You can learn a lot just by listening to drummers talk about their own educational backgrounds. This month MD asks two Pro Panelists about their unique paths of instruction, the teachers who’ve been the most influential on them, and their personal philosophies of study.   Rich Redmond My philosophy is that you can be creative once you get your rudiments, reading, and coordination down. They’re a springboard for your creativity. Growing up in Milford, Connecticut, my first teacher was Jack Burgi. He taught me how to hold the sticks and got me started on reading. We worked on the Gladstone pad and later added the bass drum and a little crash cymbal. When I ended up in El Paso, Texas, I studied with Byron Mutnick and Ricky Malachi. They took me up a notch with coordination, styles, and especially listening skills, and they turned me on to drummers to broaden […]

May 2013 Issue