An Effective Approach to Modern Challenges Learning is a skill, just like, say, playing the drums, or flying a plane. At the core of teaching and learning to play is the ability to diagnose specific issues and goals, create a balanced game plan for improvement and change, and find a distinctive musical voice through creativity and experimentation. As a drummer for forty-plus years, a drumset professor for more than two decades, and a researcher in areas of neuroscience, neurophysiology, and cognitive psychology for twelve years, I believe I can’t teach anyone how to play drums. Rather, I can only teach them how to learn to play drums and find their own style and concept of playing. The goal of practice is to improve our technical facility, musicality, and originality, so we want to practice in a way that balances those areas. The idea of balance is a strategy and a […]

January 2020 Issue