When I learn new tunes for a gig, I notate anything that will help me: tempo; feel (including brushes or sticks); specific rhythms (chart out any tricky stuff); and the form (or road map). To me, these things will help me get close to the essence...
Read moreMaking Requests
I have found that when communicating with fellow musicians/bandmates that my ideas have a good chance of being heard when I put them in the form of a request. Instead of telling someone what to play, I’ll try saying, “hey, I have a request —...
Read moreLive Sound and the Monitor Mix
There are some gigs where I get a great monitor mix from the person running the sound. One question I ask as I’m setting up is: “how many different mixes are possible?” This helps me to understand what I can and cannot ask for from them...
Read moreArm Motion
I love seeing accomplished drummers move. Their entire body seems to get involved AND everything seems to be effortless. I have spent countless hours examining my own movements, especially my arm motion. No matter the style of music (or volume)...
Read morePlay The Gig
Play the gig you’re currently doing — not the one for which you’re practicing. I believe it’s important to always remember my role on my current gig. If it’s a “commercial” thing, then play it that way. Listen to the music, learn the style, and...
Read moreLearning Tunes and Student Recitals
I just had the pleasure of performing in the rhythm section for a guitar recital. There were many different groups that the instructor put together for this and it was big fun! The bassist and I had CDs sent to us as well as sheet music. Needless...
Read moreSight Reading and Mistakes
Some gigs go better than others. That just seems to happen from time-to-time. When sight reading music, things can really get funny quickly when the charts are difficult (especially without a rehearsal), and/or when the musicianship in the band...
Read moreDriving Home From the Gig
Some of my gigs are one to two hours away and I end up driving home that same evening. Usually, if the gig is further away than that, then accommodations are provided. Personally, I want to arrive about one hour ahead of time. If there’s a sound...
Read morePlay at the Right Tempo
So, you’re on the bandstand and the guitar player starts every tune without any sort of a count off and you’re doing the gig for the very first time. Yikes!!! This happens more frequently than you might imagine. What to do? Listen and listen...
Read moreMore Practicing!
It’s not rocket science, but I need to say it so that I can hear it — the more I practice, the more comfortable I am on my instrument. It’s not always the amount of time spent practicing (yet that is a factor), but it seems to be important that I...
Read moreGet It In Your Ears
One thing that has helped me over the years is to listen to the great players and get them in my ears, so to speak. There is so much great music out there and different drumming styles which I want to try! When I hear something that bends my...
Read moreStaying Motivated
There have been times when it’s been difficult for me to stay motivated. My conversations with other musicians lead me to believe that I’m not the only one who has struggled with this. One thing that I have found, is that if I simply sit down...
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