Jim Riley
This month we’re tackling a groove that has confounded drummers for more than forty years: The half-time shuffle. This groove’s ghost note placement has been a mystery to many drummers since legends such as Bernard Purdie, John Bonham, and Jeff Porcaro first laid it down in the late ’70s and …
Although the blues is considered an American art form, it’s a genre of music that resonates around the world. With that in mind, if you’re a drummer trying to connect with new musicians, there’s no better opportunity to do so than at a local blues jam.
In this new series we’ll be taking a close look at some of the most influential, practical, and essential drum grooves of all time, studying a pattern’s history and learning how to play it step-by-step. If you’re serious about getting better at your craft, there’s no better way to improve …
People often ask me about the keys to succeeding in the music business. While there’s no single answer to that question, there are certain measurable and quantifiable elements to discuss. I’m going to try as best as I can to lay out a generic playbook on how to achieve what …
A weekend of rhythmic bliss replete with vintage and modern gear, enlightening workshops, and brilliant performances.
The universally lauded multi-genre legend joins Hall of Fame, another contemporary giant sweeps three categories, and Neil Peart returns.
I’ve been a friend and fan of Seth Rausch for more than a decade. His deep pocket is undeniable to anyone who’s ever heard him play, and he’s the consummate professional and a devoted family man. I’ve been fortunate to have my gig with Rascal Flatts for the past thirteen …
One thing that separates the novice drummer from the professional is the ability to play grooves that have dimension. Ghost notes are a great way to achieve this, but first you need to understand, on an elemental level, how to create them.
Neil Peart, Jeremy Spencer, Clem Burke, Jim Riley, Ian Paice, Justin Foley, Richard Christy, Jen Ledger, Paul Guerrero, Bill Rieflin, Travis Barker
Jason Bonham, Allison Miller, Andy Herrick, Joe Travers, Antonio Sanchez, Kelly Keagy, Bobby Previte, Luis Conte, Chris Wilson, Hamid Drake, Joey Baron, Jim Riley, Chad Smith
Dave Lombardo, Matt Cameron, Ignacio Berroa, Jim Riley, Kris Myers, Ray Luzier, Tony Thaxton, Tony Royster Jr., Barry Kerch, Paul Chuffo, Jerome Dillon, Jim Fox, Virgil Donato, Ringo Starr, Jason Bittner, Daniel de los Reyes, Scott Rockenfield
Posted: February 3, 2023
2023 Jazz Fest Music Lineup Announced!
Dead & Company, Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Santana, Jon Batiste, Jill Scott, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Kane Brown, H.E.R., Steve Miller Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Plus Hundreds More! To Appear at the 2023 New Orleans …
Posted: October 3, 2022
MODERN DRUMMER & YURT ROCK ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP
Modern Drummer Magazine today announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Yurt Rock, a widely-recognized producer of loops, samples, and more featuring the world’s leading musicians. As part of this exciting collaboration, Yurt Rock will be releasing a series of custom drum libraries from Modern Drummer’s digital catalog. The first release planned will …
Posted: September 1, 2020
Modern Drummer Festival 2020
Modern Drummer is rebooting its world-famous Drum Festival on September 12 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time with a live-streaming event honoring the late, great Rush drummer Neil Peart. Proceeds of ticket sales will benefit brain tumor research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The event, which will be produced and distributed …
Posted: August 20, 2020
20th Annual Modern Drummer Festival featuring A Tribute To Iconic Drummer Neil Peart.
LiveXLive to Produce and Distribute Live Pay Per View Show Featuring Incredible Lineup Reaching over 150 Million Social Media Fans — Taylor Hawkins, Chad Smith, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Thomas Lang, Alex Gonzalez A global platform for livestream and on-demand audio, video and podcast content in music, comedy, and pop culture, announced …
Posted: November 27, 2018
Industry Veteran Kevin Packard of Checkpoint Charley On The Beat
Kevin Packard is combo marketing manager for Pearl Corporation, and has worked in the musical products industry since 1998, holding marketing, product design and management, and artist relations positions with Ludwig, Ddrum, and Peace Drum companies.
Posted: April 26, 2017
Web Exclusive: Producer Russ Titelman on 10 of His Favorite Drummers
The June issue of Modern Drummer magazine features an interview with three-time Grammy Award–winning producer Russ Titelman who in his long career has worked with musical giants including Little Feat, Randy Newman, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Cyndi Lauper, Graham Central Station, Rickie Lee Jones, George Harrison, Chaka Khan, the Bee …
Posted: June 30, 2016
August 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
(Available in print and digitally June 30, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg “They didn’t want a copycat, so I needed to play it in my own way. I can’t play it any other way.” Taking the place of …
Posted: June 30, 2016
August 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
(Available in print and digitally June 30, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg “They didn’t want a copycat, so I needed to play it in my own way. I can’t play it any other way.” Taking the place of …
Posted: December 30, 2015
Exclusive Video Interviews from PASIC 2015
This past November 11–14, the Percussive Arts Society held its annual international convention in San Antonio, Texas. This milestone event marked the fortieth anniversary of PASIC and the first year that live-streaming passes were offered. Within the convention, attendees had access to an expo hall filled with the latest gear …
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: October 30, 2015
December 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Dom Famularo
See what’s in the December 2015 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Dom Famularo!
Posted: March 26, 2015
News: Vic’s Drum Shop Wins 2014 Outstanding Retailer Award From Vic Firth Company
Vic’s Drum Shop in Chicago has been selected to receive the 2014 Outstanding Retailer Award from Vic Firth. The award was presented to drum shops across America that achieved double-digit sales growth last year with more than $25,000 in annual sell-through of Vic Firth products….
Posted: February 4, 2015
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 had to say….
Posted: December 22, 2014
News: Rich Redmond Hosts Second-Annual “Drummer’s Weekend???
This past November, Jason Aldean drummer, Rich Redmond, led a weekend of drumming education, inspiration, and entertainment in Nashville. Highlights of this second-annual event included hands-on training with Liberty Devitto (Billy Joel), Chris Fryar (Zac Brown Band), and Sean Paddock (Kenny Chesney). Other teachers included percussionist Billy Hawn (Colbie Callait) …
Posted: May 30, 2014
July 2014 Spotify Playlist
Want to hear music from the artists featured in the July 2014 issue of Modern Drummer? We’ve got you covered. Our July 2014 Spotify Playlist includes some fantastic tracks, including several cool covers….
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: May 12, 2014
VIDEO! Drum Country: Train Beat Variations (From the May 2014 Issue)
Click here to check out Rascal Flatts drummer Jim Riley’s article on train beat variations….
Posted: May 1, 2014
June 2014 Spotify Playlist
Listen to the music from the pages of the June 2014 issue of Modern Drummer featuring Nate Morton of The Voice in this month’s Spotify Playlist…
Posted: April 16, 2014
KoSA Percussion Workshops
The 2014 South Florida Percussion Workshop/KoSA Miami will take place…
Posted: April 3, 2014
May 2014 Spotify Playlist
Welcome to the Spotify Playlist for the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine….
Posted: March 26, 2014
May 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Jim Riley
See what’s in the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine featuring drummer Jim Riley…
Posted: March 26, 2014
VIDEO! In the Pocket: Dubstep Drumming, Part 1: The Basics (From the May 2014 Issue)
Click here to check out the In the Pocket article on Dubstep from the May 2014 issue….
Posted: December 25, 2013
Jason Aldean’s Rich Redmond
Hello MD readers! It has been some time since we last visited here. I am still enjoying life in Nashville, juggling touring, recording, producing, writing, and teaching. I love this life we live as modern drummers!
Posted: September 18, 2013
Nashville Drummers Jam 3: Tribute to Jeff Porcaro
The Nashville Drummers Jam, along with promotional partner, Tom Hurst Presents Loud Jamz, and venue partner, Douglas Corner Café, involves bringing top Nashville drummers together to perform their favorite songs from a selected theme while raising money for worthy causes. The Nashville Drummers Jam 3, which took place on September …
Posted: July 18, 2013
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Tuning (UPDATED)
We asked the members of the MD Education Team to share their thoughts on how they prefer to tune their drums. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: June 28, 2013
Modern Drummer’s 2013 Readers Poll Winners
The results are in for the longest-running, most prestigious drummer poll in the world. Without further ado, here are your winners for 2013….
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: April 15, 2013
Chris Prescott of Pinback
Pinback has been traveling constantly this past year in support of the new album, Information Retrieved. We were planning the final leg of our US tour when the opportunity came up to play on Jimmy Fallon’s show in New York. The tour had been planned originally as a mostly southern …
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: November 19, 2012
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra’s John Riley
In addition to the cover story on big band star Buddy Rich, the December 2012 issue of Modern Drummer magazine features a fascinating conversation between the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra’s John Riley and VJO drum sub Paul Wells. The article contains lots of useful real-world advice from Riley; here Wells asks …
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: May 31, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Teaching Feel
We asked the MD Education Team if feel could be taught. See what they had to say….
Posted: May 8, 2012
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Practicing With a Metronome
The MD Education Team chimes in on the pros and cons of practicing with a metronome….
Posted: March 19, 2012
Tim Walsh of the Stepkids
I’m Tim Walsh of the Stepkids, and I’m excited to be on here and hope to add to the wealth of knowledge that is MD’s awesome thirty-five-year history…
Posted: January 23, 2012
Jim Riley
[MDEdTop]Jim is the drummer and bandleader for multi-platinum group Rascal Flatts. His recording credits include Rascal Flatts’ multi-platinum disc Me and My Gang, EA Sports’ Madden NFL 11, Brian McKnight’s Ten, and a track on the soundtrack to Hannah Montana: The Movie. In 2009, Jim was voted “best drum clinician” …
Posted: November 2, 2011
Jim Riley’s Drum Dojo
Take a Tour of Rascal Flatts drummer Jim Riley’s Nashville Teaching Studio in this video.
Posted: September 21, 2011
Song Charting Made Easy by Jim Riley
This is an essential study for all drummers looking to develop a deeper understanding of popular song structure.
Posted: August 8, 2011
Aaron Steele of Aabaraki
Hey, all, it is a pleasure and honor to be writing a blog for Modern Drummer. I grew up in the church tradition, playing gospel. Around age eleven I got really into break-dancing and I kind of got away from the drums for a few years. But when I was …
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 21, 2011
The Set-Up and Jim Riley
View behind the scenes photos of the beginning of the Modern Drummer Festival and Jim Riley’s performance.
Posted: May 21, 2011
VIDEO! Jim Riley 2011 Modern Drummer Festival Performance Montage
Watch this video as Jim Riley starts the day off with a Master Class.
Posted: February 19, 2009
Mitch Mitchell: Drummers Weigh In
Mitch Mitchell was not alone in blending jazz and rock drumming styles, but he may have pushed the combo further than anyone who came before him. Here a number of noted drummers provide further insight into Mitch’s influence….
Posted: August 3, 2018
Episode 153: Nate Smith, Demystifying the Half-Time Shuffle, Istanbul Mehmet Hamer Series, and More
In this episode Mike and Mike crack open the September issue and talk about cover artist Nate Smith, whose groove-drenched videos have racked up millions of views.
Posted: November 6, 2015
Episode 15: Jim Riley’s Ghost Notes, Dom Famularo, Zildjian’s new K Custom Dark Crashes, Drum Muffling, and More
In this episode, Mike and Mike dig into a few of the stories in the December 2015 issue of Modern Drummer, including Jim Riley’s educational article on ghost notes, the cover story with global drumming ambassador Dom Famularo, and the product review of Zildjian’s new K Custom Dark 19″ and …
