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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.
Narada Michael Walden: Drummer, Singer, Songwriter, Educator, and Producer to the Stars
Narada Photoby Jim Belmont By Billy Amendola Since busting out of Kalamazoo, Michigan, when he was still a teenager to become hot drumming property with Mahavishnu Orchestra and Jeff Beck, among others, Narada Michael Walden has…
Drummer Blog: Phil Maturano on Crossing Cultures and Indian Drumming
Hi, MD readers. It’s a pleasure to greet you here, and I hope all is well. As you may or may not know, in 2014 I had an extended stay in India. I was there doing concerts with some of…
Swingin’ the Clave: Advanced Exercises for Developing Independence (VIDEO)
July 2012 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Swingin’ the Clave Advanced Exercises for Developing Independence by Steve Fidyk In jazz, the ride cymbal is the focal point for creating a flowing, swinging time feel. In Afro-Cuban music, the clave assumes this role.…
Get Up: Strategies for Playing Fast and Staying Relaxed (w/ VIDEO)
May 2012 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Get Up! Strategies for Playing Fast and Staying Relaxed by Steve Fidyk It’s widely understood that the faster the tempo, the more relaxed your body needs to be. In some cases, however, players psych themselves…
Focus on the Hi-Hat: The Classic Swing Sound (VIDEO)
March 2012 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Focus on the Hi-Hat The Classic Swing Sound by Steve Fidyk Before small groups reigned supreme and the ride cymbal became king, the beacon in jazz timekeeping was the hi-hat. Jo Jones with Count…
Freddie Gruber
Right up until his passing on October 11, Freddie Gruber was a source of deep and important knowledge for many top drummers. This piece from the January 1996 issue of Modern Drummer, by one of his most accomplished students,…
In the Studio: A Lesson in Sight-Reading (VIDEO)
December 2011 photo by Mike Monseur In The Studio A Lesson in Sight-Reading Fifty Big Band Arrangements in Four Days by Michael Dawson Army Blues drummer, and MD contributing writer, Steve Fidyk makes his living playing big band music, so sight-reading…
Ride Cymbal Phrasing: How Grip and Fulcrum Impact Your Sound (VIDEO)
November 2011 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Ride Cymbal Phrasing: How Grip and Fulcrum Impact Your Sound by Steve Fidyk Here’s a video demonstration of the three ride cymbal grips discussed in my latest article. https://vimeo.com/117291798 For transcriptions and additional insight into…
Drummer/Teacher Nucleo Vega
My name is Nuc, and I’m a drummer, educator, and Mel Bay author in the Washington, D.C., area. I’m working on a project that involves drum melody. Like my heroes Max Roach, Jeff Hamilton, Joe Morello, and Ari Hoenig, I’m…
Relative Tempo: Click-Shifting Exercises to Improve Your Sense of Time
August 2011 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Relative Tempo: Click-Shifting Exercises to Improve Your Sense of Time by Steve Fidyk This article discusses ways to improve your sense of timing by shifting a quarter-note click to each 8th-note-triplet or 16th-note subdivision. Here’s…
Joe Morello: 1928–2011
No one has done more to reveal the inner science and outer beauty of odd time signatures than the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s beloved drummer. Friend and student Steve Fidyk created this fitting musical tribute. Click here to view the complete transcription…
Steve Fidyk’s Tribute to Joe Morello
May 2011 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Rudimental Jazz Revisited by Steve Fidyk Army Blues drummer and MD contributor Steve Fidyk plays a 5/4 drum solo dedicated to his longtime teacher, Joe Morello. See Fidyk’s two-part educational column based on Morello’s recently…
Paul Manousos’ Andrew Griffin
If I have an identity as a drummer, it’s “always play for the song.” For example, Paul Manousos’ current release, C’mon C’mon, one of the drumming projects I’ve done recently that I’m most proud of, required me to use my…
Pat Gesualdo: Drum Therapy Zone
Developing Drumming Milestones Numerous psychologists, medical doctors, occupational therapists, behavioral therapists, physical therapists, and school teachers throughout the world are certified drum therapists, and use Drum Therapy to help children and adults manage the effects of a number of disabilities.…
