Jim Chapin
Encyclopedia
James Forbes "Jim" Chapin (July 23, 1919 – July 4, 2009) was an American
(New York born and bred) 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. II. (A third volume is planned.) He was also the author of several albums (later converted to CDs) on jazz drumming, as well as 2 CDs entitled Jim Chapin: Songs, Solos, Stories (Vols. 1 and 2).
. Chapin did not begin playing the drums until he was 18 years old, after being inspired by legendary drummer Gene Krupa
. Jim left William and Mary College in early 1938 after skipping classes regularly in order to obey a massive compulsion to batter a set of drums that a classmate had left set up in the gymnasium. Chapin was a student of Ben Silver and Sanford A. Moeller
, renowned rudimentalist, who popularized the Moeller method
, and within two years he was playing opposite Krupa at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.
His exercises and concepts caused such a stir among drummers that he had to have a pair of drumsticks in his back pocket at all times in case he was called upon to demonstrate a particularly difficult passage and to prove that he truly could play every pattern in the book! Still in print today, it became known among drummers simply as “The Chapin Book” and is arguably the most important drum set text ever written.
who was on a career high as one of the more notable singer-songwriters of the 1970s and a founding member of the World Hunger Year. And he led his own bands well into his 80s.
Some of Mr. Chapin’s techniques were captured on an instructional video first released in 1992 called “Speed, Power, Control, Endurance”, which is now available on DVD. Though most would expect the video to feature him playing complex patterns from his books on a drum set, Mr. Chapin spent the entire time on a practice pad, demonstrating the methods of his instructor, Sanford Moeller, of which he was evangelistic about and to which he attributed his longevity as a drummer. It was Mr. Chapin’s mission to get as many drummers as possible to utilize The Moeller Method to get the maximum results from the minimum effort, thus avoiding fatigue and
injuries.
Chapin taught the Moeller Method of drumming to Dom Famularo
, Cesar Zuiderwijk, Claus Hessler and Thomas Lang
, as well as many other drummers over his 60-year career. Chapin was friends with drummer and fellow Moeller method
users Gene Krupa
and Buddy Rich
.
In 1994, Mr. Chapin received two honors for his contributions to music and education: the American Eagle Award, presented by the National Music Council in Washington and a lifetime achievement award from the Berklee College of Music
in Boston. And in 1995, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
He was the father of ten children, including musicians Harry
, Tom
(not to be confused with Thomas Chapin
) and Steve Chapin
, who are also the children of Elspeth Hart, the daughter of Kenneth Burke
. He was the grandfather of Jen Chapin
and two of the three members of the Chapin Sisters
group. He was the direct descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin
. Jim Chapin died on July 4, 2009 in Florida a few weeks shy of 90 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(New York born and bred) jazz drummer
Jazz drumming
Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz-rock fusion and 1980s-era latin jazz...
and the author of popular texts on jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drumming, the first two volumes of which are Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. I, and Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. II. (A third volume is planned.) He was also the author of several albums (later converted to CDs) on jazz drumming, as well as 2 CDs entitled Jim Chapin: Songs, Solos, Stories (Vols. 1 and 2).
Early Life
Chapin was the son of Abigail Forbes and James Ormsbee ChapinJames Ormsbee Chapin
James Ormsbee Chapin was an American painter and illustrator....
. Chapin did not begin playing the drums until he was 18 years old, after being inspired by legendary drummer 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:...
. Jim left William and Mary College in early 1938 after skipping classes regularly in order to obey a massive compulsion to batter a set of drums that a classmate had left set up in the gymnasium. Chapin was a student of Ben Silver and Sanford A. Moeller
Sanford A. Moeller
Sanford Augustus "Gus" Moeller 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....
, renowned rudimentalist, who popularized 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...
, and within two years he was playing opposite Krupa at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.
Book: Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. I
In the early 1940s, Chapin began working on a drum instruction book that was eventually published in 1948 as “Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Volume I, Coordinated Independence as Applied to Jazz and Be-Bop.” This book has been known as "the definitive study on coordinated independence" for jazz drummers (coordinated independence being the practice of playing in separate times simultaneously).His exercises and concepts caused such a stir among drummers that he had to have a pair of drumsticks in his back pocket at all times in case he was called upon to demonstrate a particularly difficult passage and to prove that he truly could play every pattern in the book! Still in print today, it became known among drummers simply as “The Chapin Book” and is arguably the most important drum set text ever written.
Career
From the 1940s through the 1960s, Chapin performed and toured with a variety of bands, including Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra and groups led by the likes of Mike Riley, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey and Tony Pastor. He also performed on occasion with his sons, Tom, Steve and the late Harry ChapinHarry Chapin
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
who was on a career high as one of the more notable singer-songwriters of the 1970s and a founding member of the World Hunger Year. And he led his own bands well into his 80s.
Book: Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. II
Many of the great drummers in the past 60 years have paid their dues with The Chapin Book, which is the much-imitated, standard work on the subject. In 1971, Chapin published “Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Volume II, Independence–The Open End”, a work subsidized by his son Harry. The book was a monumental undertaking that utilizes overlays to illustrate its complex points. In the preface of this work, Chapin admitted that even he could not play every pattern that is presented, thus getting him off the hook of having to pull out his sticks on demand to prove that everything printed can actually be executed. Volume II was considered ahead of its time nearly 40 years ago and it is still considered modern today.Some of Mr. Chapin’s techniques were captured on an instructional video first released in 1992 called “Speed, Power, Control, Endurance”, which is now available on DVD. Though most would expect the video to feature him playing complex patterns from his books on a drum set, Mr. Chapin spent the entire time on a practice pad, demonstrating the methods of his instructor, Sanford Moeller, of which he was evangelistic about and to which he attributed his longevity as a drummer. It was Mr. Chapin’s mission to get as many drummers as possible to utilize The Moeller Method to get the maximum results from the minimum effort, thus avoiding fatigue and
injuries.
Chapin taught the Moeller Method of drumming to Dom Famularo
Dom Famularo
Dom Famularo , is a professional drummer, drum teacher, author, clinician and motivational speaker.-Biography:...
, Cesar Zuiderwijk, Claus Hessler and Thomas Lang
Thomas Lang
Thomas Lang is an Austrian drummer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and record producer. He is the founding member of the Los Angeles-based progressive/avant garde metal trio, stOrk.Lang took up drumming at the age of 5...
, as well as many other drummers over his 60-year career. Chapin was friends with drummer and fellow 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...
users 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 Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
.
Later years
Discovered by new generations of musicians that appreciated his depth of knowledge, Chapin continued traveling around the world teaching and presenting seminars. He was a fixture at music trade shows and percussion conventions.In 1994, Mr. Chapin received two honors for his contributions to music and education: the American Eagle Award, presented by the National Music Council in Washington and a lifetime achievement award from the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston. And in 1995, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
He was the father of ten children, including musicians Harry
Harry Chapin
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
, Tom
Tom Chapin
Tom Chapin is a Grammy Award-winning American musician, entertainer, singer-songwriter and storyteller.-Biography:Chapin attended State University of New York at Plattsburgh and graduated in 1966. From 1971-1976, he hosted a TV show called Make a Wish...
(not to be confused with Thomas Chapin
Thomas Chapin
Thomas Chapin was an American composer and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist. Though primarily an alto saxophonist, he also played sopranino saxophone and various flutes....
) and Steve Chapin
Steve Chapin
Stephen Chapin is an American singer. He is best known as the youngest of the four Chapin brothers, which include Harry Chapin and Tom Chapin, and is the son of drummer Jim Chapin and uncle of Jen Chapin and the Chapin Sisters. He has frequently toured and performed with both of his musician brothers...
, who are also the children of Elspeth Hart, the daughter of Kenneth Burke
Kenneth Burke
Kenneth Duva Burke was a major American literary theorist and philosopher. Burke's primary interests were in rhetoric and aesthetics.-Personal history:...
. He was the grandfather of Jen Chapin
Jen Chapin
Jen Chapin is an American vocalist. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and his wife, Sandra Chapin. She also chairs the Board of Directors of World Hunger Year, a charity organization founded by Harry Chapin. She has been compared at times with Laura Nyro, Tori Amos, and Alanis...
and two of the three members of the Chapin Sisters
Chapin Sisters
The Chapin Sisters are an American folk pop musical group consisting of sisters Abigail Chapin and Lily Chapin, and formerly their half-sister Jessica Craven. Abigail and Lily are daughters of folk singer Tom Chapin and nieces of the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin...
group. He was the direct descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin
Deacon Samuel Chapin
Deacon Samuel Chapin was one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts.He was born in Paignton, Devon, England, to John Chapin and Phillippe Easton on October 8, 1598....
. Jim Chapin died on July 4, 2009 in Florida a few weeks shy of 90 years old.