Jazz Drummer's Workshop
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.
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Reading And Jazz Interpretation
A drummer's interpretive powers grow once he has established the foundational techniques of hands and feet. Coordination, which means hearing something and spontaneously reacting to it in a musical manner, develops. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Foundational Studies For Ride Cymbal Technique
Before be-bop, jazz rhythm was characterized by equal emphasis on all four beats of the measure. With bop came the accentuation of the second and fourth beats. This accentuation is clearly heard in the ride cymbal pattern with reinforcement on…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Developing A Musical Approach
In my article "Reading and Jazz Interpretation," in the August-September issue of Modern Drummer, I mentioned the necessity of practicing musically. One way we may do this is by actually playing tunes on the drums. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
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…
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…
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…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Unison Exercises
Unison practice is an excellent way to determine the rhythmic precision of the four appendages. The weaker the particular hand or foot, the less precision. Right-handed drummers will find that unison practice will help overcome the dependency of right hand…
Elvin Jones–Style Triplet Fills
Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Elvin Jones–Style Triplet Fills Part 2: Orchestrating Accent Patterns by John Xepoleas Welcome to our second lesson covering triplet fills based on the playing of jazz great Elvin Jones, who made a huge impact on drumming as…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Focus On Brushes
Practicing brushes is excellent for building strength in your wrists and fingers. It can help develop muscles and reflexes and also improves your control with sticks. With the exception of the closed roll, any pattern that you play with sticks…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - The Stick Shot
This month we’re spotlighting the stick shot, a technique that’s fairly specific to the jazz lexicon. To obtain this alternate sound, press one drumstick tip against the head at approximately 30 degrees, while striking that stick at the shoulder with…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Stick Control Revisited Drumset Applications
This month’s Jazz Drummer’s Workshop features some of my favorite applications of the classic George Lawrence Stone book Stick Control. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Approaching Standards
Jazz musicians spend a considerable amount of practice time learning standard tunes in a variety of keys. By doing so, they become versed in the tradition, while developing a repertoire of music to be played with other musicians. Many choose…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Stick Control Revisited Part 2
Welcome to the second installment in our series on drumset applications of George Lawrence Stone’s famous book Stick Control. The following variations utilize the “72 Single Beat Combinations” found on pages 5–7. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Approaching Standards
Welcome to the second installment in our series on approaching jazz standards. This article reveals ways of using the melodic rhythm as the source for creating accompaniment (or “comping”) patterns. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
