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.
Concepts - Stanley Spector: Challenging the Rudimental System
Stanley Spector studied percussion with Ralph Eames, George L. Stone and Simon Sternberg. He was a scholarship student at Tanglewood from 1942-46 and received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University in 1950. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
Rock Perspectives - Odd Rock
Experimentation with new ideas and concepts brings growth. There is always a way to incorporate new ideas into your personal musical situation. Many times it has taken me months or even years to successfully incorporate new concepts into my playing…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Double Time Coordination
Often a soloist will play over the rhythm section in either half or double the tempo of the section. Sometimes it is musically effective if the drummer complements the rhythmic direction of the soloist by playing part of the set…
Rock Perspectives: Odd Rock, Part II
This is an idea that came from playing the 4/4 bar, and as the bar repeated, I subtracted an eighth note. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Getting It Together With the Bass Player
Everybody knows that if the rhythm section is not 'happening' neither is the rest of the band. The drums and bass are two different sides of the same musical coin, and when two players are really together it is a…
Driver's Seat: Controlling The Band
One of the most important points and most often overlooked elements of good big band drumming technique is how the drummer sets himself up within the band. It is extremely important for the band to be able to hear the…
Jojo's Modified Swiss Triplets - A Slick Sticking for Quick Jungle Grooves
Jojo Mayer’s command of the jungle/drum ’n’ bass style took the drumming community by storm. Mayer manages to traverse the blinding tempos and computerized breakbeats effortlessly, thanks to flawless technique and his creative use of rudiments like the Swiss triplet.…
Drum Soloist: Elvin Jones Solo "Effendi"
Elvin Jones Solo "Effendi", from Inception transcription. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Drum Soloist: Elvin Jones Solo "Effendi"
Elvin Jones Solo "Effendi", from Inception transcription. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Rock Perspectives - A Practical Application of the 5 Stroke Roll
The possibilities offered to us by the 5 stroke roll are limitless. In this article, we'll look at a few possible ideas for applying the 5 stroke roll in today's contemporary music. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Coordinating Accents Independently
by Ed Soph Independence may mean playing two or more rhythmic patterns simultaneously. It may also mean playing two or more rhythmic patterns simultaneously and coordinating different accent patterns within those rhythmic patterns.Here are some basic exercises in accent coordination…
Driver's Seat - Avoiding Common Pitfalls
CONTROLLING THE BASS DRUM One very common pitfall of many young big band drummers is the manner in which they play their bass drum. Too many novice drummers seem to feel a need to pound the bass drum when this…
Concepts: Drumming and Breathing
The concepts and methods presented in this column represent my own personal experiences. They are not intended to be the last word on the subject, nor should they be construed as the only way. All I can say for certain…
Driver's Seat: Listening and Learning
If you're interested in becoming a competent big band drummer, it's very important you do some research. When I say research, I don't mean back ten years or so. You've got to dig back further than that, preferably before the…
