educational
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.
In The Pocket: Advanced Shuffle
February 2012 In The Pocket Advanced Shuffle by Jim Payne Here are the demo videos that accompany some of the exercises from my article on advanced shuffles.
Teacher’s Forum: Don’t Give Up Too Soon
Our Job Isn’t Just to Turn Out Professional Musicians by Rick Mattingly As I look back over my years of private teaching, I am proud that several of my former students have been successful in pursuing music careers. Some majored…
MapleWorks Drumset
The review of the MapleWorks drumset is in the February 2012 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. Click below to listen.
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Brush Workshop, Part 3 (VIDEO)
February 2012 Rock & Jazz Clinic Brush Workshop Part 3: Linear Motion by Florian Alexandru-Zorn Many drummers think that brushes can only be used in jazz, but if you’ve been following this series, and practicing the various patterns in each…
Ostinato Studies, Part 3: Metric Modulation
January 2012 Drum Soloist Ostinato Studies Part 3: Metric Modulation by Jason Gianni Here is the video that we are using as the basis for the concepts we’re exploring in our Ostinato Studies article series. Check out the final installment…
Avid Pro Tools: Beat Detective Up Close
One of the great features of Avid’s Pro Tools software is the Beat Detective plug-in, which allows you to adjust timing on multiple audio tracks at once using just a few mouse clicks. Here is a sample of a sloppy…
What You Need to Know About...Drumheads
Originally published in the November/December 2010 issue of Drum Business. by Fran Azzarto Drumheads (or “skins,” as they’re sometimes called) have a history as old as the drum itself, although for thousands of years that history went pretty much…
Kurt Reil of the Grip Weeds
Greetings from New Jersey! I sing and play drums for the Grip Weeds, and last year we released the double CD Strange Change Machine. We’ve received many great reviews and notices for it, along with lots of back-slapping from our fans,…
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Brush Workshop, Part 2 (VIDEO)
December 2011 Rock & Jazz Clinic Brush Workshop Part 2: Half-Circle Motion by Florian Alexandru-Zorn A goal of mine has been to play with brushes and think not in terms of patterns but in a more musical way, transferring all…
In the Studio: A Lesson in Sight-Reading (VIDEO)
December 2011 photo by Mike Monseur In The Studio A Lesson in Sight-Reading Fifty Big Band Arrangements in Four Days by Michael Dawson Army Blues drummer, and MD contributing writer, Steve Fidyk makes his living playing big band music, so sight-reading…
Cadeson Nagashi Compact Drumset
The complete review of the Cadeson Nagashi compact drumset is on page 25 of the December issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
Wicked BeatsFeaturing Gil Sharone
DVD LEVEL: ALL $24.99 Wicked Beats lives up to its name. Gil Sharone’s enthusiasm for Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae is contagious, and he offers ample practical and technical knowledge here. Sharone keeps it all within reach, demonstrating, for…
What You Need to Know About...Cymbal Alloys
by Billy Brennan An alloy, in its most basic sense, is a blend of two or more metals. Since metals are not chemically bonded in their natural state, they are fused—and alloys are created—in a molten state, through melting…
How to Play Drums in a Big Band by Rich Thompson
BOOK/CD LEVEL: BEGINNER TO ADVANCED $25 Digging for pay dirt, Rich Thompson surpasses the typical “play this groove, then hit this hit” approach to big band chart instruction. Offering insightful commentary on the arrangements, Thompson stresses an awareness of…
