Ron Spagnardi
For this month’s Teacher’s Forum, we present another snare drum duet from Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi’s book Snare Drum Duets. This piece is in ¾ and integrates a lot of flam and flam rudiments. The ¾ will nudge a drummer out of his (or her) comfort zone just enough …
Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi wrote an excellent book called Understanding the Language of Music, a Drummer’s Guide to Theory and Harmony. This book spells out the basics of theory and harmony in a very organized and easy to understand way. It is an excellent book for drummers looking to …
As an ongoing tribute to Ron Spagnardi who founded Modern Drummer Publications in 1977 and was an excellent drum teacher and author in his own right, Modern Drummer is going to include some of the articles, exercises, and pieces that Ron included in his many fine books. This month we …
Quotes from the Original Fearless Leader No plan. No staff. Just a grand passion, the personal savings of Ron Spagnardi and his wife Isabel, and the sweat entity of his dad and their daughter. There was little hope that a second issue would be possible, or any other issues thereafter. …
Editor’s Note: It’s no secret that Charlie Watts loved jazz, so if you want to put a dollop of “Charlie Vibe” into your playing, consider jumping into some jazz exercises. This book excerpt by Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi is a fine place to start such explorations. In jazz drumming, …
Excepted from Building Bass Drum Technique The patterns on the following four pages are built around hand and foot coordination with 16th-note triplets. The exercises become increasingly difficult as you work your way through. A slower tempo at the onset is recommended. Speed will come gradually with regular practice. Do …
Excepted from Accent Control Accents add color and dynamic variation to our drumming, and they’re an extremely essential aspect of every drummer’s technique. The 16th-note accent patterns that follow should be practiced using the four stickings shown: (a) alternate sticking leading with the right hand, (b) alternate sticking leading with …
Excerpted from Paradiddle Power The following exercises are a study in the use of single paradiddles as rock or funk patterns. Note that the right hand is played on closed hi-hat, while the left hand moves from the hi-hat to the snare drum on 2 and 4. Be sure you’ve …
In the mid-’70s, a relatively unknown drummer named Ron Spagnardi had a big idea: to create the first independent magazine for and about drummers. He had no funds to speak of, and even less experience in publishing. He did, however, have the will. Now he just had to find the …
John Otto, Ron Spagnardi, Terry Bozzio, Bill Bruford, Simon Phillips, Carter Beauford, Chad Cromwell, Tim Alexander, Josh Freese, Steve Smith, Stephen Perkins, Gary Husband, Gordon Heckaman, Jason Bittner, Martin Atkins, Tony Thompson, Thomas Lang, Matt Sorum, Abe Laboriel Jr.
Joey Waronker, Sheila E, Greg Eklund, John Hollenbeck, Matt Laug, Raymond Herrera, Jeff Sipe, Shane Evans, Todd Sucherman, Drori Mondlak, Billy Cobham, Gavin Harrison, Neal Busby, Ron Spagnardi, Osami Mizuno, Jennie Hoeft, Billy Ward, Rick Mattingly, Curt Bisquera, Pat Mastelotto, Ian Paice
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
Dave Weckl, Ginger Fish, Max Roach, Virgil Donati, Han Bennink, Zakir Hussain, Jack Gavin, Kevin Miller, Scott Rockenfield, Jon Christensen, Mark Zonder, Carlomango Araya, Paul Clarvis, Ron Spagnardi, Ed Breckenfeld, John Riley, Jennie Hoeft, Michael Miller, T. Bruce Wittet, Jeff Hamilton, Alan White, Zach Danziger
Chad Sexton, Don Lombardi, Herb Brochstein, Roy Burns, Vic Firth, Ron Spagnardi, Virgil Donati, John Tempesta, Charlie Benante, Steve Gadd, Giovanni Hidalgo, Bill Stewart, Tony Royster Jr. , Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Paul Wertico, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Ferrone, Papa Jo Jones, Chad Smith, Mario Calire, Jeff Porcaro, Jason Bonham, Bun …
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: January 24, 2019
Joe Corsello in On The Beat
I had done three world tours with Benny Goodman, a year with singer Peggy Lee, two world tours with the World’s Greatest Jazz Band,
Posted: April 27, 2016
On the Beat With Carmine Appice: Stick It!
Hi MD drummer dudes and girls! This is a fun time in my career. After forty-nine years in the music business and touring the world many times playing arenas, stadiums, theaters, etc., I’ve reached a point where I can sit back and review my life of drumming and music….
Posted: April 27, 2016
On the Beat With Carmine Appice: Stick It!
Hi MD drummer dudes and girls! This is a fun time in my career. After forty-nine years in the music business and touring the world many times playing arenas, stadiums, theaters, etc., I’ve reached a point where I can sit back and review my life of drumming and music….
Posted: March 10, 2015
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?
Posted: February 5, 2013
Modern Drummer Adds CD to Progressive Independence: Rock Book
Progressive Independence: Rock is designed to help you gain an extremely high level of coordinated independence for rock drumming performance, thereby freeing all four limbs from dependence on one another. Once the material in this book has been mastered, you’ll be capable of playing almost any rhythmic figure on snare …
Posted: January 17, 2013
Pro-Mark Founder Herb Brochstein Passes
Drummer and Pro-Mark founder Herb Brochstein passed away this week. The multifaceted Brochstein played many roles in the music industry throughout his long career, recording and performing, teaching, owning a drum shop, and, in 1957, launching the Pro-Mark drumstick company….
Posted: October 14, 2011
Rick Steel
Hello, MD readers! It’s BooM (Rick Steel). I still remember the last time I spoke with Modern Drummer founder Ron Spagnardi. After receiving a copy of his latest drum book at the time, I called to thank him.
Posted: March 14, 2011
Joe Morello: Changing The Way We Think About Time
“Throughout his storied career, Joe Morello displayed a rare combination of drumming talents. He revealed an exceptional sense of swing and finesse combined with astounding technical ability. Along with witty and inventive solo work, Morello was extremely adept at negotiating odd time signatures. Thousands of aspiring drummers have been both …
