“I am comparatively a heavy drummer. I like to play heavy, and I play forceful, and sometimes I tend to get loud, and it might be overbearing because I’ve seen some customers who sit close […]
Category: playing
Teaching songs
Up front: it’s hack teaching, don’t do it. If you already do it, no judgment, just… stop doing it. I’m surprised I’ve let this topic slide this long, the approach is very common, and it […]
Very occasional quote of the day: trust and magic
Experienced drummers have found that they’ve got a feeling inside them that they’ll follow through with. You’ve got to follow those feelings and trust yourself. If it’s wrong— and there isn’t any wrong, I don’t […]
The vital flailing stage
This video might bother some people— there’s nothing horrible in it, it’s just the drums, not played well, by an enthusiastic young beginner: I’m always fascinated by people who have no idea of how to […]
Best books: Beginning Drum Chart Reading
Here’s an excellent book, that is quite obscure— or was, to me: Beginning Drum Chart Reading by Gil Graham. It was written in 1983, and is only available from Graham’s site, as far as I […]
Very occasional quote of the day: Shelly on Buddy
Manne: What I resent is the drummer who falls into the trap of becoming obsessed with the technical aspects of the drums —you know, playing all these figures that come from rudiments. It becomes a […]
Very occasional quote of the day: rehearsal with Charlie Parker
“I’d say, ‘Well, what am I supposed to do?’ He’d say. ‘Oh, you know what to do.’” – Max Roach, Down Beat Magazine, November, 1978, interview with Bret Primack
Warming up with Betty Davis…
As you can see, WordPress now has an AI slop generator as part of their suite of tools. Something else, isn’t it. If you hate it as much as I do, fill out this form […]
Very occasional quote of the day: inferiority complex
“I wasn’t altogether emotionally ready for the gig. I was only 18, and going through what a lot of young musicians go through, because I teach now and I can see it. It’s a paranoid […]
Very occasional quote of the day: play
“What you should do is to play every chance you get. If you are not on a steady job (six nights a week), then rehearse with units as often as possible. But, by all means, […]
I get in fights
Smart person, or contrarian? Or flat out giant pain in the ass? What is the difference between a contrarian and FOGPITA, anyway? I don’t know. I find myself disagreeing with a lot of things said […]
Very occasional quote of the day: tooth and nail
“You’ve got to let the limbs fly-let ’em go just like rubber. Young drummers don’t get into the meat of the drums enough. They seem to be afraid of them. Especially the bass drum—they’re afraid […]