I like practicing on drums instead of on a practice pad — usually. Drums are fun and there’s a great feeling that comes from hitting a drum. However, the pad has its place and recently I’ve been working on some specific exercises that...
Read moreMore To Come
A good friend of mine and I are working together writing tunes and recording. It’s not always easy, but it’s always fun. We don’t get together as often as either of us would like due to scheduling. So, it’s slow going but...
Read moreDrum Solos or Solo Drums
I like drum solos. I don’t feel compelled to play one on every song, but if it’s the right time — then I’m there! I really like supporting other people when they solo, yet when it’s time for the drum solo most musicians...
Read morePracticing Without Stopping
During drum lessons, it has been my experience that many people tend to stop after playing something that was not written — a mistake. This could be on the drum set or a snare drum piece. My take on this is that unless it’s the same mistake...
Read moreVolume and Competing
I have written in the past about being able to play the drums at different dynamic levels, and I feel that that’s an important part of learning the drums. I try very hard to know my limit as to how hard to hit. I don’t hit hard to...
Read moreFun in the Recording Studio
I recorded yesterday with a 10-piece band called What’s Cookin’. We laid down the tracks at Mile High Music Recording Studio just outside of Denver – in Wheat Ridge. Some tunes were straight ahead jazz and others were more...
Read moreThe Flat Ride Cymbal
I first heard a flat ride cymbal many years ago while listening to a Chick Corea album entitled Return to Forever. The great Brazilian percussionist, Airto Moreira, played drum set on this recording. His feel and groove on the drum set still...
Read moreHybrid Drum Set Set-Up
I’m doing a recording soon and I’m really looking forward to it! Some tunes are very much in the jazz tradition, while others require more of a pocket-oriented drumming approach. So, bring two drum sets? Well, if I was paying for the...
Read moreChanging Drum Heads
It’s time for my toms to sing a bit more, so it’s time for new drum heads. For some reason, I somewhat dread changing drum heads. It’s almost like saying goodbye to a friend. However, I love hearing the difference after changing...
Read morePractice Routine
I like having a practice routine, but it does get interuppted on many days. There are distractions, but also commitments. This time of year, it seems to get even harder for me and my routine. The same goes for students of mine. That’s OK. I...
Read moreMore on Open-Handed Drumming
My previous post discussed playing the drums in an open-handed position. This is when the arms do not cross over each other to play the hi-hat and snare drum. For right handed players, this means the left hand is on the hi-hat and the right is on...
Read moreOpen-Handed Drumming
Most right-handed drum set players have been taught to play the snare drum with their left hand while crossing their right arm over their left arm to play their hi-hat. This works quite well and I play like this — most of the time. For a...
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