Concepts

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.

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Concentration

The ability to concentrate and not be distracted from the music by fear or pressure is extremely important for every professional drummer. For example, if you become nervous at a recording session or an audition you may lose your concentration.…

by Roy Burns
Dec 18, 2017

Friendship and Drummers

Friendship amongst drummers takes on many curious attitudes. For example, we have the fair-weather friend. He is the guy who is super friendly to you if you are with a name group. When you are between groups he loses interest…

by Roy Burns
Dec 12, 2017

Comparisons

There is an ancient Chinese curse that says “May your children live in ‘interesting’ times”—meaning, I suppose, a period of calamity and conflict. That also implies that if you grew up in a dull era, it was also a safe…

by Jim Chapin
Dec 12, 2017

Buddy Rich: Dedication To Excellence

Buddy Rich has been a famous drummer for as long as I can remember. I first heard him on records in the early ’40s when I was around seven years old. I met Buddy in person in New York City…

by Roy Burns
Dec 5, 2017

Endorsements: Good or Bad?

There are so many rumors in the music business regarding endorsements that young drummers don't know what to believe. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN

by Roy Burns
Nov 21, 2017
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Self-Appointed Authorities Can Be Dangerous To Your Health

According to Webster’s Dictionary, an authority is “a person with much knowledge or experience in some field, whose opinion is hence reliable: an expert.” Unfortunately, many so-called authorities are “self-appointed.” They want to be authorities, but they lack the training,…

by Roy Burns
Nov 16, 2017

Visualizing For Successful Performance

What mental picture do you have in your mind when you are practicing? Are you picturing your favorite drummer? If you have an important concert coming up do you picture what might go wrong? Do you imagine that others may…

by Roy Burns
Nov 13, 2017

Do Self-Taught Drummers Play Better?

Some well-known drummers, who have never taken lessons, play very well. Other well-known drummers, who have studied for years, also play very well. Drummers who have not studied sometimes tend to be critical of those who have. The following defensive…

by Roy Burns
Nov 8, 2017

Be the Driver!

Ask any musician, especially a non-drummer, “What’s the number one role of the drummer?”

by Ben Sesar
Oct 30, 2017

Inner Drumming

Listening With All Four Limbs, Part 4 If this is the first time you’re reading about Inner Drumming, the diagrams in this article may seem unusual. But rest assured that if you spend a few minutes with them, you’ll begin…

by George Marsh
Oct 20, 2017

Concepts - Art vs. Money

If you run your own business, at the end of the year you review profits and expenses.

by Roy Burns
Oct 19, 2017

Concepts - "Can You Play Like John Smith?"

Recently, a friend of mine was asked to do a commercial recording session. During the session, it became obvious that things were not going well.

by Roy Burns
Oct 13, 2017
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Concepts - Respect: The Key To An Open Mind

One of the saddest things in our industry is to hear young drummers criticize or put down older drummers. After all, when you really analyze the history of drumming, all of the newest beats are just new ways of combining…

by Roy Burns
Oct 6, 2017

Concepts — Tips On Sight Reading

A number of young drummers regularly take lessons and pour through drum books...

by Roy Burns
Sep 28, 2017
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