

Good posture is crucial for the effective execution of all hand techniques. In my courses, I place great emphasis on correct posture in order to avoid injuries and optimise playing technique.

Effectively combining different hand techniques allows you to play in a more versatile and flexible manner. I will show you how to switch seamlessly between techniques and use them in different musical contexts.

Each hand technique offers unique advantages for playing complex rhythms and patterns. For example, the push-pull technique enables fast double-stroke rolls, while the Moeller technique supports powerful accents. These advantages are explained in detail and practised in the courses.