Within the drumming world, there are people who like the traditional grip and others who prefer the matched grip. Some drummers switch back and forth between the two. I tend to play mainly palms down these days, with a few exceptions. There is no...
Read moreStaying Relaxed
When practicing, I focus on staying relaxed, getting a nice sound and groove. I find that when I’m at the gig, there are times when the sound is out of my control. This could be due to playing on a “house” drum set and/or a louder than usual band...
Read moreLocking In With the Bass Player
It has been my experience when playing in any musical situation that if the bass player and I can lock in and play well together, then the rest of the group will feel our groove. I’m always listening to the other players, but I’m also aware that...
Read moreDave Weckl Drum Clinic
On December 5, 2013 I had the pleasure of attending a Dave Weckl drum clinic at The Toad Tavern in Littleton, CO presented by Rupp’s Drums. Here were the main things Mr. Weckl talked about: Stick position: middle of hand — not the front. This...
Read moreDrummers Are Musicians
Yes — Drummers are musicians. This is not always reflected in other people’s attitudes towards us. I was preparing for subbing for a gig and the leader put lyric/chord charts into a cloud folder for me (along with mp3’s, as well). The charts had...
Read moreBreaking Sticks (Not Breaking Bad)!
It’s not very often that I break drum sticks. I find that if I go back to my old ways and hold my sticks too tightly, then the sound gets choked and the greater the chance of me breaking something. By relaxing and focusing on fluid motions, my...
Read moreThe Practicing Mind in Drumming and Beyond
I am almost done reading The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life – Master Any Skill or Challenge by Learning to Love the Process by Thomas M. Sterner. I highly recommend checking this out. While the concepts in this book...
Read moreDrum Fills and Listening
Most drummers like to play drum fills. Some drummers really like to play these fills — sometimes to the point of being too much. My main piece of advice to my students is to learn to listen. Listen to the song and stay out of the way of the...
Read moreDrumming Basics
The more I play and teach, the more I am drawn to the drumming basics. There is nothing more rewarding to me than spending time on my single stroke roll, e.g. Basically (pun intended), it’s the foundation of so many other things that I do. My arm...
Read moreKeep Learning
I was asked recently who I thought are (or were) the best blues drummers. My list included some of my favorites: Fred Below, Jim Keltner, Steve Gadd, and Al Jackson Jr. Jabo Starks, Stanton Moore and Steve Jordan are there, as well. There are...
Read moreBeing Humble
It seems that the better a musician gets, the more humble they get. This is not always the case, and I’m sure everyone knows of some exceptions. In my life, I’ve tried to always be humble. I may think that I sounded good on a particular night and...
Read moreThe Band Leader
As drummers, it’s our job to give our best to the band leader. Sometimes, it’s clear what someone wants and other times it’s not as clear. If you’re working for a band leader who is new to you, ask questions before the gig. Listen to recordings...
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