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.
Techra Drumsticks Hammer of the Gods, X Carb, and Colossus 5A
Techra, an Italian drumstick manufacturer, sent Modern Drummer a few more pairs of their carbon fiber drumsticks to bang around. In our last review of Techra sticks (MD 2023), we looked at the Black Diamond series, 5A, and 2B sizes.…
5 Core 7-Piece Drum Mic Kit
While walking the aisles of the 2025 Music City Drum Show in Nashville, a set of drum microphones immediately stood out. They had a brushed copper finish, with a vintage, almost steampunk aesthetic. The company was 5 Core, and I…
Ascending to New Rhythmic Heights
Todd Sucherman has carved out an extraordinary career as one of today’s most respected drummers, renowned for his versatility, technical mastery, and dynamic presence behind the kit. Rising from a musically gifted Chicago family, he played paid gigs at age…
Kassa Overall: What If… Jazz meets Rap meets Hip-Hop
Kassa Overall is a Grammy-nominated musician, emcee, singer, producer, and drummer who melds avant-garde experimentation and hip-hop production techniques. He is taking the intersection of jazz and hip-hop into unchartered territories. At the beginning of his drumming career, Overall earned…
Evgeny Novikov of Slaughter to Prevail
Evgeny Novikov went from grinding seven-hour practice days in Russia to smashing stages across the world with Slaughter to Prevail. He went from playing in tiny clubs with broken kits to having viral moments playing on tunes like “Demolisher.” He’s…
John Coltrane "The Inchworm," drummer Elvin Jones
When I was younger, I had the incredible opportunity to study with the great Gary Chaffee. Of the many invaluable lessons he shared, there was one that always stuck with me, and relates directly to this month’s transcription. When teaching…
December 2025 – Volume 49 • Number 12
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Are You Ready?
“The classical mess is just a bundle of routine, ideas, and tradition. When he acts, he is translating every living moment in terms of the old.” Bruce Lee Bruce Lee’s method of Jeet Kune Do is the spirit of readiness…
Progressive Drumming Essentials: The Ambidextrous Coordination Circuit
Progressive Drumming Essentials is a collection of articles originally written for Modern Drummer magazine. They are exactly what the title says, PROGRESSIVE drumming essentials. This series of articles, and the book that contains them all, represent a great deal of material that Aaron…
Master Studies II: Joe Fingers
As a follow-up to Joe Morello’s legendary Master Studies book, he released Master Studies II in 2006. Joe was a masterful teacher and helped many great drummers with their musicality, technique, and touch. Joe was also masterful at creating exercises, many of Joe’s exercises…
The New Breed: More Melodies
Gary Chester’s groundbreaking book The New Breed is legendary. The book, and Gary’s teaching methods are deeply intertwined, it is a lifelong commitment of dedication, study, and development. Gary Chester’s Systems, Reading Exercises, Advanced Systems, Advanced Reading Exercises, Composite Systems, Grooves, and Applications are…
Rhythm Vocabulary Development Series Part 6: Exploring 11/8
While 9/8 often feels like a “gateway” into odd meters, 11/8 takes rhythmic exploration a step further. At first glance, it can seem awkward—an uneven collection of pulses that resists symmetry. Yet for drummers, 11/8 offers an opportunity to explore…
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Chad Smith Launches Foundation to Champion Music Education, Access, and Opportunity for Aspiring Artists
Chad Smith, the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, today announced the official launch of the Chad Smith Foundation (CSF). Dedicated to amplifying young talent, the foundation aims to inspire, empower, and…
Drum Workshop and Guitar Center Factory Day
DW Drums and Guitar Center hosted their annual DW Factory Day in Oxnard, CA on August 23. The day started with a drum off hosted by Guitar Center’s drum buyer Glenn Noyes and Roland VP of Sales Jim DeStefano. The…
