This month, Modern Drummer will start excerpting sections of Gary Chester’s groundbreaking book The New Breed. This book, and Gary’s teaching methods are deeply intertwined, it is a lifelong commitment of dedication, study, and development. Before we start reprinting Gary Chester’s Concepts, Systems, Reading Exercises, Advanced Systems, Advanced Reading Exercises, Composite Systems, Grooves, and Applications; it is important to learn a little about Gary Chester, read his own words of wisdom, and read the thoughts of a few of his most notable students. Next month, we’ll dive in! Get ready… Gary Chester was one of the most famous drum instructors in drumming history. He took his extensive musical experience from playing drums and percussion on hundreds of sessions in the New York recording studios and turned them into his own drumming systems. He taught these systems to many drummers in his own teaching studio and many of his students earned […]

May 2025 Issue