Education
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.
The Shuffle
One might be hard pressed to find anything more musically exciting than a good drummer setting fire to a band by laying down a strong, straight-ahead shuffle beat. The shuffle is a very dynamic rhythmic feel. It has been used…
Drumming And Electronic Drums
Drummers have different ideas and attitudes toward electronic drums. For example, I have heard drummers say, “The electronic drums are great; I don’t need acoustic drums any longer.” I have also heard the comment, “Those things sound awful. I refuse…
Drumset Ergonomics - Part 5: Positioning the Hi-Hat, Ride, and Rack Toms
Welcome back! The final two articles in this series will focus on the placement of primary and secondary suspended instruments, with an emphasis on preserving shoulder health. Primary suspended instruments are the ones we play most often (hi-hat, ride, and…
Buddy Rich - “Stars and Stripes Forever”
By 1929, a twelve-year-old Buddy Rich was already a seasoned performer, having been an integral part of his parents’ vaudeville act since he was eighteen months old. According to Mel Tormé’s biography of Rich, Traps: The Drum Wonder, with the…
Flam Ostinatos - A Creative Approach to a Drumming Staple
In the context of contemporary hybrid rudiments, the flam has been used in different ways to create some new and exciting patterns. Inspired by some of these modern hybrid combinations, I’ve come up with a concept to add yet another…
Drumming And Self-Discipline
To some people, self-discipline is a term that carries unpleasant connotations. It may mean “forcing” yourself to do something you hate to do. It may also mean suppressing feelings or ideas, because they are not acceptable to someone else. To…
Studio Drumming: A Producer’s Perspective
Sitting with Val Garay in his office at his studio, Record One, it is easy to see why artists enjoy working with him. He’s easygoing and warm. Even with all the hubbub and demands of the studio, he still puts…
Drumming And The Big Move
Every now and then, I receive a letter from a frustrated young drummer. Many of the letters say something like: “I have been playing for X amount of years. I’ve taken some lessons, but my reading needs improvement. I play…
Dueling Drumsets
Back in the ’50s, Jazz At The Philharmonic presented a “drum battle” featuring Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. To my knowledge, it was the first time they had appeared together. It was an exciting event, and it generated great interest…
Artificial Groupings For Fills
In the July, 1984 MD, in the Ask A Pro column, a reader asked Steve Smith about a fill Steve played on the Journey song “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).” The notation looked like this: Now, if you were like many…
