Feature Stories
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.
Modern Drummer’s Readers Poll Archive, 1979-2014
In Modern Drummer’s May/June 1979 issue, just over two years after Ron Spagnardi launched the magazine, our first Readers Poll appeared. Want to guess some of the names that made the cut that first time around? Today, more than thirty-five…
Lennie DiMuzio Passes
DiMuzio (right) with Armand Zildjian Modern Drummer is saddened to learn of the passing of Lennie DiMuzio, longtime artist relations manager for the Avedis Zildjian company. Later in life DiMuzio worked for Sabian Ltd., which, on its Facebook page, described…
Drummer Blog: Gabor “Gabs??? Dornyei on Being Anything but Average
Some great things have happened in my career, but being featured in the current (April 2015) issue of Modern Drummer is a dream come true, especially as I’ve also just discovered that both MD and I were born in 1977.…
10 Tips from Bobby Sanabria
The renowned Latin and jazz drummer/percussionist has always known how to get his point across, whether in the studio, on stage, or in the classroom. Here he offers words of advice that all of us, regardless of age or preferred…
What You Need to Know About...Electronic Percussion
This article originally ran in the Nov/Dec 2012 issue of Drum Business. Drummers are drawn to electronic percussion for the same reasons today as we were back in the early ’80s, after the introduction of the Linn LM-1 and the…
What You Need to Know About...Bass Drum Pedals
This article originally ran in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of Drum Business. by Billy Brennan At first thought, it might be easy to write off any bass drum pedal as a simple combination of footboard and beater.…
What You Need to Know About...Mallets
This article originally ran in the July/Aug 2012 issue of Drum Business. by Ben Meyer “Which one is the xylophone”? “How do I tell where the notes are”? “Are these the right mallets”? Those are just a few…
What You Need to Know About...Drum Shells
This article originally ran in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of Drum Business. by Fran Azzarto So far in this column, we’ve discussed drumsticks and counterhoops. Now it’s time to dig in and take a look at what we…
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Other Styles
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team if they felt that it’s important for all drummers to study Latin music and other musical genres, even if they don’t intend to ever perform those styles. Here’s what they…
Video: Matt Garstka Demonstrates Animals as Leaders’ “Nephele???
Watch Modern Drummer’s March 2015 cover artist, Matt Garstka, explain and demonstrate the intro to “Nephele,” from Animals as Leaders’ The Joy of Motion. Learn more about the March 2015 issue of Modern Drummer and how to buy it here.
Video: Matt Garstka Demonstrates Animals as Leaders’ “The Future That Awaited Me???
Watch Modern Drummer’s March 2015 cover artist, Matt Garstka, explain and play through the main groove of “The Future That Awaited Me,” from Animals as Leaders’ The Joy of Motion. Learn more about the March 2015 issue of Modern Drummer…
The Modern Drummer Podcast Episode 3 With Stephen Perkins
Modern Drummer speaks to the drummer with Jane’s Addiction following a series of concerts dedicated to the band’s classic album Nothing’s Shocking. Perkins gives insight into the group’s creative process and shares what it was like coming up on the…
What You Need to Know About...Drum Cases
This article originally ran in the July/Aug 2013 issue of Drum Business. by Ben Meyer A great investment deserves protection, but finding the right cases for your drums, cymbals, and hardware can be tricky, because there are so many choices. Having…
What You Need to Know About...Drum Mics
This article originally ran in the Nov/Dec 2011 issue of Drum Business. by Billy Brennan By its very nature, the drumset can be the hardest instrument to mike. Guitarists, for example, have it easy: They have only themselves, their axe,…
