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.
Groove Construction, Part 12: 16th-Note Metronome Training
In this lesson we’ll work on perceiving a metronome on various 16th-note partials. These exercises will improve your ability to hear different rhythms before you start playing them, and they’ll certainly improve your timing. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page, Part 3: Incorporating Flams
Last month we applied a set of written rhythms to the drumset by accenting the figures within continual 16th notes and experimenting with different stickings. This month we’ll stick to the snare and work with flams. Here’s the rhythm. TO…
Rockin’ at a Snail’s Pace - Variations for Slower Tempos
Playing slow tempos can be one of the most difficult things to master. As the distance from one beat to the next increases, the ability to accurately feel the time can decrease. When playing slower rock grooves, it often helps…
Concepts - Heroes
All young musicians have heroes or people they admire. Musicians learn from and often emulate their heroes. This is an important part of the learning process, especially in the early stages. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Show And Studio - Irv Cottler
Irv Cottler's recording, radio, television and motion picture credits would stagger anyone's belief. Since 1955, Irv has done most of the drumming for Frank Sinatra, an association which places him among the most recorded drummers in musical history. TO READ…
South Of The Border - Getting The Latin Flavor
There is a vast area overlooked in playing Latin drums. There's much more to it than working out and memorizing some "authentic" licks. The real difference in listening to a "Latin" Latin drummer and a "non-Latin" Latin drummer is the…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - The Music of the Drums - Part 1
Most of the questions I get from drummers concern "technical" problems. How to develop quicker hands; more independence and/or coordination. Technique is important, but it is not the most important part of playing music. Having a concept, playing with feeling,…
Rock Perspectives - Converting Those Old Rhythms, Part 1
One of the most basic rhythms in rock. In this study, the focus is on: TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
DISCIPLINE - Small Changes for Massive Progress
MD Pro Panelist Benny Greb suggests that some minor adjustments in habit—and maybe a tweak in your attitude toward practice— can result in unexpectedly large dividends for your playing. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Bass Drum Technique
The bass drum foot should be developed with the same technical/musical objectives as the hands: control of tempo, dynamics, and syncopation. A simple approach to these objectives is to relate bass drum technique to hand technique. TO READ THE FULL…
Show And Studio - A Conductor-Arranger Talks to Drummers
"It sure as hell would help if drummers would listen to the entire orchestra, rather than just concern themselves with their own immediate surroundings." The man speaking is Nick Perito, conductor/arranger for Perry Como, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Ferrante…
Rudimental Symposium - A Wake-up for Drum Sections
You have probably heard your band director say to the brass and woodwind players, "Let's play that chorale once more. Listen to your tone. Practice warming-up every day." Band directors spend a lot of time with warm-ups for wind players,…
Concepts - Teachers, Studying and Learning
There are many opinions and points of view (pro and con) about studying with a private drum teacher. Drummers who have never taken a lesson frequently criticize drum teachers. Drum teachers criticize each other, sometimes privately, sometimes publicly. Young drummers…
Driver's Seat - Reading Charts
Over the years, I've seen too many aspiring big band drummers who simply do not take the time needed to fully develop their reading ability. Unfortunately, I've heard many competent young players become very mediocre drummers when presented with a…
