
Jim Chapin

Creative Solo Applications Inspired by a Master I had the chance to study with the great Jim Chapin during the last four years of his life. (Jim passed away at ninety years of age on July 4, 2009—coincidentally, as he’s been referred to as the “Father of Independence” in the …

Time passes, and I become convinced more than ever that the diverse elements comprising the art of drumming all work together to give us drum fanatics as good a shot at happiness and fulfillment as anyone on the planet Earth. It is more rewarding, of course, if you are an …

Few topics are more subject to debate among the drumming community than the Moeller technique. This column isn’t meant to teach you right from wrong. Instead, we’ll elaborate on how Jim Chapin taught the technique. Jim was a master of the Moeller technique, and he learned it directly from its …

There is an ancient Chinese curse that says “May your children live in ‘interesting’ times”—meaning, I suppose, a period of calamity and conflict. That also implies that if you grew up in a dull era, it was also a safe one. How safe we drummers are I don’t know; there …

Photo by Larry Kellogg SF: What does it take to become a circus drummer? WC: You have to be familiar with every style of music and drumming. Latin, rock, shows, marches, contemporary, disco. You have to have all those in mind and be comfortable playing them. What seems to be …

Jim Chapin Father of Independence by Rick Mattingly The Chapin Book. Sooner or later every serious drummer has to master it. Although the book was once considered impossible to play, it is now accepted as the basic text for independent coordination. Many books have appeared since which have attempted to …

For years Moore has also been a sought-out educator. This past December he hosted his fourth-annual Spirit of New Orleans Drum Camp, and now he’s launched stantonmooredrumacademy.com, which is designed to provide educational content for players of all skill levels, as well as for other instructors.

In 1939, I first met Gene. I started at the Hickory House in 1938. So Gene and I had been friends for over 30 years. I guess that everything that has been said about the man has been said before me.

Jeff “Tain” Watts, Neil Peart, Justin Foley, Steve Shelley, Tony Allen, Dave Witte, Chad Sexton, Vinny Appice, Robb Reiner, Mark O’Connell, Levon Helm, Buddy Saltzman, Jaleel Bunton, Gerry Gibbs, Nick Jonas, Christian Eigner, Jim Chapin

Billy Martin, Luis Conte, Tommy Stewart, Marco Minnemann, Vernel Fournier, Rob Bourdon, Jim Chapin, Scott Amendola, Mike Portnoy, Kirk Covington, Terry Silverlight, Karen Carpenter, David Garibaldi, Tony Verderosa, Ken Vogel, Peter Erskine, Osami Mizuno, Ron Spagnardi, Michael Miller, Lauren Vogel Weiss, Jeff Kersh

Mike Portnoy, Sonny Greer, Louie Benson, Sam Woodyard, Joe Sirois, Gavin Harrison, Bill Bruford, Hal Blaine, Safwan Javed, Joe Morello, Jim Chapin,

In this Issue: Dennis Chambers, Jim Chapin, Sim Cain
Posted: October 4, 2021

100 Drummers “Drum Together” for WhyHunger Campaign
The mission is simple, but critical: One Beat. One Mission. End Hunger. WhyHunger—a non-profit founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin and radio deejay Bill Ayres to “change systems, policies, and institutions that perpetuate hunger and poverty in our world”—enlisted more than 100 drummers and percussionists to perform a …
Posted: June 17, 2021

Janet D’Addario, Co-Founder of D’Addario & Company Dies at age 72
On behalf of the D’Addario Family, it gives us great sadness to announce the passing of Janet D’Addario, the Co-Founder of D’Addario & Co. and Former President of Providence House, on June 14th, after a fierce battle of cancer for over two years. In lieu of any gifts or flowers, …
Posted: August 30, 2016
Video Lesson! Swiss Rudiments, Part 1 With Claus Hessler
Welcome to the first of a four-part series on Swiss rudiments and Basel drumming. In this lesson I’ll focus on some specialties of the Basel style that aren’t usually included in the standard list of forty Percussive Arts Society rudiments. The accompanying video, available at ModernDrummer.com, demonstrates this style’s feel …
Posted: July 5, 2016
On the Beat With Lynn Coulter of Rita Coolidge: On the Road With the Delta Lady
Hello “On the Beat??? readers, Lynn Coulter here. I just got back from two weeks out with the fabulous Rita Coolidge doing dates in the New England area. Rita just released her memoir, Delta Lady.
Posted: April 28, 2016

June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine
See what’s in the June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine…
Posted: April 28, 2016
June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine
See what’s in the June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine…
Posted: April 15, 2016
On the Beat With Educator Bruce Becker: Covering Odd Times in New Book
Greetings fellow drummers, it’s been a few years since my first MD blog and the release of my DVD Concept and Philosophies. My educational passions still continue to forge ahead….
Posted: November 2, 2015
Dom Famularo’s Teachers List
Over the course of his forty-year career traveling the globe to teach, perform, and conduct clinics, Dom Famularo has interacted with some of the finest drummers and drum instructors in the world. The following list contains many of those names, organized by country/continent. If you’re looking for top-notch drum instruction, …
Posted: May 12, 2014
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Syncopation Revisited, Part 1: Basic Applications (From the June 2014 Issue)
Click here to check out part 1 of a Jazz Drummer’s Workshop series by Steve Fidyk focusing on ways to develop coordination on the drumset using Ted Reed’s classic book Syncopation.
Posted: April 8, 2014
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Developing Independence
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team to share their thoughts on their favorite methods for developing independence. Here’s what they had to say.
Posted: August 7, 2013
Luke Roberts of “Let It Be??? Beatles Tribute
My name is Luke Roberts, and I’m a drummer, vocalist, and composer based in London. My current drumming post is performing as Ringo in the Broadway and West End show Let It Be.
Posted: April 26, 2013
25 Timeless Drum Books
What makes a great drum book? There’s no single answer, as different books have been written to address a wide variety of styles and techniques. But judging by a recent poll in which Modern Drummer readers were asked to name their favorite volumes, a few characteristics stand out….
Posted: January 10, 2013
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Jazz
We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think it’s important for their students to study jazz. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: December 5, 2012
Ian Kaplan of Motel Beds
My name is Ian Kaplan, and I’m the drummer for Motel Beds. We’ve been playing together for about nine years, and we’ve just released our new album, Dumb Gold.
Posted: October 17, 2012
Buddy Rich: Style & Analysis
Click here to check out a classic Buddy Rich transcription from “West Side Story.???
Posted: July 30, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Reading Music
We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think that reading skills are crucial. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: January 25, 2012
Claus Hessler
[MDEdTop]Claus Hessler currently teaches at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt, Germany, and he is a professor at Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea. He’s an active clinician in Europe, Asia, and the United State, having appeared at the Jim Chapin Memorial event in New York City, …
Posted: July 1, 2011
MD Readers Poll 2011 Results
Welcome once again to the MD Readers Poll, where the greatest drummers on the planet are honored by the most educated drum fans around. Let’s get right to it: the envelope, please….
Posted: May 27, 2011
Remembering “The Chapin Magic”
Modern Drummer’s 2011 Readers Poll Hall of Fame inductee is the late drummer/educator Jim Chapin, who passed away in 2009.
Posted: December 17, 2010
Jimmy Bralower: Web Exclusive
Jimmy Bralower was born to make records. The drummer started playing at a very young age, and by the time he was in his early teens, his first band, the Young Ones, had signed a deal with a major label. In the ensuing years Bralower worked his way from clubs …
Posted: September 29, 2010
Narada Michael Walden: Web Exclusive
by Billy Amendola More—way more—with the fusion and pop maestro. In a continuation of our interview with Narada Michael Walden from the November 2010 issue of Modern Drummer, the fusion and pop drumming/producing maestro reflects on his early days, teaching, spirituality, playing in odd time signatures, and coming full circle …
Posted: July 20, 2010
Dr. Julie Grocki Reminisces About Jim Chapin
A year has passed since Jim left us to enter the heavens on July 4, 2009. How proud he would have been, Dom Famularo and Joyce Jacobs of the Harry Chapin Foundation informed me, if he were here to know that I finally earned the title Dr. Julie Grocki after …
Posted: November 5, 2009
Gloria Gaynor’s Swiss Chris
I am currently doing dates with Gloria Gaynor. I’m also playing drums for Bajah & the Dry Eye Crew…
Posted: August 20, 2009
Remembering Jim Chapin
The venerable drum teacher passed away this July 4, leaving behind thousands of acolytes–and a million great stories. In this companion to the In Memoriam in the October issue of MD, we hear from some of Chapin’s many friends and drumming disciples.
Posted: July 19, 2005
David Northrup
Growing up on a mix of R&B, pop, rock, and country, David Northrup, originally from Syracuse New York, moved south in the early ’90s playing sessions and gigging the Florida club scene. One of those gigs led him to meeting and working with ace session guitarist Les Dudek…
Posted: May 19, 2005
Chad Cromwell: Web Exclusive Interview
We first featured Chad Cromwell in the March ’04 issue. There wasn’t quite enough room for all the great stuff Chad had to say, though, so we decided to share the rest of it with you here.
Posted: May 19, 2005
Daniel Reyes
In between those gigs he’ll squeeze in a performance with Ricky Martin, Stevie Nicks, or Jennifer Lopez, among other top acts. But Danny’s brain is always thinking: How do I make my playing better? Equally important to him these days: How do I make the instruments I play better? Enter …
Posted: May 12, 2004
Jim Chapin
It’s a steamy tropical night in South Florida. I’m sitting out on Jim Chapin’s lanai, watching the eighty-one-year-old drummer rip off amazing licks on his ever-present practice pad while the tree frogs and locusts in the backyard provide a symphonic backdrop.
Posted: September 20, 2019

MD Podcast Episode 210: Rancid’s Branden Steineckert, Advanced Jazz Soloing Techniques, Roland SPD::ONE WAV Pad, and More
Mike and Mike discuss drummer Branden Steineckert, who has been playing with legendary punk band Rancid since 2006 and more!