Jim Riley
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.
Industry Veteran Kevin Packard of Checkpoint Charley On The Beat
Making the Most of Your Musical Midlife Crisis and Tips on How to Make an Album After the Scene Has Passed You By Kevin Packard is combo marketing manager for Pearl Corporation, and has worked in the musical products industry…
Video Lesson! In The Pocket - Ghost Notes 101 with Jim Riley
This excerpt is taken from the complete article that appears in the December 2015 issue, which is available here. Ghost Notes 101 6 Approaches to Give Your Grooves Greater Dimension One thing that separates the novice drummer from the professional…
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Other Instruments
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team if they felt that it’s important for drummers to learn to play other instruments (piano, bass, guitar, etc.), or should they focus on honing their craft at the kit exclusively?…
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…
VIDEO! Drum Country: Train Beat Variations (From the May 2014 Issue)
http://youtu.be/4xXrJ-HMgBY by Jim Riley The train beat is a must-have in your bag of tricks. While it’s most commonly used in country and bluegrass settings, with very little digging you can find examples of it in a multitude of genres,…
May 2014 Spotify Playlist
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE May 2014 ISSUE OF MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE Welcome to the Spotify Playlist for the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. This month’s list includes a live Rascal Flatts track…
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. Marc Dicciani Tuning is a critical skill that must be learned. Regardless…
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Ergonomics
We asked the members of the MD Education Team to share their thoughts on how to set up drums and cymbals. Here’s what they had to say. Florian Alexandru-Zorn My suggestion is to first get your instrument set up in…
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Jazz
Do you feel it is important for your students to study jazz drumming? And if so, what methods do you employ to get your students—especially younger ones—interested in this style of music? We asked the members of the MD Education…
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Reading Music
Is it necessary and/or important for drummers to learn to read 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. Jeremy Hummel I believe…
Benefit For Kings X Drummer Jerry Gaskill
Several months ago Kings X drummer, Jerry Gaskill, suffered a heart attack and had to be hospitalized. Now several Nashville musicians have banded together to reach out and help him by organizing a benefit to assist with his medical expenses.…
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Teaching Feel
Can feel be taught? We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think that feel can be taught. Here’s what they had to say. Jeremy Hummel Potentially, yes. But rather than saying feel can be taught,…
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Practicing With a Metronome
What are the pros and cons of practicing with a metronome? Can a metronome actually make your time worse? Jeremy Hummel There are many good things that come from practicing with a metronome. I feel that the best use…
Jim Riley - Hand Foot Pattern Sixlet
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:…
