instructional
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.
Justin Foley: Killswitch Engage’s Rulebreaker
Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley doesn’t quite fit in with the normal metal drummer stereotypes. For one, he’s classically trained, having received his undergraduate degree in percussion from the University of Connecticut and his master’s degree from the prestigious Hartt…
Listen to Sound Files of Meinl Classics Custom Cymbals
The complete review is on page 18 of the June issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
Write Creative Drum Parts, Part 1: Direct Connection
April 2011 Rock 'N' Jazz Clinic Write Creative Drum Parts Part 1: Direct Connection by Chris Prescott Over the years I’ve had many students ask for help in writing drum parts for their bands’ songs. This article is designed to…
Listen as We Test a Slew of New Mic Models From Audio-Technica
The complete review is on page 26 of the May issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
Steve Fidyk’s Tribute to Joe Morello
May 2011 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Rudimental Jazz Revisited by Steve Fidyk Army Blues drummer and MD contributor Steve Fidyk plays a 5/4 drum solo dedicated to his longtime teacher, Joe Morello. See Fidyk’s two-part educational column based on Morello’s recently…
Playing With Drum Loops (Revisited)
Original article from the April 2011 Issue of Modern Drummer Magazine February 2011 Electronic Insights Playing With Drum Loops Choosing Tones And Tunings by Donny Gruendler Many drummers are trained to have metronomic time, solid technique and reading skills, and…
Simon Phillips: The Drummer As Perfectionist
It was an exciting time for drumming. The year was 1980, and a twenty-three-old drummer from England, Simon Phillips, was being introduced to the global music community through his stellar work with artists such as Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, and…
Darren King of MUTEMATH: YouTube Favorites
Hi there, MD readers, Darren King here. I don’t care so much about difficulty or technicality. I like style, passion, creativity, and all that kind of stuff. Here are some videos that always challenge and inspire me no matter how…
Vinson Valega: New York City Jazzer
Hey there, MD readers! Thanks so much for checking out this blog entry. I’m happy to give a big shout-out from the New York City jazz scene, which is still going strong and attracting the most amazing musicians from all…
Sonny Greer: Duke Ellington’s Crowd Pleaser
Sonny Greer was born in 1903 in Long Branch, New Jersey, and studied drums with vaudeville drummer J. Rosemond Johnson. His first professional job was as a youngster in a pit band in Red Bank, New Jersey. Within a few…
Robin Stone of the Amenta
Hey there, everyone in MD Interwebs land! My name is Robin Stone, and I play in the Amenta. I’ve got something different to talk about: extreme metal drumming. Whenever you turn on the radio or watch any pop/rock video, chances…
Gavin Harrison: Displacing Rhythms In Cyberspace
It’s not as if Gavin Harrison needs to lurk on the Internet. He’s popular. You like him! On the strength of his books, DVDs (including the recent Hudson release, Rhythmic Horizons) and performances with UK progressive band Porcupine Tree, you…
Kit Of The Month: A Do-It-Yourself Adventure
by Thomas Given Thomas Given’s Collage Kit appeared in the Kit Of The Month department of the August ’07 MD. Here’s his full report on the creation of this unusual kit, along with a bevy of photos illustrating the project.…
Steve Gadd: Opens Up
There's a whole lot of drumming going on. Hundreds of thousands of people currently play the drums. Through the years, perhaps millions have played. But in spite of all that drumming, just a couple of dozen amazing innovators have shown…
