Practice, Technique, and Other Dirty Words

If you’re just beginning to learn how to the play drums, then there are number of technique and practice issues you are likely to have questions about: “How do I work on my accents and taps?” “How can I speed up my hands and build endurance?” “What is the Moeller Method?” “How can I get better with each practice session?” “What do I do if I start to feel like I’m plateauing?” In this post, I’ll give you my tips for getting the most out of your self-education.

On Mel Lewis

I’m doing my homework on Mel Lewis today, as I am meditating on how to best teach swing concepts to beginning and intermediate drummers, and I thought I’d share some thoughts with anyone out there who may be interested.

Featured on Vic Firth home page!

Wow – this is an awesome moment for me! Being a lifelong Vic Firth player, I am completely in shock to see that my most recent YouTube video (“Platt Opus” by Rod Morgenstein) is currently being featured on Vic Firth’s homepage at www.vicfirth.com!

This is the album that's in heavy rotation on my iPhone right now. Check it out...

ARTIST:

SF Jazz Collective

ALBUM:

2010 Live Tour

GENRE/STYLE:

Jazz

FAVORITE TRACKS:

Cape Verdean Blues, The Devil In The Details, Suite for Ward Martin Tavares, The Mystery of Water, Song For My Father

COMMENTS:

This is one of the best musical investments I've ever made. All of the players on this record are amazing, but the drumming of Eric Harland is particularly brilliant - a real revelation. The angular, tasteful approach he has is both exciting and interesting, and sets the modern standard.