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.
Strictly Technique - A Musical Approach To The Single Stroke Roll
The single stroke roll has always presented some interesting points for discussion. The most common method for teaching and practicing this rudiment has basically been alternating sticking, tarting slowly and gradually accelerating to top speed, with no inherent regard for…
Mel Lewis - Straight Ahead
The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra has been going strong for some thirteen years now, consistent poll winners, and the hit of almost every jazz festival they perform at. All the more reason for my shock when drummer co-leader Mel Lewis…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop Metric Modulation
Among the many lessons to be learned from the playing of Max Roach is the concept of musicality in drumming. This is shown no more clearly than in his solo work, particularly in the fact that Max has almost always…
Teachers Forum - Forming An Approach
A crucial point is the bridge between the subject matter, the student, and the method. The link between the three must be strong if the method and the subject matter are to serve the essential needs of the student. TO…
Tony Williams
Tony Williams Just what is a Tony Williams? Many of his admirers have described his style as "free", "he doesn't really play rudimental things", "he's loose", "there's something out of the ordinary about what he does", "it's different." If those…
Strictly Technique Paradiddles For Three Drums
This article is intended to give jazz and rock drummers a means of exploiting to the fullest degree the application of paradiddles around the standard 3 drum outfit: snare, small tom-tom and large tom-tom. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
On The Job - Organ And Drum: Making It Work - Making It Swing
For approximately a ten-year period (about 1957-67) bands comprised of tenor sax/organ/drums, guitar/tenor sax/organ/drums, organ/drums, etc. abounded both in the night club and recording arenas. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
South Of The Border - Reggae
The Caribbean Islands have long been a source of diverse and interesting music coupled with exciting rhythms. Although the Latin sounds of Cuba and Puerto Rico have been recognized for some time, the music of the English-speaking island of Jamaica…
From The Past: Big Sid Catlett
Sid Catlett, to those unfamiliar with the name, was considered one of the greatest jazz drummers of the 30's and early 40's, and is still recognized as one of the most significant forces in the evolution of the art of…
On The Clinic Trail With Roy Burns
After a lifetime of vast musical experience, Roy now devotes most of his time in the capacity of clinician for the Rogers Drum Company, a job which takes him to cities all across the country. He's very much in demand…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Understanding Time
by Alan S. Kinsey A drummer’s time is probably the single most important factor in deciding whether a group is pushed apart or pulled together. It is necessary to understand that time is a musical feeling. This feeling can be…
Alan Dawson – Chops And Brains Equal A Boston Master
Dawson hears of Roach's praise midway through a lesson with one of the 30 students he teaches each week in the studio of his rambling split-level home in the Boston suburb of Lexington. "That's real nice of Max", he says…
Rock Perspectives: A Study In Styles
The rock drumming scene has progressed a great deal since the fifties. Those of us who played through that era remember the monotonous eighths and afterbeats, and those relentless right hand triplets. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Drivers Seat: Understanding The Basics
Anyone who hasn't had the thrilling experience of being in the same room with a driving eighteen-piece big band has probably missed one of the more exciting experiences in all music. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
