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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.
Stickman - Music and Drumming Inspired Art
As drummers, we inspire other drummers and other musicians, but our creativity and our beats also inspire and entertain many non-musicians. That is (perhaps) the most important part of playing music. That inspiration can manifest in many ways. Therefore, why…
"The Magician" - Transcription by Marc Atkinson
Experience a timeless performance by Lenny White and Return To Forever, true pioneers of fusion music. Highlighted from the album Romantic Warrior, this month’s featured transcription is “The Magician.” Recorded in 1976 and penned by Stanley Clarke, the performance captures…
The Twain Shall Meet
I started my musical studies at age 5 by taking drum lessons, I was certain that my place in the world would be that of a jazz drummer. Watching television as a child, it was Leonard Bernstein who best captured…
Simple Elegance and Class
For this month’s Modern Drummer Kit of the Month, Shawn Messick has sent us pictures of his simple but elegant Gretsch Catalina Maple seven-piece kit, in the Burgundy Fade to Black finish. The Evans hydraulic black chrome heads really look…
Bennie Rodgers II with Doja Cat “The Scarlet Tour”
Tama Star Bubinga in Piano Black: 6.5 x 14 Star Bubinga Snare, 5.5 x 14 Star Classic Walnut/Birch snare, 5.5 x 10 Star Classic Walnut / Birch snare. Toms, (all Star Bubinga) 6 x 8, 7 x 10, 8 x…
Out Now - January 2024
Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in the…
Aaron Spears 1976-2023
“It’s nice to be important but it is more important to be nice, spread love.” This is what Aaron Spears lived by. When we started to ask his close friends and drummers that Aaron had touched and inspired for quotes,…
Steve Lukather
Guitarist, leader of Toto, solo artist, and session guitarist Steve Lukather has a lot to teach us about drumming and drummers. Whether it’s in Toto, on his 11 solo records, or on the countless sessions in his career, he has…
Zildjian 400th Anniversary Celebration
Photos & Article by: Bob Campbell The Avedis Zildjian Company has the enviable reputation of being not only the oldest cymbal maker, but also one of the oldest, highly regarded, and most enduring family businesses in the world. It is…
Cooking! Drumming!
As the holidays continue, we continue eating our favorite foods, and as ALL of my students know, I love to use food and cooking as a metaphor for music and drumming. Any musician is like one of your favorite prepared…
Bruce’s Original Ludwig Vistalite’s
This month’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Bruce DeVino. Bruce tells us, “Last June on Father’s Day, I attended a church rummage sale. I purchased these Ludwig 1976 Vistalite Series E Black and White Pattern drums in…
It’s a New Year, Twelve Advice’s of the Holidays
Now is a good time to pass along some drumming tips that are important to me, and I hope that you will find these helpful as well. I will list them in numerical sequence, but not necessarily in any order.…
Mikkey Dee’s Scorpions 2022 Vegas Residency Kit
This Sonor SQ2 kit was built for Mikkey Dee and the Scorpions 2022 Vegas residency. It was also used for the Scorpions Rock Believer Tour. The snare the Mikkey is using on this kit is the same dimension drum…
Out Now! December 2023
Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in the…
