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 [1]. It is believed that he described the method after observing Civil War drummers in the 19th century. He later taught the system to Jim Chapin in 1938 and 1939. Chapin worked to popularize this method until his death in 2009.
The method combines a variety of techniques with the goal of improving hand speed, power, and control while offering the flexibility to add accented notes at will. The method has been perceived in the drumming community as a secret method because it is considered difficult to learn. The technique uses a specific "whipping motion" that allows gravity to do most of the work, allowing the drummer to play faster, by staying relaxed. It has been promoted as requiring significantly less effort and carrying less risk of injury than other methods.
However, no consensus has been reached as to what this technique actually is, and the issue is still a topic of debate among drummers. Some are of the opinion that this method incorporates a whip followed by rebounds. Chapin asserts in his video that the technique does not rely on the rebound - that you must master the hand motion while playing each note as an actual stroke - while Dave Weckl in this video says it does rely on the rebound.
See also Traditional grip. Moeller's favorite of the 2 right hand grips discussed in 'the Moeller Book', was the 'ancient style' traditional grip. This old style or vintage grip consisted of pressing or 'gripping' the drumstick with the little finger. The other fingers curled gently around without pressing tightly. With this approach, the fulcrum is situated at the back of the hand. This grip works well with rudimental or heavy rock drumming. In contrast, the thumb fulcrum works better for closed rolls and cymbal rhythms that require a more delicate stroke.
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