Education

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Funk With 32nd Notes

In this study I’ve applied single and double strokes in 32nd-note value to the funk style. Because the rock/funk feel is based on straight 8th notes, the 32nd notes work very well. The tempo is slow (quarter note = 72-80…

by Paul Nieft, Jr.
Jul 18, 2018

Great Grooves — Part 2

Here’s another selection of grooves for you to try. Concentrate on developing your coordination, along with the fluidity and smoothness of performance that will put these patterns “in the pocket.” The key is to be clean and precise, yet comfortable…

by James Morton
Jun 28, 2018

Technique And Equipment

One of my students complained to me that he had a weak foot. “I have no strength or control of my bass pedal,” he said. I gave him some exercises to practice on the bass drum. At the next lesson,…

by Roy Burns
Jun 28, 2018

Assertions And Evaluations

Time passes, and I become convinced more than ever that the diverse elements comprising the art of drumming all work together to give us drum fanatics as good a shot at happiness and fulfillment as anyone on the planet Earth.…

by Jim Chapin
Jun 28, 2018

Drumset Ergonomics - Part 2: Seat Height

This month we’re going to explore the critically important relationship between the drum throne and the human body. Selecting an appropriate throne height is one of the most overlooked steps of setting up a drumset, yet it could have the…

by Brandon Green
Jun 27, 2018
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TAPAS for the Gigging Drummer

A Five-Part Recipe for Ensuring Ultimate Employability

by Jonathan Ulman
Jun 27, 2018

Multilayered Polyrhythms - Rhythmic Puzzles for Your Mind and Body

Last month we concluded our two-part introduction to polyrhythms with an example that combined multiple polyrhythms within one phrase. In this lesson, we’ll continue layering multiple polyrhythms to take the previous ideas to an even deeper level. These exercises will…

by Aaron Edgar
Jun 27, 2018

Latin Jazz Drumming - The Mambo, Part 1

In this lesson series we’ll focus on Latin jazz rhythms and interpret them on the drumset. For the first installment, we’re digging into the Afro-Cuban mambo bell pattern. Mambo is an Afro-Cuban style that’s built upon a clave foundation. Traditionally…

by Steve Fidyk
Jun 27, 2018

The Creative Hi-Hat Foot

A Fresh Approach for the Steady Timekeeper

by Stephane Chamberland
Jun 27, 2018

The Single-Stroke Three

Exploring an Often-Used Yet Unsung Sticking

by Joel Rothman
Jun 27, 2018

Great Grooves, Part 1

From a general viewpoint, the word “groove” suggests a certain rhythmic precision in group playing, not unlike the word “tight” or the phrase “in the pocket.” From a drummer’s perspective, groove can also indicate a particular rhythmic motif, which, when…

by James Morton
Jun 25, 2018

How Many Drums Do I Really Need?

I have heard drummers say, “You don’t need a big kit. If you play on a smaller kit, you will be more creative and more musical.” Several famous drummers have been quoted as saying, “I can do everything I need…

by Roy Burns
Jun 25, 2018
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Percussion Colors, Part 2

Last time we discussed how the use of hand-percussion instruments can add color and spice to the music you create. We outlined a few of the items that make up the percussionist’s “pallet,” including cowbell, tambourine, and the afuche. This…

by David A. Mason
Jun 19, 2018

Tuning And Muffling

In order to tune or tension your drums for the best possible sound, start out with no muffling. The exception to this rule would be the bass drum where virtually all drummers use some muffling to achieve either a low,…

by Roy Burns
Jun 19, 2018
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