Lessons
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Mind Matters: The Drummer as Performer/Entertainer
The following is an excerpt from the Modern Drummer book Mind Matters: Overcoming Common Mental Barriers in Drumming, by Bernie Schallehn. The Drummer as Performer/Entertainer Q: I’ve been drumming with a band for the past five months, and the bandleader…
Own It! Part 1: Exploring Subdivisions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZQvRsn4758 March 2012 Rock ’n’ Jazz Clinic - Own It! Part 1: Exploring Subdivision by Mike Johnston Being a full-time drum instructor, it’s my job to make sure my students explore the material that we’re working on in a given…
In The Pocket: Advanced Shuffle
February 2012 In The Pocket Advanced Shuffle by Jim Payne Here are the demo videos that accompany some of the exercises from my article on advanced shuffles.
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Brush Workshop, Part 3 (VIDEO)
February 2012 Rock & Jazz Clinic Brush Workshop Part 3: Linear Motion by Florian Alexandru-Zorn Many drummers think that brushes can only be used in jazz, but if you’ve been following this series, and practicing the various patterns in each…
Ostinato Studies, Part 3: Metric Modulation
January 2012 Drum Soloist Ostinato Studies Part 3: Metric Modulation by Jason Gianni Here is the video that we are using as the basis for the concepts we’re exploring in our Ostinato Studies article series. Check out the final installment…
Escaping Toyland: The Modern Drummer Guide To Purchasing A Children’s Drumkit
by Will Romano In the past, when a child begged for his or her first drumkit, parents priced professional musical equipment only to settle for fragile, mass-produced toys—or shied away from buying a drumset altogether. Today, after collecting feedback from…
What You Need to Know About...Drumheads
Originally published in the November/December 2010 issue of Drum Business. by Fran Azzarto Drumheads (or “skins,” as they’re sometimes called) have a history as old as the drum itself, although for thousands of years that history went pretty much…
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Brush Workshop, Part 2 (VIDEO)
December 2011 Rock & Jazz Clinic Brush Workshop Part 2: Half-Circle Motion by Florian Alexandru-Zorn A goal of mine has been to play with brushes and think not in terms of patterns but in a more musical way, transferring all…
In the Studio: A Lesson in Sight-Reading (VIDEO)
December 2011 photo by Mike Monseur In The Studio A Lesson in Sight-Reading Fifty Big Band Arrangements in Four Days by Michael Dawson Army Blues drummer, and MD contributing writer, Steve Fidyk makes his living playing big band music, so sight-reading…
What You Need to Know About...Cymbal Alloys
by Billy Brennan An alloy, in its most basic sense, is a blend of two or more metals. Since metals are not chemically bonded in their natural state, they are fused—and alloys are created—in a molten state, through melting…
Open-Handed Playing, Part 2: Asymmetrical Accents and the Control Stroke
November 2011 Rock 'N' Jazz Clinic Open-Handed Playing Part 2: Asymmetrical Accents and the Control Stroke by Claus Hessler One of the biggest advantages to playing open-handed is that you no longer have to deal with the obstructed movement of crossing…
Ride Cymbal Phrasing: How Grip and Fulcrum Impact Your Sound (VIDEO)
November 2011 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Ride Cymbal Phrasing: How Grip and Fulcrum Impact Your Sound by Steve Fidyk Here’s a video demonstration of the three ride cymbal grips discussed in my latest article. https://vimeo.com/117291798 For transcriptions and additional insight into…
Ostinato Studies, Part 2: Cross-Rhythms
November 2011 Drum Soloist Ostinato Studies Part 2: Cross-Rhythms by Jason Gianni Here is the video that we are using as the basis for the concepts we’re exploring in our Ostinato Studies article series. Check out the first installment in…
Concepts: Easy Drum Charts
October 2011 Concepts Easy Drum Charts by Mark Schulman Here’s the example chart and mp3 that’s used in October’s Concepts article, which discusses a quick and easy way to map out a song for the first time. The song is…
