any1 know who james campell is??? I went to a camp with him, he was the head huy there, me and my friends didnt think he had that great of technique, but he was really really clean like his diddles and stuff were perfect. but smae with my schools instructor he was on the devs and he has awesome chops en though he is older and worn out but not that great of technique. I was wondering if any1 else has noticed this with their instructor or a guy leading a clinic or anything...

James Campbell was the caption head of the Cavaliers when they won their first DCI championship in 92. He is currently the head of percussion at the University of Kentucky, and a staff member of Aimachi WGI line.

While his technique (and the Cavaliers technique of that era) is somewhat different than the more legato techniques seen in most lines today, it is by no means "bad".

I"m sure Hulka or Middle Aged Man can comment more on JC.

b

Jim Campbell marched the Guardsmen Drum & Bugle Corps 1963-1972 playing tenor (single drum) and snare so his technique is old school.

Most instructors (myself included) don't have perfect technique even if they did during their marching years. I often tell students "do as as I say, not as I do" because my technique has flaws that should not be emulated. Now, if I need to demonstrate correct technique I'm able to do so but instructors don't need to play with perfect technique to get their point across.

Haha, you know, Hulka is right about him always saying "do as I say, not as I do thing."

And just to note something, there really isnt any such thing as "bad" technique. There are different styles and such of playing, but technique is pretty open and relative. Its just what the instructor or player prefers. Granted, you probably won't make the line you want if your technique if different (especially radically different) from what the tech teaches, but there is no truly "good" or "bad" technique. And this was something I remember McIntosh saying at a clinic a while back ago.

There is most definately a bad technique. Any technique that causes excessive tension or stress, typically followed by pain, is wrong, and should be corrected immediately.

yeah I know he is great and all just he wasnt impressive as my instructor said but theen again I might just might be hard to impress cuz my instructor is very good himself and stuff. james campell is good I know he used to be the pres for the PAS and U of K and was on the cavvies im just saying he stirs ya know. his stix dont go straight up and down he goes kinda out to the side ya know what I mean...have you seen him play in person...

Point taken John, but one might assume that if the technique causes pain in the individual, then that person would stop playing that way and develope a new technique. But I see what you mean, and you are correct.

And I also notice from the Cavies Lot videos, their snares like to slice... a LOT. I have yet to see somewhere on those videos where the snare players are hitting the drum at a perpendicular.

James Campbell is a s.o.b.

One time I was with Campbell in the back of a pickup truck, along with a live deer. Campbell goes up to the deer and says, 'I'm James Campbell! SAY IT!' Then he manipulates the deer's lips in such a way as to make it say, 'Jamescampbell' ... It wasn't exactly like it, but it was pretty good for a deer!'

I once saw him scissor kick Angela Lansbury

I once saw him eat a whole live chicken

He sheds his skin once a year...

I see him play in person all the time. His style is now beginning to approach a more concert type of playing, rather than a mechanical piston-like stroke. He has a great touch with a stick, and part of it comes from altering his playing style a little bit to be less than perfect for marching snare.

If you have any questions about his technique, why not email the man himself? Here you can find his contact information.