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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.
Essential Factors for success in the gym: Lessons learned in the Practice Room
In the last issue, we examined the myth of the muscle-bound concept. This instilled an unwarranted fear into many drummers and percussionists alike: Don’t lift weights, as it can impair dexterity and hinder your ability to play drums. Intuitively, we…
Steve Lyman, From Drums to Meditation, Thinking Beyond the Surface
Steve Lyman is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Initially he was surrounded by classical guitar and flute played by his parents. Steve has always had a knack for composition and has applied it to his drumming. He has…
Tommy Clufetos’ Black Sabbath Tour Kit
Black Sabbath’s tours always combined the heaviest of heavy metal sounds with the most outrageous spectacle possible. The kits created for Tommy Clufetos by Drum Workshop for those stores reflect that spectacular approach Although the finish of Tommy kits changed…
Introducing...
My name is Mark Griffith, I am a professional musician who happens to play drums. I tour, play locally, record, do clinics, masterclasses, teach, and I write. I started writing for Modern Drummer under Ron Spagnardi’s leadership 25 years ago,…
Carter Beauford Replica Kit
April’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Hampton, Arkansas. It is Adam Parker’s Carter Beauford replica kit. Adam explains, “I have followed Carter’s kit every year since I was 14. Eventually I started replicating it because I loved…
Going to the Movies, with Peter Erskine
Scene 1: Jam session, rehearsal, or a gig. Bandleader’s Line: Let’s play “Green Dolphin Street” … and… Drums, how about you play an intro? Spot Quiz: A.) Do you ask, “How long?”B.) Do you ask, “What tempo?”C.) Do you ask,…
The Muscle-Bound Myth and Weight Training for Drummers
If someone asked me to put together a list of non-negotiables – things I need to prioritize for my own well being – two activities would immediately come to mind: Drumming (obviously) and weight training. Drumming and training are a…
Sarah Thawer: Developing, Evolving
Sarah Thawer is not your typical drummer. Starting her unconventional music education at a very young age of two, she shaped her musical identity by combining her cultural roots with her extensive experience absorbing all the music around her—from Jazz…
Sandy Nelson
Dec. 1, 1938 – February 14, 2022 We ALL, (every drummer alive,) owe Sandy Nelson a well deserved moment of drumming (as opposed to silence.) Before the Surfaris had a hit in 1963 with “Wipeout,” Sandy Nelson was recording drum-centric…
Sonor’s Steve Smith 30th Anniversary drumset
In 2007 Sonor drums created a limited-edition drumset to honor Steve Smith’s 30th anniversary as a Sonor artist. Steve has two such kits, one is stored in New Jersey for use on the East Coast, and one is stored at…
Welcome Back My Friends... to another Modern Drummer first!
Welcome to another Modern Drummer first! We are grateful for the 45 years of being the #1 community for drums and drummers, and we will always continue to innovate for you, our valued readers. This month we are releasing the…
Yamaha Hipgig – a 20+ year update
This Yamaha Rick Marotta Signature Hipgig drum kit made in 2000 has been updated by John Cutbill, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. “I wanted the opportunity to consider other equipment and configuration options while still retaining the intended design concept…
Putting Ideas Into Action
My dear old friend, the late John Abercrombie, used to say when drinking his favorite breakfast beverage, “You know, there’s nothing like a good cup of coffee in the morning … and this is nothing like a good cup of…
Carl Palmer’s 1973 Stainless Steel Kit
In 1973, Carl Palmer and Paul Ravn designed this unique stainless steel kit which was manufactured by the British Steel Company, and their subcontractors. It features quarter-inch-thick shells fitted with Gretsch hoops. Each drum features an ornate engraving of woodland…
