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.
Swingin’ the Clave: Advanced Exercises for Developing Independence (VIDEO)
July 2012 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Swingin’ the Clave Advanced Exercises for Developing Independence by Steve Fidyk In jazz, the ride cymbal is the focal point for creating a flowing, swinging time feel. In Afro-Cuban music, the clave assumes this role.…
Popular Play-Alongs: Timber Grooves
July 2012 Jobbing Drummer Popular Play-Alongs Part 1: Timber Grooves by Donny Gruendler Pop music is all over the airwaves. Drummers need to realize that the music on the radio is vital and deserves our attention as aspiring working musicians.…
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Practicing With a Metronome
What are the pros and cons of practicing with a metronome? Can a metronome actually make your time worse? Jeremy Hummel There are many good things that come from practicing with a metronome. I feel that the best use…
Mind Matters: Releasing The Pressure Of Sitting In
The following is an excerpt from the Modern Drummer book Mind Matters: Overcoming Common Mental Barriers in Drumming, by Bernie Schallehn Releasing The Pressure Of Sitting In Q: Many years ago, when I was in my twenties, I was fortunate to play…
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Brush Workshop, Part 4 (VIDEO)
May 2012 Rock & Jazz Clinic Brush Workshop Part 4: Rudiments by Florian Alexandru-Zorn Almost every drummer practices the rudiments—with sticks. If you’re serious about learning how to use brushes, why not also practice the rudiments with them? This article…
Get Up: Strategies for Playing Fast and Staying Relaxed (w/ VIDEO)
May 2012 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Get Up! Strategies for Playing Fast and Staying Relaxed by Steve Fidyk It’s widely understood that the faster the tempo, the more relaxed your body needs to be. In some cases, however, players psych themselves…
12 Drumming Myths: Debunking Drum Gospel
by Adam Budofsky Want to be a better drummer? Try taking these words out of your vocabulary: Always. Only. All. Never. Despite the prevalence of educational books, DVDs, and online lessons, most drumming information is still passed down the…
Mind Matters: A+ Practice, C- Performance
The following is an excerpt from the Modern Drummer book Mind Matters: Overcoming Common Mental Barriers in Drumming, by Bernie Schallehn. A+ Practice, C- Performance Q: In the past year I got a chance to play with two different “name” performers. The…
The Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith on Arriving at That Magic Take
This piece originally ran as a sidebar in the “Get Good: Playing for the Song” feature that ran in the January 2011 issue of Modern Drummer. As we were putting together this feature on playing for the song, MD Pro Panelist…
What You Need To Know About...Hand Drums
by Fran Azzarto It’s common for drumset players to be curious about hand drumming, and to eventually decide to buy their first set of bongos…or would congas be better…or perhaps a djembe? Modern Drummer’s sister publication, Drum Business, recently ran an…
What You Need to Know About…Drum Thrones
by Billy Brennan The throne is the foundation of any player’s groove and is an incredibly important purchase for any prospective customer. As is a common theme in drum-related products, there’s no right or wrong choice—round versus saddle style, soft…
Wavemachine Labs Drumagog 5
March 2012 Electronic Review Wavemachine Labs Drumagog 5 by Butch Jones Since its inception, Drumagog has been one of the top choices for drum repair work because of its ability to accurately detect hits and then trigger samples from an…
Concepts: The CRASH Course to Success, Part 1: Commitment
March 2012 Concepts The CRASH Course to Success Part 1: Commitment by Rich Redmond What does it take to be a successful working drummer? Commitment. Commitment is the word for the first letter in an acronym I created, CRASH, to…
Focus on the Hi-Hat: The Classic Swing Sound (VIDEO)
March 2012 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Focus on the Hi-Hat The Classic Swing Sound by Steve Fidyk Before small groups reigned supreme and the ride cymbal became king, the beacon in jazz timekeeping was the hi-hat. Jo Jones with Count…
