Lessons
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.
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Stick Control Revisited, Part 4 (March 2014 Issue)
by Steve Fidyk Welcome to the fourth and final installment in our series on Stick Control drumset applications. This month we’ll explore ways of interpreting author George Lawrence Stone’s exercises while playing up-tempo swing rhythms. As you practice the applications,…
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Approaching Standards, Part 3: Language and Vernacular (February 2014 Issue)
by Steve Fidyk Welcome to the final installment of our series on applying the rhythmic phrasing of jazz standards to the drumset. This time we’re exploring ways to extract themes from the Thelonious Monk tune “Straight No Chaser” to…
VIDEO! The 45-Minute Practice Routine: Get Organized to Optimize Your Time Behind the Kit (January 2014 Issue)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJypIjV_kg by Mike Johnston When I sit back and think about the thousands of questions I’ve been asked by students in my eighteen-year career as a drum teacher and clinician, I would have to say that at least 80 percent…
VIDEO! Rock & Jazz Clinic: Rediscovering Rudiments (January 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPWiZet1qfg by Miguel Monroy Regardless of your desire as a drummer, whether it’s to play blistering solos or tasteful grooves, studying the rudiments will do much to help you take your craft to the next level. In this article, our…
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Stick Control Revisited, Part 3 (December 2013 Issue)
by Steve Fidyk Welcome to the third installment in our series on drumset applications of George Lawrence Stone’s classic book Stick Control. The variations in the article utilize the “72 Single Beat Combinations” found on pages 5–7. In this…
VIDEO! Strictly Technique: Hairtas (June 2010 Issue)
http://www.youtube.com/embed/xd8SeKYTYE0 by Bill Bachman The “hairta” isn’t one of the PAS forty rudiments, but it’s an extremely useful rudiment. Technically speaking, it’s very simple to play. All of the strokes should be played as relaxed free strokes (or full or…
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Approaching Standards, Part 2: Melody and Form (November 2013 Issue)
A Framework for Musical Practice, Part 2: Melody and Form by Steve Fidyk Welcome to the second installment in our series on approaching jazz standards. This article reveals ways of using the melodic rhythm as the source for creating…
VIDEO! In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 5: Specialty Mics (November 2013 Issue)
by Donny Gruendler In the first four installments of this series we discussed very broad ideas for achieving stylistically appropriate drum sounds, from pop-rock to traditional jazz. Each setup employed different drums, head selections, and tunings, and we used…
VIDEO! Rock Perspectives: Double Bass Workout Part 3 (October 2013 Issue)
by Todd Vinciguerra In this lesson we’ll mix 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, and 32nd notes on the bass drums and play them along with 16th-note-based hand patterns. Remember to play to a metronome or click track, and start off slowly…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Stick Control Revisited, Part 2: 3/4 and 6/8 Drumset Applications (October 2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TAqAjMoVWE Welcome to the second installment in our series on drumset applications of George Lawrence Stone’s famous book Stick Control. The variations in this lesson utilize the “72 Single Beat Combinations” found on pages 5–7. Be sure to check…
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Melodic Drumming (October 2013 Issue)
In this lesson we’re going to explore a way to represent a melodic guitar riff from a classic-rock tune on the kit, while playing the song’s drumbeat at the same time. Be sure to check out the complete article in…
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 4: Classic Jazz (October 2013 Issue)
Small-group jazz drumming is synonymous with legendary players such as Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams. Although these five gentlemen had very different approaches to timekeeping, each contributed to the jazz art form and…
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 3: Funk (September 2013 issue) UPDATED
September 2013 In the Studio Seeing Sounds Part 3: Funk by Donny Gruendler Funk drumming is synonymous with masters like James Brown’s Clyde Stubblefield, Tower of Power’s David Garibaldi, P-Funk’s Tiki Fulwood, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith.…
Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Approaching Standards, Part 1 (September 2013 issue)
September 2013 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Approaching Standards A Framework for Musical Practice, Part 1: Phrasing by Steve Fidyk Jazz musicians spend a considerable amount of practice time learning standard tunes in a variety of keys. By doing so, they become…
