women
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.
Gina Cappella-Grohl
Hello, MD! My name is Gina Cappella-Grohl and I grew up in Devon, England. When I was five years old I remember making up my own shows for my family and friends, and at six years old I told my…
Scarlet Sins’ Elie Bertrand
Hello, Modern Drummers! I’m writing to you live from the T Dot, a.k.a. Toronto. I just came back from a wicked rehearsal. We just finished writing a few songs. I’m so stoked to go into the studio! Second album on…
Petrel's Rebekah Petrel
Hi, MD readers, I’m twenty years old and a singer/songwriter/musician and drummer/keyboard player for Petrel, a rock/pop band my sisters Jessica and Destiny and I started three years ago. Music is my life, and it’s something I know I inherited.…
Cindy Blackman: The Lady Comes To Play
by Ken Micallef Last year, drumming dynamo Cindy Blackman left behind her big-ticket rock gig with Lenny Kravitz to unleash the jazz devil inside. Her drumming prowess is simply astounding–and is now finally on full display. Serial jazz and rock…
Torry Castellano: The Grip Of Death
Although Donnas drummer Torry Castellano still encourages the idea of being a self-taught musician, she’s quick to admit that she had to learn the hard way that improper technique can cause serious problems. A few years ago after a bout…
Phanie D of Girl In A Coma
Hey, all, I'm Phanie D, drummer for Girl In A Coma. I'm not your typical drummer, I guess. I'm not taught, and to this day I'm still not too familiar with drummer terms. I learned purely because I love it.…
Antigone Rising's Dena Tauriello
These days I do some session work and teaching, but my main gig is with the all-female NYC—based rock band Antigone Rising. I've been with them for over nine years, and it's been an amazing journey. During this time we've…
Lisa Cusack of Boy/Girl
I think one of the greatest challenges for a drummer is to not fall into the "backbeat," even though that is often how people characterize us. "Who is the only member of a band that is not a musician?" "The…
Cora Coleman-Dunham: Rising To The Challenge
For the past two and a half years Cora Coleman-Dunham has been fulfilling her drumming dreams as part of Prince’s latest band–which also includes her husband Joshua Dunham on bass. (The couple has played together since high school.) Cora says…
LA Drummer/Instructor Pamela Manganaro
Hi, MD readers, my name is Pamela Manganaro, and I'm a drummer/teacher in Los Angeles. I'd like to share my experience and hopefully encourage more women to play drums. In 1989 Drum Workshop vice-president John Good asked me if I…