Sanford A. Moeller
Encyclopedia
Sanford Augustus "Gus" Moeller (1886 – 1960) was an American rudimental drummer, a national champion, educator, and author
. Moeller was born in Albany, New York
, and began his music education by studying the piano.
While still a young man, Moeller also learned the snare drum and studied with August Helmicke. He served in the Spanish-American war. Later, Moeller moved to New York, playing vaudeville
shows with George M. Cohen. He also played for the Metropolitan opera house and the Seventh Regimental Army Band.
He is also known for what is called the Moeller Method
, which essentially documents the way of playing snare drum used in the army, particularly in the Civil War. Among Moeller's pupils included Gene Krupa
and the late Jim Chapin
.
Gus' Moeller is usually associated with the "Moeller Method
" or 'Moeller Technique' (considered by some to be a misnomer), which advocates the use of 'ancient' snare drumming techniques that can be used by drummers when playing a drum set (drum kit
).
In 1925, Moeller compiled and wrote "The Moeller Book: The Art of Snare Drumming". It was reprinted in June 1950 by Leedy and Ludwig ... (followed by - 1956 Copyright assigned to Ludwig Drum Co.), (followed by - 1982 Copyright assigned to Ludwig Music Publishing Co).
Moeller's unique point of view was that he considered drum students, who were learning to drum properly, to be students of eurhythmics
(refer to page 69 in Moeller's Book). Moeller based his lessons and instruction around a playing style used by drummers who had served in the American Civil War
.
The Moeller book speaks highly, in the publisher's note, of George Bruce
's method of drum instruction, and indeed, The Moeller book has some similarity to Bruce and Emmett
's The Drummers' and Fifer's Guide in that both have lengthy treatments of the rudiments, and many of the pieces in Bruce's book also appears in the Moeller book.
This particular field drumming style actually arrived in the United States during the time of the American Revolutionary War
. The 'open style' approach and little finger stick grip are the trademarks regarding this 'ancient' style of drumming. The roots of this approach stem from Europe
, and go back before the 18th century.
One of Moeller's pupils, Allen Paley, said, "Moeller...understood the instrument as well as a surgeon does the human body. His system, for which you had to modify in order to play sitting down — he normally stood, was a matter of three strokes that you brought together in a smooth flow. ... He [Gene Krupa] warned me not to let Moeller's method to overpower me; it was originally fashioned for parade and concert drummers. To play with jazz and dance bands, one must modify what Moeller taught and proceed from there".
The two main modifications that most drummers make regarding Moeller's book are to use the thumb fulcrum for both hands (matched grip
) and to level the snare (instead of continuing to play a snare drum set up slanted or on an angle).
Though Moeller recommended standing when practicing, he shows (on page 11 in his book) that some of his pupils, such as concert and jazz band members, will opt for sitting. These facts show that Moeller allowed for two right hand grips in the lessons that he taught (refer to page 11 in his book for a picture of him seated at a snare drum showing a right hand thumb fulcrum grip). In other words, the little finger grip was not the only grip Moeller recognized when working with his pupils.
The Mount Kisco Ancient Fife and Drum Corps http://www.mountkiscoancients.org/index_files/Page368.htm has the best known collection of Moeller drums - still being played today.
The Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps
http://www.Lancraftfd.com, of which Moeller was a member from 1930 to 1935, purchased five snare drums at $85.00 each from Moeller who delivered them personally on August 8, 1954. The Moeller drums are still in use today and have been merged with "Buck" Soistman and Bill Reamer drums since then, (showing a definite on-going drum building style and lineage that was initiated by Moeller).
, is well known. He also instructed American drummer Jim Chapin
.
Chapin's well-known book, "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol 1, Coordinated Independence" carries a dedication to Moeller on the title page.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. Moeller was born in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and began his music education by studying the piano.
While still a young man, Moeller also learned the snare drum and studied with August Helmicke. He served in the Spanish-American war. Later, Moeller moved to New York, playing vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
shows with George M. Cohen. He also played for the Metropolitan opera house and the Seventh Regimental Army Band.
He is also known for what is called the Moeller Method
Moeller method
The Moeller method, or moeller technique, is named for drummer Sanford A. Moeller, as described in his book The Art of Snare Drumming, also called The Moeller Book . It is believed that he described the method after observing Civil War drummers in the 19th century. He later taught the system to...
, which essentially documents the way of playing snare drum used in the army, particularly in the Civil War. Among Moeller's pupils included Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
and the late Jim Chapin
Jim Chapin
James Forbes "Jim" Chapin was an American jazz drummer and the author of popular texts on jazz drumming, the first two volumes of which are Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. I, and Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol...
.
Moeller and drum instruction
"The belief that anyone can beat a drum is discouragingly popular!" - Sanford Augustus ‘Gus’ MoellerGus' Moeller is usually associated with the "Moeller Method
Moeller method
The Moeller method, or moeller technique, is named for drummer Sanford A. Moeller, as described in his book The Art of Snare Drumming, also called The Moeller Book . It is believed that he described the method after observing Civil War drummers in the 19th century. He later taught the system to...
" or 'Moeller Technique' (considered by some to be a misnomer), which advocates the use of 'ancient' snare drumming techniques that can be used by drummers when playing a drum set (drum kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
).
In 1925, Moeller compiled and wrote "The Moeller Book: The Art of Snare Drumming". It was reprinted in June 1950 by Leedy and Ludwig ... (followed by - 1956 Copyright assigned to Ludwig Drum Co.), (followed by - 1982 Copyright assigned to Ludwig Music Publishing Co).
Moeller's unique point of view was that he considered drum students, who were learning to drum properly, to be students of eurhythmics
Eurhythmics
Dalcroze Eurhythmics, also known as the Dalcroze Method or simply Eurhythmics, is one of several developmental approaches including the Kodaly Method, Orff Schulwerk, Simply Music and Suzuki Method used to teach music education to students. Eurhythmics was developed in the early 20th century by...
(refer to page 69 in Moeller's Book). Moeller based his lessons and instruction around a playing style used by drummers who had served in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The Moeller book speaks highly, in the publisher's note, of George Bruce
George G. Bruce
George G. Bruce was an American drum major during the Civil War, best known for co-writing The Drummer's and Fifer's Guide with Daniel Decatur Emmett. The Guide was published in 1862, and remains well known as a source for music for the fife and drum. Bruce was a player of the drums, banjo, violin...
's method of drum instruction, and indeed, The Moeller book has some similarity to Bruce and Emmett
Dan Emmett
Daniel Decatur "Dan" Emmett was an American songwriter and entertainer, founder of the first troupe of the blackface minstrel tradition.-Biography:...
's The Drummers' and Fifer's Guide in that both have lengthy treatments of the rudiments, and many of the pieces in Bruce's book also appears in the Moeller book.
This particular field drumming style actually arrived in the United States during the time of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The 'open style' approach and little finger stick grip are the trademarks regarding this 'ancient' style of drumming. The roots of this approach stem from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and go back before the 18th century.
One of Moeller's pupils, Allen Paley, said, "Moeller...understood the instrument as well as a surgeon does the human body. His system, for which you had to modify in order to play sitting down — he normally stood, was a matter of three strokes that you brought together in a smooth flow. ... He [Gene Krupa] warned me not to let Moeller's method to overpower me; it was originally fashioned for parade and concert drummers. To play with jazz and dance bands, one must modify what Moeller taught and proceed from there".
The two main modifications that most drummers make regarding Moeller's book are to use the thumb fulcrum for both hands (matched grip
Matched grip
Matched grip is a method of holding drum sticks and mallets to play percussion instruments. In the matched grip each hand holds its stick in the same way, whereas in the traditional grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Almost all commonly used matched grips are overhand grips...
) and to level the snare (instead of continuing to play a snare drum set up slanted or on an angle).
Though Moeller recommended standing when practicing, he shows (on page 11 in his book) that some of his pupils, such as concert and jazz band members, will opt for sitting. These facts show that Moeller allowed for two right hand grips in the lessons that he taught (refer to page 11 in his book for a picture of him seated at a snare drum showing a right hand thumb fulcrum grip). In other words, the little finger grip was not the only grip Moeller recognized when working with his pupils.
Moeller as a drum builder
Moeller was also an expert drum builder. He made several deep marching snares and matching bass drums. Today, Moeller's vintage-style rope drums are still being played by marching organizations, annually.The Mount Kisco Ancient Fife and Drum Corps http://www.mountkiscoancients.org/index_files/Page368.htm has the best known collection of Moeller drums - still being played today.
The Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps
Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps
Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps is an Ancient Fife and Drum Corps based in North Haven, Connecticut and is a member of the Connecticut Fifers and Drummers Association. Lancraft was founded in 1888, by conservative Freemasons, but over the years has become the pride of Irish Americans...
http://www.Lancraftfd.com, of which Moeller was a member from 1930 to 1935, purchased five snare drums at $85.00 each from Moeller who delivered them personally on August 8, 1954. The Moeller drums are still in use today and have been merged with "Buck" Soistman and Bill Reamer drums since then, (showing a definite on-going drum building style and lineage that was initiated by Moeller).
Moeller's Pupils
Moeller's influence on the early jazz drummers, such as Gene KrupaGene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
, is well known. He also instructed American drummer Jim Chapin
Jim Chapin
James Forbes "Jim" Chapin was an American jazz drummer and the author of popular texts on jazz drumming, the first two volumes of which are Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. I, and Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol...
.
Chapin's well-known book, "Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol 1, Coordinated Independence" carries a dedication to Moeller on the title page.