Education
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Seven-Note Groupings
We’ll take a seven-note pattern, split it into groupings of three-, two-, and two-note clusters, and play it between our limbs within a swing context.
Mobile Madness
When I first started exploring odd rhythms while coming up, the tools available to help were virtually nonexistent.
Son Of The One-Handed Roll
What has happened is that semantics have created a communication problem. What these teachers refer to as a
Developing The Weak Hand
One of the most confidence-shattering problems facing any drummer is the realization that one hand just doesn't work right.
Moving Around the Kit
In this workshop, we’ll explore moving fills around the kit easily in two directions: clockwise and counterclockwise.
Professionalism
Being a truly professional drummer involves more than just making all or part of your living playing the drums. It is an attitude that is developed through experience and self-discipline.
Odd-Beat Subdivisions
Almost all styles of music now deviate from normal duple- and triple-beat subdivisions, and use divisions of five, seven, or more.
John F. Williams: Studio Pioneer
Greatness in music is greatness in character. No more fitting epitaph could pay tribute better than this statement on the loss of drumming great Johnny Williams.
Latin Jazz Drumming Part 3: Mambo Bell Ideas in 3/2 Time
Welcome to the third installment in our series on Latin jazz drumming. In this lesson we’ll focus on mambo bell variations in a 3/2 time signature. The inspiration for this month’s column comes from an audition experience I had several…
The Duality of 16th-Note Meters
Time signatures such as 15/16, 17/16, and 29/16 can bring out anxiety in drummers who aren’t familiar with them. The truth of the matter is that they’re only slightly different from quarter-or 8th-note meters, which are far more common.
Funkify Your Swing Feel
Fusing rhythms from one style of music to another can help a player develop new ideas and fresh rhythmic approaches that might not have yet been previously explored.
Creative Triplets For The Advanced Player: Part 2
Syncopated figures could be used within an underlying framework of 8th-note triplets.
Drumming And The Practice Pad
Some drummers hate practice pads; others are never without them. Some teachers recommend practice pads; others say that you should practice on the drums.