Sanford A. Moeller

Sanford Augustus “Gus” Moeller (1886 – 1960) wasan American rudimental drummer, a national champion,educator, and author. Moeller was born in Albany, NewYork, and began his music education by studying the pi-ano.While still a young man, Moeller also learned the snaredrum and studied with August Helmicke. He servedin the Spanish–American War. Later, Moeller movedto New York, playing vaudeville shows with GeorgeM. Cohen.[1] He also played for the Metropolitan operahouse and the Seventh Regimental Army Band.[2]

He is also known for what is called the Moeller Method,which essentially documents the way of playing snaredrum used in the army, particularly in the Civil War.Among Moeller’s pupils included Gene Krupa and thelate Jim Chapin.

1 Moeller and drum instruction

“The belief that anyone can beat a drum is discouraginglypopular!" - Sanford Augustus ‘Gus’ MoellerGus’ Moeller is usually associated with the "MoellerMethod" or 'Moeller Technique' (considered by some tobe a misnomer), which advocates the use of 'ancient'snare drumming techniques that can be used by drum-mers 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 June1950 by Leedy and Ludwig ... (followed by - 1956 Copy-right assigned to Ludwig Drum Co.), (followed by - 1982Copyright assigned to Ludwig Music Publishing Co).Moeller’s unique point of view was that he considereddrum students, who were learning to drum properly, tobe students of eurhythmics (refer to page 69 in Moeller’sBook). Moeller based his lessons and instruction arounda playing style used by drummers who had served in theAmerican Civil War.The Moeller book speaks highly, in the publisher’s note,of George Bruce's method of drum instruction, and in-deed, TheMoeller book has some similarity to Bruce andEmmett's The Drummers’ and Fifer’s Guide in that bothhave lengthy treatments of the rudiments,[3] and many ofthe pieces in Bruce’s book also appears in the Moellerbook.This particular field drumming style actually arrived inthe United States during the time of the American Rev-

olutionary War. The 'open style' approach and little fin-ger stick grip are the trademarks regarding this 'ancient'style of drumming. The roots of this approach stem fromEurope, and go back before the 18th century.One of Moeller’s pupils, Allen Paley, said,“Moeller...understood the instrument as well as asurgeon does the human body. His system, for whichyou had to modify in order to play sitting down — henormally stood, was a matter of three strokes that youbrought together in a smooth flow. ... He [Gene Krupa]warned me not to let Moeller’s method to overpowerme; it was originally fashioned for parade and concertdrummers. To play with jazz and dance bands, one mustmodify what Moeller taught and proceed from there”.[2]

The two main modifications that most drummers makeregardingMoeller’s book are to use the thumb fulcrum forboth hands (matched grip) and to level the snare (insteadof continuing to play a snare drum set up slanted or onan angle). Though Moeller recommended standing whenpracticing, he shows (on page 11 in his book) that someof his pupils, such as concert and jazz bandmembers, willopt for sitting. These facts show that Moeller allowed fortwo right hand grips in the lessons that he taught (refer topage 11 in his book for a picture of him seated at a snaredrum showing a right hand thumb fulcrum grip). In otherwords, the little finger grip was not the only grip Moellerrecognized when working with his pupils.

2 Moeller as a drum builder

Moeller was also an expert drum builder. He made sev-eral deep marching snares and matching bass drums. To-day, Moeller’s vintage-style rope drums are still beingplayed by marching organizations, annually.The Mount Kisco Ancient Fife and Drum Corps hasthe best known collection of Moeller drums - still beingplayed today.The Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps , of which Moellerwas a member from 1930 to 1935, purchased five snaredrums at $85.00 each from Moeller who delivered thempersonally onAugust 8, 1954. TheMoeller drums are stillin use today and have been merged with “Buck” Soistmanand Bill Reamer drums since then, (showing a definite on-going drum building style and lineage that was initiated byMoeller).[4]

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2 5 EXTERNAL LINKS

3 Moeller’s Pupils

Moeller’s influence on the early jazz drummers, such asGene Krupa, is well known. He also instructed Americandrummer Jim Chapin.Chapin’s well-known book, “Advanced Techniques forthe Modern Drummer, Vol 1, Coordinated Indepen-dence” carries a dedication to Moeller on the title page.

4 References[1] Logozo, Derrick. “Systems of Natural Drumming: Stone

Gladstone and Moeller” (PDF). Percussive Notes. Re-trieved 2009-02-17.

[2] Drummin' men: the heartbeat of Jazz, Burt Korell, p. 58

[3] http://www.civilwarmusic.net/bruce_emmett.php Bruceand Emmett’s Drummers’ and Fifer’s guide

[4] Lancraft website retrieved on 2011-09-03

5 External links• Article from Drummerworld on Jim Chapin (one ofMoeller’s best known pupils)

• An online review of the 'Moeller Book', by TommyWilliam Hanson

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6 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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