Joel explains how the swing ride pattern is played differently at different tempos.
Read moreJOEL ROTHMAN; The Jazz Cymbal Beat
cartoon by Joel Rothman
Drumsville! New Book about the history of New Orleans Drumming
The first book-length study of its kind, Drumsville! The Evolution of the New Orleans Beat is a companion to the New Orleans Jazz Museum exhibit that traces the history of drums and drumming in New Orleans from Native People to today. A main goal of Drumsville! is to provide the keys to understand how this legacy led to the creation of the drum set, an instrument so pervasive that few people question its origin
Read moreDrum Education Live Podcast Live - Joel Rothman
Great podcast episode with Joel Rothman who, at 84, is still kickin’ and sharing his experiences as a life long drummer.
Read moreThe Forgotten Head
…double-headed drums have regained their spot at the top of the food chain. But with more membranes comes more responsibly. Tuning a two-headed drum means tuning two heads and getting them to play nicely together.
Read moreDrumming is in the ear of the beholder
Dynamics is the key to a musical performance.
Read moreAdventures in Arthritis
I went to a sports medicine specialist, got X-Rayed and he pulls up
the picture, circles a spot in the middle of my hand and says “yep,
here’s your problem, you’ve got Osteoarthritis. See how the cartilage
is disappearing? And oh yeah, you’ve got a bone spur right here (adds
another circle). Happy day, Mr. Ray!”
The Jazz Cymbal Beat
Joel Rothman goes deep into time signatures and note values when explaining the jazz cymbal pattern.
Read moreThe Myth of Independence
When I was at music school, we had a coven of enthusiastic drummers, and almost every week one of our members would see some note-worthy drummer at a club and dutifully report the next day that the player had '4-way independence. But there's a problem with that assessment.
Read moreWhat Color Is Your Metronome?
* I heard a better one at a big band practice. The leader called out one of the trumpet players and said, “You're time's sort of all shot to hell”.
Read moreEnlightment! Ruffs and Drags - 16ths, 32nds, or 64ths?
Joel Rothman, our newest columnist, explains the different rhythmic values of ruffs and drags.
Read moreListen Up and Listen Good! "Speed Listening"
Wouldn't it be great if we could take a ‘speed listening’ course, one that would teach us to hear 'faster'? That way we’d be able to catch just about any turn in the road and respond immediately.
Read moreNSMD welcomes columnist and advertiser Joel Rothman
Not So Modern Drummer proudly welcomes new columnist and new advertiser, Joel Rothman. Joel is the author of almost 100 drum instruction books, most notably the best selling “Basic Drumming”, a very thick all-in-one method book for beginning and intermediate students. I started using this big red book in 1996 when I encountered it at Fork’s Drum Closet In Nashville where I taught for a number of years.
Read moreKnow Your Metal
Cymbals have an interesting history that dates back more than 3000 years. And it all begins with a chunk of yellow metal. Cymbals are made from alloy -- a blend of two (or more) metals. The alloy we’re all familiar with is what is traditionally called bell bronze, but there are other alloys to consider. So here is a quick guide to cymbal raw materials.
Read moreWe're Gonna Need A Bigger Drum
I posted an article some time ago on how to play quietly but there is another side to the equation. So let’s have a look at HOW TO PLAY LOUD.
Read moreThat's Not What I Do
I'm listening to a friend's playing on an instructional CD. This guy is a great player, and his tracks here are very impressive. I absolutely love what he's doing. So I'm envious -- no surprise there. And I'm also feeling a bit guilty. Guilty? Now why would that be?
Read moreThe Most Important Sticking Ever?
Watch any drummer in any situation -- especially during a drum solo -- and you'll probably see a rather ordinary figure. And you'll see it a lot. That's because the sticking is simple, versatile, easily executed, and very effective … and it‘s a lot of fun to play. It's this one: RLL (or LRR if you prefer).
Read moreMeter Modulation
The musical challenges of phrasing across bar lines and changing meter.
Read moreDo Not Open until Christmas
In case you get bored after opening all your gifts. These were inspired by Pancho Branas.
Read moreSmoothing Out the Long Roll
Mat Marucci's performing credits include jazz greats Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Eddie Harris, Buddy De Franco, Les McCann, Pharoah Sanders, and John Tchicai among others and has numerous critically acclaimed recordings to his credit as both leader and sideman.
Mat is the author of several books on drumming and has written numerous articles on drumming for Modern Drummer and Downbeat magazines. He is an endorser for Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo and formerly both Gretsch and Mapex.
Mat's latest books with Mel Bay Publications are 'Mastering The Snare Drum' and 'Essential Snare Drum Exercises' (both reviewed on Not So Modern Drummer) and 'Jazz Drumming Essentials....And More.' His music and discography can found at Spotify.com and Reverbnation.com and can be heard on most streaming platforms.
Coming to Grips with Grips
You’ve no doubt heard about the various alternatives for the lead hand (both hands in the case of matched grip): German, French and American. You may even have gotten into arguments about it. These variations are relevant to tympani and mallet players, but should drum set players be concerned as well?
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