education
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.
Rock Perspectives: The Mighty Three-Stroke Ruff (VIDEO)
The following post is excerpted from the March 2015 of Modern Drummer Magazine. Rock Perspectives Diamonds in the Ruff Part 1: The Mighty Three-Stroke by Matt Starr The first thing I learned when I started taking drum lessons was the…
LESSON! Rock & Jazz Clinic: Odd Groupings Over Samba (From the Feb. 2015 Issue)
The following excerpt is taken from the February 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Rock & Jazz Clinic Odd Groupings Over Samba by Mike Johnston What do you do when you have two things in the refrigerator or pantry that taste…
VIDEO! The Lindy Beat: The Grooviest of Early Rock Grooves (From the February 2015 Issue)
The following excerpt is taken from the February 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Basics The Lindy Beat The Grooviest of Early Rock ’n’ Roll Grooves by Rich Redmond The classic rhythm we’re exploring this month has weathered the test of time…
VIDEO! Solid Soloing, Part 2: Changing Note Rates (From the January 2015 Issue)
The excerpt below is taken from the January 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Drum Soloist Solid Soloing Part 2: Changing Note Rates by James Murphy In this miniseries we’re utilizing my “glue” method to gain freedom and flow while soloing.…
Basics: Radio Beats (From the January 2015 Issue)
Radio Beats 7 Real-World Applications of Essential, Time-Honored Grooves by Rich Redmond In this month’s article, we take a look at some popular grooves on country radio right now. All of them are variations of what I call “money beats,”…
Electronic Insights: Drum Miking 101, Part 1: Single-Microphone Setups (From the January 2015 Issue)
by John Emrich In this series of articles we’ll look at how to mike a drumset, starting with a single microphone and adding one each time until we arrive at a complete close-mike configuration. The idea behind the series is…
VIDEO! The Kick Hiccup: Boost Your Groove With Quick Bass Drum Doubles (From the November 2014 Issue)
November 2014 Basics The Kick Hiccup Boost Your Groove With Quick Bass Drum Doubles by Rich Redmond Drummers all over the world have been hip to the kick hiccup for years. First popularized by Carmine Appice with Vanilla Fudge and…
VIDEO! Power Triplets: Putting the Roll in Your Rock (From the October 2014 Issue)
October 2014 Basics Power Triplets Putting the Roll in Your Rock by Rich Redmond These exercises are inspired by the master jazz drummer Elvin Jones. In Elvin’s world, everything was a triplet. Inspired by the rhythms of Africa, he had…
Mike Balter Mallets' President Awarded Doctor of Music Degree
Mike Balter, president of Mike Balter Mallets, was awarded a doctor of music degree and delivered the commencement address for the VanderCook College of Music’s Graduate Program. VanderCook College of Music, located in Chicago, IL, is dedicated to preparing musicians…
A Beat a Week: A Total Percussion Approach to Playing the Drumset by Glenn Kotche
In this book, Wilco’s drummer provides fifty-two examples of varied drum patterns from across his recorded catalog. In his development as a player, Glenn Kotche was exposed to rock, jazz, classical, electronica, and many other styles. As he suggests in…
Musicians Institute’s to Host World-Renowned Musicians for Special Clinics
Musicians Institute (MI), the College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, CA, has announced its first round of instructors for Summer Shot 2014, the two-week music camp coming to MI’s campus beginning on June 23. In addition to the Hollywood music…
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Developing Independence
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team to share their thoughts on their favorite methods for developing independence. Here’s what they had to say. David Stanoch I think the terms “independence” and “coordination” are often confused…
VIDEO! Jazz Drummer’s Workshop: Shifting Sands (From the May 2014 Issue)
http://youtu.be/IVXHAhRfxb0 by Steve Fidyk Transitioning from one time signature, tempo, or musical style to another is a very common technique in modern jazz. These shifts are often referred to as metric modulations, where a specific note value from the current…
MD Contributor Pistol Pete Kaufmann and Felipe Torres to Give Drum Clinic in New Jersey
On Saturday, April 12, 2014, Modern Drummer contributor “Pistol” Pete Kaufmann and Felipe Torres will hold a drum clinic at the Glenn Weber Drum Shop in West Orange, New Jersey. The clinic will include musical performances, practical tips, and…
