Lessons
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.
Strictly Technique: Playing the Sixes, Part 2
https://vimeo.com/458085362 September 2013 Strictly Technique Playing the Sixes Part 2: Speed and Orchestration by Chris Prescott It can be difficult to get young students to feel excited about sitting down and working on rudiments. The material in this two-part…
Strictly Technique: Irish Spring (April 2012)
(April 2012 Issue) Strictly Technique Chops Builders: Irish Spring (Without Accents) by Bill Bachman In this lesson, we’re going to go old school—with a new twist. What we’re working on is a standard exercise called “Irish Spring” that comprises swung…
Linear Fills, Part 1 (UPDATED)
September 2010 Rock ’n’ Jazz Clinic Linear Fills, Part 1 by Mike Johnston In this video, MD columnist Mike Johnston demonstrates some of the linear patterns based on 16th-notes that are included in his article from the September 2010 issue of…
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Samba Coordination Builder (August 2013 Issue)
August 2013 Rock & Jazz Clinic Samba Coordination Builder 12 Independence Exercises Based on Chick Corea’s “Sicily” by Daniel Bedard I remember first hearing Chick Corea’s 1978 recording Friends at my music teacher’s house. This was when my ears got…
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…
Rock Perspectives: Double Bass Workout (Part 1)
August 2013 Rock Perspectives Double Bass Workout Part 1: 16th-Note, Sextuplet, and 32nd-Note Fills by Todd Vinciguerra Welcome to the first in a series of articles focusing on double bass. In this lesson we’ll explore fill ideas where we’re mixing…
Seeing Sounds, Part 2: The Deep, Fat “Thud??? (UPDATED)
July 2013 In the Studio Seeing Sounds Part 2: The Deep, Fat “Thud” by Donny Gruendler There’s been a trend in recent years of drummers going for deep, dark, heavily muffled tones, whether in indie rock or mainstream pop. Steve…
Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Stick Control Revisited, Drumset Applications
August 2013 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Stick Control Revisited Drumset Applications by Steve Fidyk The August issue of Modern Drummer’s Jazz Drummer’s Workshop features some of my favorite applications of the classic George Lawrence Stone book Stick Control. The exercises…
Strictly Technique: Playing the Sixes, Part 1
https://vimeo.com/458084894 August 2013 Strictly Technique Playing the Sixes Part 1: Volume and Accent Character by Chris Prescott Most of us tackled basic rudimental patterns when we first learned to play the drums. For me, these endless combinations were fun…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop: The Stick Shot
July 2013 Jazz Drummer's Workshop The Stick Shot A Unique Technique for Ultimate Articulation by Steve Fidyk This month we’re spotlighting the stick shot, a technique that’s fairly specific to the jazz lexicon. To obtain this alternate sound, press one…
Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Focus on Brushes
June 2013 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Focus on Brushes From Basic Patterns to Advanced Techniques by Steve Fidyk Practicing brushes is excellent for building strength in your wrists and fingers. It can help develop muscles and reflexes and also improves…
Rock & Jazz Clinic: Double Bass Fills, Part 1
Powell Randolphphoto by Eddie Williams June 2013 Rock & Jazz Clinic Double-Bass Fills Overlapping Into the Next Phrase by Powell Randolph The purpose of this lesson is to show you how to overlap bass drum notes at the end of…
In the Studio: Seeing Sounds, Part 1: All-Purpose Pop/Rock
June 2013 In the Studio Seeing Sounds Part 1: All-Purpose Pop/Rock by Donny Gruendler All of us appreciate a signature and stylistically appropriate drum sound. This can range from the perfect overall kit tone on your favorite CD to a…
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…
