Keys to the City by Steve C. Smith

A workbook about rhythm, time, coordination, concentration, and creativity.

Keys to the City by Steve C. Smith, is a workbook about rhythm, time, coordination, concentration, and creativity. It’s based on the idea that all musical patterns arise from pulses and the ways they interact to create form. The book is organized into four “Wave” sections, each containing 23 applications centered on 33 Fundamental Rhythms built from groupings of 2, 3, 4, and 5 points that are layered and progressively embellished. Each Wave concludes with particle physics analogues created by interacting harmonic pulses played by each limb—patterns that, when accelerated, form musical chords, challenging drummers to play “in tune.”

A quarter of the book focuses on hand patterns, emphasizing relaxed technique, lateral balance, applied rudiments, and phrasing. Throughout, readers are encouraged to use their voice to expand rhythmic awareness, independence, and learning efficiency—because if you can say it, you can play it. Poetically, Keys to the City explores the fundamental components that make rhythm, time, music, and mind, Matter: This book is not meant to be a means to an end, but rather a means to no end.

Steve C. Smith is a drummer and educator based in Seattle, Washington. His musical journey began at age 12 with the Columbians Drum and Bugle Corps in Richland, WA and by age 14 he was already teaching private drum lessons. During High School he played in bands and was selected for a pioneering science program, allowing him to split his time between school and research at the Hanford Nuclear Facility. After graduation he was hired full time at Hanford but soon left to tour with a band – much to the chagrin of his science teacher and his mother. Steve’s fascination with the relationship between music and matter was solidified during this time.

After touring he pursued music studies at Central Washington University, earning a BA in 1981 and a Master’s in percussion in 1983. He subsequently moved to Seattle to pursue playing and teaching drums in a larger market. In 1985 he founded the Seattle Drum School which eventually grew to over 500 students with 40+ instructors. His students have gone on to play in national award-winning high school jazz bands as well as major acts such as Blind Melon, Death Cab for Cutie, Pendulum, REM, Ministry, King Crimson, Fitz and The Tantrums, Caroline Polachek and the Blue Man Group.

Through continued study, teaching and playing, Steve has spent the last 40 years cultivating and developing the materials in this book, which include his interpretation of the relationship between harmony, rhythm, and the fundamental components of matter. His experiences and interests have led to a unique approach to learning rhythm and technique that is both relaxed and expansive.