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.
Rock 'N' Jazz Clinic - The Musical Drummer
One of the questions that has come up the most times in conversations is: "What is this about form in music? How do you know where you are? How do you approach playing with other instruments on specific tunes? TO…
Teacher's Forum - Technique
Drumset technique is the means by which the drummer expresses his musical intellect and feeling. Technique and expression function together as part of the central directive system which incorporates the mind and body (or inner and outer self) in producing…
Teacher's Forum - Technique
Drumset technique is the means by which the drummer expresses his musical intellect and feeling. Technique and expression function together as part of the central directive system which incorporates the mind and body (or inner and outer self) in producing…
Do I Need an Attorney? Part 2: Navigating Contract Negotiations
In last month’s column, we discussed whether or not you should hire a lawyer for your business dealings. This time we dive a bit deeper into a few specific topics that you may have to deal with at some point…
Septuplet Fives - Polyrhythmic Permutation
Seven over five can be a challenging polyrhythm to master. We’ll start building this rhythm by playing every fifth septuplet partial in a measure of 5/4. It can take plenty of dedicated practice to master this figure, especially when we…
Beyond the Noteheads - Part 3: Varying Your Transcriptions
This month we’ll apply variations to some of the transcribed phrases from Part 2 of this series (March 2017). This process truly has no limits. I find that being opened-minded to practicing transcriptions with this method helps energize my practice…
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