Information about drumming, including question and answer posts
It is estimated that ten percent of the world’s population is left-handed. That means that approximately one out of ten drummers will contemplate drum configurations as suggested in this article. Right-handed drummers often replicate the basic setups that they see…
I had the privilege of studying with the legendary jazz drummer, Joe Morello. While his technique was close to flawless, he was known for saying, “technique is a means to an end.” Joe always used his technique to serve the…
Do Drummers Read Sheet Music? Many people ask, “Do drummers read music?” The answer is yes, many drummers read music. While some drummers prefer to play “by ear” (without learning to read musical notation), drummers that read music tend to…
A question I am frequently asked is, “How long are drum lessons?” Drum lessons are usually 30 or 60 minutes in length, with some teachers also offering 45-minute lessons. Advanced students may choose to book lessons longer than an hour…
Methods mentioned in this article allowing music to be slowed down: Tools to slow down music files Music instructors often use audio and video files throughout the course of their day. Some teachers use books that have mp3 examples or…
If you’ve played drums for any amount of time, you have used drumsticks with 5A, 2B, or 8D printed on them. However, most of us have not contemplated the meaning or history of those letters and numbers. We often find…
Students often ask me if they should buy a new drum set. I’ll want to look at their current set first before giving a definitive answer. I’ll then suggest a few ways to make their drumset sound better. They are…
The Purpose of a Drum Key Many beginning drummers wonder what a drum key is – and what it is used for. A drum key is a wingnut-shaped object that is used to adjust drumhead tension. It is also utilized…
Many people wonder what drummers learn in school band. Most school bands do not have drummers. Instead, they have percussionists, who play all kinds of percussion instruments. School band percussionists often play snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, auxiliary percussion, timpani,…
Here are some items that are on many drummers’ wish lists. Purchasing gifts for a friend or relative can be a challenging task. The difficulty increases when shopping for a drummer. Here are a few ideas for the drummer in…
Do you want to add variety to your drumset sounds? If so, here are some additions for your setup. The drums and cymbals that make up the modern drumset are often complemented through the use of percussion accessories. Cowbells, woodblocks,…
Instruments are classified according to their methods of tone production. These categories are referred to as families. The brass family of instruments (such as trumpets and trombone) are performed by buzzing into a mouthpiece, while woodwind instruments (including saxophone and…