News
Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more
News: Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Host Red Hot Benefit
Comedy icon Will Ferrell and rock superstar Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers are throwing a party—a quinceanera party to be exact. The Red Hot Benefit Comedy plus Music Show and Quinceanera, hosted by Ferrell with his Funny Or…
News: Music Industry Veteran Donny Gruendler Named President of Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA
Musicians Institute (MI) has announced the appointment of Donny Gruendler as president of the College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, CA. Having previously served as vice president of Academic Affairs, Gruendler has led MI’s team of academic instructional designers, including…
News: Study With World-Class Players at Rhythm Retreat Spring 2016
Rhythm Retreat 2016 takes place April 3-8 and April 17-22 in Skaneatles, NY, and is presented by legends and new voices at the forefront of modern drumming. The first session features master clinicians Jeff “Tain” Watts, Jerry Marotta, and Adam…
News: Vic Firth Inducted Into Guitar Center RockWalk
The Guitar Center RockWalk recently welcomed Everett “Vic” Firth, world famous timpanist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and founder of the Vic Firth Company, to its ranks of music pioneers and performing legends. Awarded posthumously at the 27th annual Guitar…
News: UK Drummer Steve White and Yamaha Music London Support “Learn To Play Day???
Billed as “bigger and better” than ever before, “Learn to Play Day” is a national event for adults and children organized by the Music for All charity to inspire new, or lapsed, musicians of all ages to take up or…
April 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Joe Saylor
(Available digitally February 26, 2016; in print February 2, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Joe Saylor “The place you really learn how to play is…
News: International Percussion Festival Announced
The third edition of the International Percussion Festival will take place July 19 to 24 in Villa Lomellini, Montebello della Battaglia (PV), under the artistic direction of Maestro Loris Stefanuto. The festival includes competitions, concerts, and master classes. The previous…
News: “Let Them Rock??? Keeps Dreams Rolling by Funding Music Scholarships
School of Rock founder Joe Roberts is launching Let Them Rock, a non-profit organization with the mission of funding scholarships for performance-based music programs. A red carpet event will take place 6 to 9 pm, Sunday, February 28, at the…
News: Rich Redmond’s Drummer’s Weekend Comes to Los Angeles on April 8 to 10
Rich Redmond is hosting a Drummer’s Weekend in Los Angeles on April 8 to 10. The three-day immersive education event takes place in the heart of Hollywood and features twenty-four total hours of hands-on training with some of the greatest…
News: Slammin’ Simon Book Now Available in Spanish
Educator Mark Powers has released a Spanish version of his book Slammin’ Simon’s Guide to Mastering Your First Rock & Roll Drum Beats. Like the original, this translated edition introduces basic quarter note and 8th-note drumset grooves to get young…
News: Drum Ambition Offers Video Lessons for Beginners
Launched in January 2016, Drum Ambition is a website that provides video lessons for beginner drummers. Founded and presented by Simon DasGupta, Drum Ambition is ideal for students who are working with a teacher and would like to utilize a…
Listen to the Drumming: Maurice White
In honor of the passing of Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, we've put together a playlist featuring some of the best-known EWF songs that he played drums on, as well as some rare performances from the singer and…
March 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Barry Kerch
(Available digitally January 29, 2016; in print February 2, 2016) On the Cover Barry Kerch “The ‘Cut the Cord’ video is us in a live setting.If you put the four of us in a room with an aggressive song, that’s…
News: Joyful Noise Drum Company Announces Luminary Series Snare Drum Giveaway
For its 10th anniversary celebration, the Joyful Noise Drum Company is launching a contest to give away a 6.5x14 Luminary series snare drum. The Luminary series snare drum features a seamless aluminum shell embodying the design attributes of the renowned…
