Pearl Solicits Beats From Drummers Worldwide

You have to hand it to Pearl for coming up with one of the coolest promotions in recent memory. With the launch of Project 108, the mega drum company is inviting drummers from around the world to send in videos of themselves playing four bars at 108 beats per minute. Accepted submissions will be combined with videos of such Pearl endorsers as Scott Johnson, Todd Sucherman, Terence Higgins, and Omar Hakim to create a seamless patchwork of grooves and chops. The only proviso is that all vids must feature drummers playing Pearl drums. Hey, you can’t blame them – they came up with this cool idea, after all!

Interested? Go here to get started.

Nice project from Pearl ;) Check their site for videos and rules!

Gregg Bissonette's first ever Groove Camp

World-renowned drumming superstar Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, David Lee Roth, James Taylor, etc) will host his first ever Gregg Bissonette Groove Camp in Thousand Oaks, California on March 15th-17th.

Presented by MUSO Entertainment, known from organizing the Thomas Lang Drum Boot Camps, the Gregg Bissonette Groove Camp (GBGC) will offer a limited number of students a total of 24 hours of hands-on, intensive playing alongside one of the world's most prolific and respected drummers.

The GBGC offers three, eight-hour days of hands-on drumming in a small-scale classroom setting featuring instruction in a variety of techniques and musical drumming styles including: pop, rock, jazz, metal, latin, country, punk, reggae, big band, blues, hip hop, linear funk and old school funk among others.

Sponsors include: Mapex, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo, LP, DW, Shure and Samson.

Please visit www.muso-mart.com for pricing and additional information. Be one of the first five students to register and receive Gregg's latest dvd 'Yesterday * Today * Tomorrow'.

Dirk Verbeuren talks about new Soilwork album

Soilwork drummer Dirk Verbeuren has given an exclusive interview to bloody-disgusting.com, mostly talking about the band's upcoming double album 'The Living Infinite', but also his thoughts on social media and his favorite drum fills, among other topics.

The drummer says he is stoked about the recording session for 'The Living Infinite' at Fascination Street Studio in Varberg, Sweden. Looking back at the process, Dirk says he worked pretty hard for about eight days in a row:
"Well, nine days technically. I started on the evening of the first day and ended on the afternoon of the last day. I think I got everything done and so far no one has told me that I have to come back in! [laughs]"

Speaking about 'The Living Infinite', Soilwork's first double album, Dirk says:
"It's definitely a bit intimidating when you think about it just because recording a regular album can be pressure and there usually ends up being some pressure in the studio to get everything done. So the idea [starts laughing] of making it harder for ourselves was kind of interesting at first. But I guess we all had time to kind of, you know, get used to that idea and prepare for it. It was still kind of a germ until we realized that we did have a ton of material."
Dirk has recorded about 24 dvds worth of drum footage. He is planning to sit down in the next few weeks and edit something together so he can give fans a taste of the drums for Soilwork's next release.

For the complete interview, including Dirk's thoughts on social media and his favorite drum fill that he has recorded, please visit bloody-disgusting.com.

Krampus drummer Carlo Andrian hit by lightning

Drummer Carlo Andrian of Italian folk metallers Krampus, was struck by lightning and will not be able to play the drums anytime soon.

That's why the drummer and band have decided to part ways effective immediately. The band states:

"[Carlos] has, in fact, been struck by lightning and considers himself lucky to not have gotten hurt worse. He is OK, but will not be able to play the drums for some time to come. Carlo is a great friend of us and we would like to thank him for the great effort and dedication he has had for the band. We wish him good and full recovery and all the best for his future endeavours."

Krampus are already working on a replacement, and expect to announce their new drummer within the near future.

Krampus released the album 'Survival Of The Fittest' in August. On October 19th the band will perform on the Heidenfest festival with Wintersun, Korpiklaani, and others.

Drummer: Ringo Starr

Richard Starkey was born on July 7, 1940 in Liverpool, England. The oldest Beatle (three months older than John) was born in a two-story house in the Dingle area to Richard and Elsie Starkey. His father was a Liverpool dock worker, and his mother worked in a bakery. Ringo's parents met in this bakery, and later married. When little Richie was three years old, his parents broke up. Ringo's mother later married Harry Graves, who Ringo called his "step ladder".

Richard was a happy child despite the various hospital visits that filled much of his life. He entered the hospital for the first time at six years of age for a bout of appendicitis. Ringo became quite bored and even a bit lonely when he was in the hospital, so his parents brought him two toys to keep him entertained. One was a red bus, the other was a small drum...Ringo's first drum! Ringo kept himself well occupied with the drum, but upon noticing the lonely boy in the bed next to him, Ringo decided to give up the pretty red bus. As little Richie leaned out of the bed to give his bus to the other boy, he fell...hitting his head and knocking himself into a coma.

Richard remained in the hospital for around another year, putting him behind in his education. When Ringo finally got out of the hospital, he was seriously behind in his schoolwork. He couldn't read very well, and was put in a class with kids much younger than he was. Ringo became quite unhappy with his schooling situation. At 13, Ringo caught a cold which turned into pleurisy, putting Ringo back into the hospital and further behind in his schoolwork. Ringo also started smoking around this time, probably for something to do. By fifteen he could just barely read and write.

Like the other three Beatles, Ringo became interested with the Liverpool music known as skiffle. Ringo started his own group called the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group in 1957. In 1959, Ringo moved on to The Raving Texans, a quartet led by Rory Storm. Ringo became quite a good drummer with the added performance practice, even taking advantage of solos called "Starr Time". Ringo got his nickname here because of the numerous rings he wore on his pinky and ring fingers. The name Starr was chosen by dropping the "key" from his last name. This gave him the catchy title we know him by today--Ringo Starr.

Rory Storm changed his band name to "The Hurricanes", and they became a big success in Liverpool and Germany. It was in Hamburg in October of 1960 when Ringo first met his fellow Beatles. At the time, Rory Storm's band was much more popular than the "Beetles with an A". Nevertheless, the interest in Ringo Starr led to his joining the band in 1962. Rory Storm was quite unhappy to lose such a great drummer, and Pete Best, the Beatles original drummer, was less than happy to be replaced. Many Pete Best fans rejected Ringo, holding vigils outside Pete's hous and rioting at the Cavern Club. The shout of "Pete Best forever! Ringo, never" were prevalent. Still, there was a wonderful connection between Ringo's drumming style and the music of the Beatles. Ringo's fun-loving attitude was appealing, giving the rest of the Beatles a head-start on their special humour.

Ringo's health would continue to cause problems again later. In 1964 Ringo missed three quarters of the tour of Scandanavia, Holland, the Far East, and Australia, to have his tonsils out. Once this was resolved, the Beatles were underway. Ringo contributed many interesting quotes to the Beatles repertoire, some of which became song titles. "Eight Day's A Week" was written after one of Ringo's expressions. The Beatles' first movie, originally called Beatlemania, was instead called A Hard Day's Night after something Ringo said one evening after a particularly grueling session.

Because he seemed content to sit at the back, Ringo was sometimes considered to be the least important Beatle. He was not one of the main writers, nor was he a strong vocalist. Ringo was only given one song per album, but in my opinion Ringo used this valuable space well. Ringo became an integral part of The Beatles. Not only did his inventive drumming help provide The Beatles distinctive sound, but he fulfilled other very real needs. Ringo was the most down-to-earth member of the Fab Four. Ringo was the friendly Beatle. He recieved more fan mail than any of the others, and he became the mediator in many of the later arguments of the band.

The Beatles benefited from his sensitivity, his sense of humor, and his "peace and love" way of dealing with the world. His modesty and kind heart was as important to the Beatles as John and Paul's musical talents. Ringo always seemed a bit overwhelmed by the success of the Beatles -- as if he were pleasantly surprised by what was happening to him. Ringo really looked upon John, Paul, and George as his three brothers and continues to love them as such today. He gave of himself to them the best that he could with love and without ego. Ringo had his most important dreams come true with the Beatles. The only dream Ringo never fulfilled was to sit in the audience at a Beatles concert.

Ringo has been married twice. First to his long-time girlfriend Maureen Cox. Ringo met Maureen in the Cavern club when he was still with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Ringo and Maureen were married at Caxton Hall in Westminster on February 11, 1965. They had three children, Zak on September 13, 1965, Jason on August 19, 1967, and Lee on November 17, 1970. Ringo and Maureen were divorced in 1975, and sadly Maureen died Decmber 30, 1994 of Leukemia despite a bone marrow transplant from her son Zak. Ringo married Barbara Bach, whom he met on the set of Caveman in 1983. They are still happily married today.

Ringo not only had a successful musical career with the Beatles, but also on his solo efforts and with his All-Starr Band. Ringo has had many great solo hits such as "Photograph", "Back Off Boogaloo", "You're Sixteen", and "It Don't Come Easy". Ringo has worked with many famous and wonderful artists such as Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Peter Frampton, Steven Tyler, Tom Petty, and even Ozzy Osbourne.

Josh Freese quits A Perfect Circle

Drummer Josh Freese has confirmed that he has parted ways with A Perfect Circle. So far there is no word on the reason for the split.

Josh announced his departure via twitter earlier this week:
"After 13 years, I've decided to leave @aperfectcircle with no plans of returning. Apologies to those inquiring about the upcoming shows."

At the moment of writing A Perfect Circle has one US date left this year; on December 29 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

The band is also scheduled to appear on Australia's Soundwave Festival, which kicks off February 23, 2013 in Brisbane.

Gangnam Style Drum Cover by Matt Harwood-Jones

Just for fun :)

Nice moves at 1:08 :P

Keep drumming \m/

Mapex presents limited edition Obsidian drum set

The Mapex Drum Company has unveiled the second Meridian Black Limited Edition drum kit called Obsidian. 

The Meridian Black Obsidian, a three-piece kit, is the second in a series of Player Designed limited edition sets, specific in configuration and look.

These specially designed drum kits will be available exclusively through authorized Mapex dealers worldwide. Once they are sold out, they will not be reproduced.

The rich Birch/Maple hybrid shells crank out low and dark tones with a balanced attack. The inside of the shells feature a new black finish that enhances resonance and projection.

The 24"x14" bass drum, featuring a 4.8mm Birch exterior/2.4mm Maple interior shell, delivers immediate massive low end that compliments the full attack of the toms.

The kit boasts one 12"x08" rack tom, and a 16"x16" floor tom, so the player can bring in their ride cymbal close for a comfortable performance.

A 14"x 07" snare is also available as an add-on for players needing the true rock essentials.

Toms and snare drum feature 4.1mm Birch exterior/1.7mm Maple interior shells.

The shells come wrapped in a deep volcanic glass sparkle, are fitted with chrome hardware, and are topped with Remo coated single ply UX drumheads.

Simply beautiful ;)

Yamaha presents new DTX400 series

Yamaha Music Europe has announced the all-new DTX400 series. The three models in this new range, built with the beginner in mind, include the DTX400K with its silent bass drum pedal design, the DTX430K introducing a real bass drum pedal and pad, and the DTX450K which also includes a three-zone snare pad.

Yamaha says its new series brings the feature-packed DTX drumming experience to entry level audiences at a breakthrough price for a Yamaha electronic kit.

The design concept of Yamaha's new DTX400 series was to create an electronic drum system that retained Yamaha's DTX technology and features at its heart, is now available to beginners starting at less than $500.

In addition to a full feature set including natural response drum pads and advanced sound technology (as found in the Pro DTX models and Yamaha's MOTIF synths), the new DTX400K boasts a wide range of onboard learning options and training exercises. A USB connection enables the player to control VSTi drum sound libraries and record directly to computer software. It's also possible to import new songs via Yamaha's Music Soft Downloader. New apps will also be launched in 2013, designed to work alongside the DTX400 series to present an exciting interactive learning experience. The sounds within the new DTX400 module include stereo recordings of real drums, cymbals, and percussion instruments that respond to playing dynamics. There are classic sounds from the history of drumming, including some of Yamaha's own acoustic drums. You can also create your own 'bespoke' drum kits from the library of over 165 drums sounds, including 23 snare drums, 21 kick drums and 42 other percussion instruments. DTX400K will be released in September 2012, with the DTX430K and DTX450K due to arrive at the beginning of 2013.

Nice choice for beginners ;)

London Drum Show confirms new artists

The London Drum Show 2012, set to take place at the Olympia Conference Centre on October 13 and 14, has confirmed new artists, including main stage performances by Virgil Donati, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Derek Roddy plus a masterclass by Andy Treacey and Sudha Kheterpal.

Virgil Donati
Kicking things off on Saturday 13th October is technical virtuo Virgil Donati. Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Virgil Donati is known amongst professional drummers as a technical virtuoso, having developed incredible power and flexibility (whilst playing traditional grip), mastered polyrhythyms, odd-time playing and intricate phrasing, attained blinding quickness and powerful, metronomic precision - all with a rare attention to showmanship and visual playing.

Virgil has played with Planet X, Steve Vai and Mick Jagger among others.

Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez
Grammy Award winner Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez will also take to the Main Stage on the Saturday of the show.

Horacio has played with jazz legends like McCoy Tyner and Michel Camilo, rock stars like Carlos Santana and Steve Winwood. "El Negro" is a member of the faculties of Drummer's Collective and the New School in New York, regularly conducting clinics and workshops at the Berklee School of Music.

Derek Roddy
On Sunday, October 14, Derek Roddy will take the Main Stage. He is one of the biggest exponents of the blast beat, propelling the style of drumming to the forefront of modern playing in ways no other extreme drummer has done before him.

Derek has drummed with Nile, Malevolent Creation, Serpents Rise, Divine Empire, and Today Is The Day among others. He is author of two books/dvd's: 'The Evolution of Blast Beats' and 'Blast Beats Evolved'.

Andy Treacey & Sudha Kheterpal
The final masterclass, on the Sunday, will feature Andy Treacey and Sudha Kheterpal from electronic dance band Faithless.

Andy has played in a huge variety of bands over the last few years as a full member and session player. He played and recorded with a huge list of artists including Groove Armada, MJ Cole, Galliano, The Tom Robinson Band and The Lightning Seeds.

Sudha Kheterpal has been in Faithless for the last 15 years, enjoying huge global success. Alongside her underground status, she has performed live at legendary clubs like Cream and The Hacienda and has featured as percussionist on records and tours with mainstream artists including Dido, The Spice Girls and Talvin Singh.

For more info please visit londondrumshow.com.

Vater Percussion announces new artists

Renown drumstick manufacturer Vater has announced new additions to its artist roster. Among the new members of the Vater artists family are Arejay Hale (Halestorm) Jose Pasillas (Incubus), Marco Giovino (independent, Robert Plant's Band of Joy), and Patty Schemel (The Cold And Lovely, Hole).

Other new Vater endorsers include Sean Winchester (Everclear, Bow Wow Wow), David Prowse (Japandroids), Rich Eisner (Ayla Brown), Mike Rizzi (Sonia Leigh), Jared Piccone (3OH!3), Tyler Soucy (A Great Big Pile of Leaves), Rachel Fuhrer (Ume), and Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots).

In related news: Vater has also uploaded a couple of new artist feature videos, including one featuring Keith Zebroski (Vater artist since 2006) in Boston, while on tour with Miranda Lambert:

Another artist video features Branden Steineckert of Rancid:

Rae Amitay is Mares of Thrace's new drummer

Calgar's heavy duo Mares of Thrace, fronted by baritone guitarist/vocalist Thérèse Lanz, has announced a new drummer.

Due to getting into the educational program of her dreams and its subsequent conflicts with touring, original drummer Stefani MacKichan has decided to step down.

Mares of Thrace's new drummer is Rae Amitay, a former student of Berklee School of Music. She spends her time playing drums for various projects, singing, and writing about metal. Says Rae:

"I am ridiculously happy to announce that I'm the new drummer for Mares of Thrace. Thank you, Thérèse Lanz for buying me my first deck of Magic cards and welcoming me into the band. Stefani MacKichan, you're an amazing drummer and overall badass. Best of luck with absolutely everything."

Watch a video of Rae playing a metal drumming medley:

Joost Luub invents barrel organ drum machine

In most European city streets you can easily walk into a barrel organ with someone shaking a penny tray, but always out of rhythm.

Amsterdam-based art student Joost Luub, also known as drummer with Wooden Constructions, got so bothered, he decided to make ​​a new kind of barrel organ: one that exclusively plays drums.

As part of his graduation thesis at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Joost decided to combine the system of classical organ with his passion for drumming.

With the help of a professional builder, he managed to build a working 'barrel organ drum machine'.

Joost hopes music festivals such as Lowlands will pick up his invention and give his drum organ a spot on the festival grounds.

If you want to know how it works and sounds, click here for a short item by Dutch news organization NOS including a video (in Dutch, no subtitles).

Sounds good, looks better :P

Keep drumming ;)

Vater welcomes José Pasillas to its artist family

Vater Percussion welcomes José Pasillas, drummer of the multi-platinum Incubus, to its family of endorsing artists.

José, who used to play Pro-Mark sticks, is now using the Vater 7A in wood tip.
The drummer is currently on tour in Europe with Incubus before he and his band return to the United States for a summer tour with Linkin Park.

The sticks I use at the moment. Nice ones ;)

Pro-Mark and Vater are clearly two of the greatest brands! Nice choice José.

Rich Redmond Clinics

Date: July 5, 2012

Location: Regina, Saskatchewan

Venue/Info:  Cedar Logde 

Date: July 11, 2012

Location: Mississauga, Ontario

Venue/Info: Metalworks Institute

Date: August 19, 2012

Location: Chicago, IL

Venue/Info: Vic’s Drum Shop

Date: September 28, 2012

Location: San Mateo, CA

Venue/Info: Hillsdale High School

More information @ www.richredmond.com

PAS Hall of Fame 2012 inductees announced

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) will induct four important figures who have shaped the percussion world into its Hall of Fame: John Bergamo, Hal Blaine, David Garibaldi, and Gordon Stout.

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame will induct these four artists during the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Austin, Texas from October 31-November 3, 2012

The 2012 inductees will join the select group of only 110 percussionists honored since the Hall's start in 1972.

About John Bergamo
John Bergamo has been a major contributor to modern percussion music since the 1960's as a performer, composer and teacher. Beginning in 1970 until his retirement in 2005, Bergamo served as coordinator of the percussion program at California Institute of the Arts where he became heavily involved in the study of North and South Indian drumming as well as other non-European drumming traditions.

John Bergamo co-founded two all-percussion groups: The Repercussion Unit in 1976 and The Hand On'Semble in 1997. He has performed with Frank Zappa, Nexus, Ali Akbar Khan, Mickey Hart and John McLaughlin and on a number of soundtracks to Hollywood films.

About Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine may well be the most prolific drummer in rock and roll history. He played on more hit records than any drummer in the rock era, including 40 #1 singles and 150 that made the Top Ten. Eight of the records he played on won Grammys for Record of the Year. He was the most in-demand session drummer in Los Angeles during the 1960's and early-1970's, and a list of musicians he played with reads like a who's who of popular music. Hal is most well known for his affiliation with producer Phil Spector, where he served as the percussive backbone of the Wrecking Crew, the nickname for a group of younger studio musicians who recorded many of the popular hits of the era. In March of 2000, Hal Blaine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

David Garibaldi
Known as an innovator in funk drumming, David Garibaldi joined American R&B band Tower of Power in 1970 and became one of the most influential drummers of his generation. David has appeared in studio and live settings including work for television and film. In addition to his work with Tower of Power, David has performed with Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, Jermaine Jackson, the Buddy Rich Orchestra, Boz Scaggs, the Yellow Jackets and Wishful Thinking.

Gordon Stout
Gordon Stout is an American percussionist, composer, and educator. Many of Gordon's compositions, including Two Mexican Dances, have become standard repertoire for marimba players worldwide. As a performer, Gordon has performed throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico. Stout studied with John Beck, James Salmon, Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler and Warren Benson. He serves as professor of percussion at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York.

About the PAS Hall of Fame
The Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame was established in 1972 to recognize the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion performance, education, research, scholarship, administration, composition and the industry. Inductees demonstrate the highest ideals and professional integrity to their profession to bring about significant events, substantive improvements in the world of percussion, and the betterment of the profession through exemplary services or acts.

Included in the PAS Hall of Fame are such drumset luminaries as Warren "Baby" Dodds, Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, Shelly Manne, and Jack DeJohnette.

World’s Fastest Drummer Contest

NAMM announces the twelfth effort to find the “World’s Fastest Drummer”. This highly charged interactive event is a feature at this year’s Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, TN. The contest, which consists of two categories, Fastest Hands and Fastest Feet, will be held each day on World’s Fastest Drummer Lobby Stage at the Nashville Convention Center starting at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, July 12, with “heats” continuing through 1:00 P.M. on public day Saturday July 14. The top ten Fastest Hands and top ten Fastest Feet will compete in a “Finals Battle” of both categories held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, July 14.

Note: Thursday 12 and Friday 13 preliminaries are for NAMM members only. Saturday 14 is open to the public with a Wanna Play Music Day ticket. WFD will have public preliminaries starting at 10:00 A.M. and running till 1:00 P.M. World Finals Battle is at 2:00 P.M. Saturday July 14.

WFD-Extreme Sport Drumming has been a feature on The Warped Tour, OzzFest and most major networks including ESPN, FOX SPORTS, MTV, VH1, ABC, BBC, PBS and CNN. WFD The Game produced well over 1.5 million plays for MTV’s Addicting Games in its first 90 days. WFD is the official ruling and certification organization for Guinness World Records.

Contestants should sign in at World’s Fastest Drummer Contest stage area located at the WFD lobby stage in The Nashville Convention Center starting the morning of Thursday, July 12.

For more information please visit www.namm.org or www.WorldsFastestDrummer.com

Or email to info@WorldsFastestDrummer.com.

Do You Have What it Takes to be The World’s Fastest Drummer? 

Now you can prove it!

Asheville Percussion Festival takes place on June 8th-10th, 2012

The first annual asheville percussion festival will take place june 8th-10th, 2012 at the creative technology and arts center – odyssey school in asheville, nc.

Asheville, NC - The first annual Asheville Percussion Festival will take place June 8th-10th, 2012 at the Creative Technology and Arts Center – Odyssey School in Asheville, NC. The theme is ‘Tradition to Innovation’. The festival will be hosted by Asheville’s ambassador to rhythm River Guerguerian. There will be workshops with Master teachers such as Jamey Haddad (Paul Simons percussionist), David Cossin (who tours with STING) and many other local and regional teachers. They will be covering topics such as performing, improvising and composing. There will be a concert with the Master Teachers for the community on Saturday June 9th at 8pm.

The mission of the Asheville Percussion Festival is to provide a creative environment where percussionists of all traditions gather to explore, create and innovate. World-class percussionists will exchange ideas about performing, improvising and educating. Over the course of the weekend there will be workshops for drummers of all levels and concerts for the community.

Teachers/Performers:

Jamey Haddad is highly regarded as one of the foremost world and jazz percussionists in the US. For the past nine years Haddad has performed as Paul Simon’s percussionist and played with countless others including Yo Yo Ma and Esperanza Spalding. He teaches at Berklee College of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory. www.jameyhaddadmusic.com

David Cossin can play just about any percussion instrument. A leading specialist and composer in new and experimental music, he preformed this last year with STING on his world tour and currently plays with Steve Reich and Bang on a Can All-Stars. www.davidcossin.com

River Guerguerian is the Artistic Director of the Festival and is known all over the globe for his unique hybrid set-ups that include frame drums, hand drums and drumsets that can be applied to many styles of music. He plays with Omar Faruk Tekbilek, his world jazz trio Free Planet Radio and is an active touring, recording and teaching artist. www.guerguerian.com

Raquy Danziger is one of the most popular performers, teachers and composers of Middle Eastern Drumming today. Her band Raquy and the Cavemen, a duo with Liron Peled, tours all over the world. She now lives in Istanbul and New York. www.raquy.com
Rohan Krishnamurthy has been acclaimed as a “percussion prodigy” will teach and demonstrate Indian classical percussion. He plays Tabla, Mridangam, and Kanjira, and teaches at the Eastman School of Music. www.rohanrhythm.com

Jeff Sipe AKA “The Apartment Q-258” has an amazing touch and feel on the drumset. He is well known on the touring circuit and has performed with Trey Anastasio, Bela Fleck, Steve Vai, John Medeski, Joan Osborn and his own group the Aquarium Rescue Unit. www.jeffsipemusic.com

Adama Dembele is a master 33rd generation Djembe player from Ivory Coast, Africa.
He has traveled internationally and leads his own group Zansa, and is a frequent guest with afro-surf-rock outfit Toubab Krewe. www.adamadembele.com

Michael Lipsey is an incredible educator and plays everything from Afro-Cuban percussion to Balinese Gamelan. He is the Director of the Percussion program and the New Music Ensemble at the Aaron Copland School of Music as well as the City University of New York.
www.lipseypercussion.com

Matthew Richmond is an accomplished Jazz Vibraphonist and is well known in the WNC community. He is currently a member of the Asheville Symphony, Stephanie’s Id, and is a Percussion instructor at UNC-Asheville. www.matthewrichmond.net

Rohan Krishnamurthy is a leading, young musical ambassador of Indian music and percussion. A specialist in South Indian percussion, Rohan has performed in hundreds of concerts, presented Indian percussion summer camps, workshops, and academic lecture-/ at eminent institutions Rohan founded and directs an Indian percussion ensemble at the Eastman School of Music. Rohan will offer lessons in Indian drumming and vocal percussion techniques. www.rohanrhythm.com. www.rohanrhythm.com

Workshops
There will be workshops for beginners and advanced players that will focus on the following styles:

Middle Eastern, West African, Indian, Drumset, Jazz Vibes, South American, Performance Techniques, Improvising, Composing, Electronics, Microphone Techniques, Multiple hand drum set-ups, Hybrid set-ups.

Friday 3-6pm 

Saturday 10am-5pm 

Sunday 11am-5pm 

Instruments
Frame Drums, Riq Tambourine, Kanjira, Doumbek, Djembe, Talking Drum, Ashiko, Conga, Gongs, Pandeiro, Cajon, Drumset, Tabla, Mridangam, Singing Bowls, Shakers, Vibes

*Bring you own drums, but some will be available (please RSVP Adam if you need one)
Concerts – June 8th & 9th 8:00pm

Friday night concert will include performances from the teachers and local talent from Brazilian and African troupes, as well as Jazz and Middle Eastern music.

Saturday Night will feature a ‘Masters Concert’ with the collaborative efforts from all the teachers. They will create new and innovative percussion pieces through an Artist Retreat that will take place the week before.

Asheville will become a creative hub for innovative and traditional percussion music by inviting international artists for outstanding collaborations. There will be opportunities for participants to jam with each other and the teachers.

Who: Asheville Percussion Festival

When: June 8th-10th 2012

Where: All Concerts and Workshops will be held at:

Creative Technology & Arts Center

Odyssey Community School

90 Zillicoa St.

Asheville, NC 28801

Registration: ashevillepercussionfestival.com

Rodney Holmes clinic streaming for free

Rodney Holmes will be conducting a clinic as well as a Q & A session at the Memphis Drum Shop on Thursday May 31st, starting at 2pm CST (8pm GMT). The event is powered by Tama drums, Meinl cymbals, Vater sticks and Evans heads.

The Memphis Drum Shop is located at 878 S Cooper St. in Memphis, TN 38104.

Are you at work? Or not living near Memphis? Don't worry: Rodney's clinic will be streaming live for free.

Just go to memphisdrumshop.com on the date and time of the event to view the live stream.

Date: Thursday, May 31, 2012

Start time: 2:00 P.M. (CST)

Keep drumming ;)

[Transcription] Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You

Download Full PDF here!

Now it's time for a classic! From Led Zeppelin, Since I've Been Loving You ;)

Keep drumming!

[Transcription] Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Scar Tissue

Download Complete PDF - Here

Keep drumming ;)

[Transcription] Coldplay - In My Place

Click here to view in a large size.

Enjoy ;)

Drummers World Record [Portugal]

Good news for Portuguese people, trying to set a new World Record :)
More information here http://www.bateristaspt.com/showthread.php?t=29982

Keep drumming ;)

Ahead Custom Molded Earplugs

Ahead Custom Molded Earplugs (ACME) are nontoxic, hypoallergenic, and EPA approved, and they allow users to quickly create a personal set of soft, silicone earplugs. The ACME kit comes with easy-to-follow instructions for combining the components, placing them in the ears, and allowing them to cure. The earplugs have an EPA-certified noise reduction rating of 26 dB. Each pack also includes a soft carrying pouch. List price: $29.95.

bigbangdist.com

Take care of you ;)

Drummer: Jojo Mayer

Born January 18. 1963 in Zurich, Switzerland. Son of a musician (bass player Vali Mayer), he spent his early childhood on the road traveling throughout Europe and the Far East. At the age of 2 he got his first drum set, and his first public performance took place in Hong Kong when he was only 3 years old. Growing up in the influence of a musical environment Jojo is basically self-taught (autodidact).

At the age of 18 he joined Monty Alexander's group and toured extensively all over Europe, playing all the major jazz -festivals including the North-Sea-Jazz Festival, Montreux, Nice, Antibes, Athens etc.This lead to back-up gigs with other jazz-greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone and introduced him to an international audience.

Jojo Mayer performed and / or recorded with a great variety of artists covering a wide range of musical styles such as The Screaming Headless Torsos, Meshell n'dege Occello, Vernon Reid's science project, DJ Spooky, Emergency Broadcast Network, the Vienna Art Orchestra, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Harry Pepl, Gerald Veasley, Monty Alexander, Lunar Crush, John Zorn, James Blood Ulmer, Chico Freeman, George Adams, Jamaaladeen
Tacuma, John Medeski, Family of Percussion, Hiram Bullock, Leni Stern, Depart, Wolfgang Puschnigg, The intergalactic Maiden Ballet, Friedrich Gulda, Harry Sokal, Steve Coleman's 5 Elements, Passport, Wah Wah Watson, and many more.

Jojo has also built himself a reputation as a skilled and creative solo performer/ clinician. He appeared at most of the important Industrial Events and Drum Festivals like the Modern Drummer Festival (1998 and 2005), the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship NYC (95), the International Drummer-Meeting in Koblenz (89, 91, 95), PASIC (96), the Montreal Drum- Fest (96), the NAMM-Show`s"Drums along the Hilton"(96), int.Slagwerkkrant Dag (96), int. Budapest Dob-Gala (94, 95), Manny`s Drum-Mania NYC (98) and the "int.Musik Messe Frankfurt"(93, 97), to name a view, were he was featured amongst the greatest names in the drumming community today (Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Jack de Johnette, Terry Bozzio, Billy Cobham, Dennis Chambers etc).

Residing in New York City since 1991, Jojo engaged in numerous activities including Live and Studio work. His international touring schedule has taken him all over Europe, the US, South America, The Far East and Africa. Besides his work as a drummer, he also is involved in projects as a writer and producer.

More recently, Jojo has been venturing into New York's Techno / Multimedia / Avantgarde / club scene by promoting his own weekly party event called PROHIBITED BEATZ. This new platform for live "Drum n" Bass", "Nu-Skool Breaks", "Speed Garage" and the latest stylistical hybrids and mutations in DJ culture, has also provided the back drop for his first solo project called NERVE. Described as an "endeavor in reverse engineering the textures and rhythms of the current stream of computer generated music into a live performed, improvisational format", NERVE and PROHIBITED BEATZ have created a reputation in the New York scene that already goes way beyond "a serious buzz".

Recent performances and recordings have earned him rave reviews: Jojo Mayer "...destined for "Drum God" status !"(Modern Drummer magazine).

Jojo Mayer's company endorsements include: Sonor drums, Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads and Vic Firth drumsticks. Lately he has been involved as a product developer / designer for Sabian (Jojo Mayer Signature "Fierce Ride" & "Fierce Crash" Models), a consultant for Sonor's "Jungle Kit" and as a designer for Vic Firth drumsticks (Jojo Mayer Signature Model). He has also frequently appeared in advertisements, catalogues and publications for the above mentioned companies.

DW Days Latin America

To help celebrate their 40th anniversary, DW is very excited to announce the first ever DW Days Latin America! This travelling festival will feature performances by Alvaro Lopez, Chester Thompson, and Marco Minnemann

Dates and locations for this inaugural tour are:

June 18, 2012 — Mexico City, Mexico

June 20, 2012 — Bogota, Columbia

June 22, 2012 — Quito, Ecuador

June 25, 2012 — São Paulo, Brasil

Each show will be a full event to hang out with fellow drummers, catch amazing performances, including a meet and greet session with the artists, and chances to win one of the many door prizes.

Please visit www.dwdrums.com/dwdays (or www.dwdrums.com/diasdw) often for updates on venue and ticket information. And don’t forget to follow DW on Facebook and Twitter. They’ll be posting all the latest DW 40th Anniversary tour news from the road.

Find more at www.dwdrums.com ;)

Yamaha Announces Sounds Of Summer 2012 Camp Season Roster

Yamaha has announced its 2012 Sounds Of Summer (SOS) Program. A part of the continuing education of thousands of percussion students nationwide, the Yamaha SOS program connects developing musicians with some of the top names in marching percussion.

As one of the first programs created by Yamaha after the creation of its Marching and Concert Percussion Department 29 years ago, Sounds of Summer represents the company’s long-standing commitment to not only provide young musicians with world-class instruments, but also support for music education. It is estimated that over 55,000 students have participated in a Yamaha Sounds of Summer camp.

In 2011 alone, Yamaha coordinated camps spanning 24 states across the country, teaching over 2,000 young percussionists. Each camp featured at least one talented and driven Yamaha clinician that provided in depth, hands-on instruction during these intensive clinics.

In addition to tee-shirts and lanyards, Yamaha provides each camper with “The Marching Essentials” book series, which includes music written by top Yamaha artists including, Jon Weber, Tracy Wiggins, Ian Moyer, Colin McNutt, Bret Kuhn, Jim Campbell, Alan Keown, Ben Maughmer and Clif Walker.

Learn more at the official Sounds of Summer website by visiting www.yamaha.com/soundsofsummer

For more information about Yamaha products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; call (714) 522-9011; email infostation@yamaha.com; or visit usa.yamaha.com.

Vinnie Colaiuta Officially Joins Ludwig

Ludwig has announced the addition of Vinnie Colaiuta to its family of drum and hardware endorsers. This comes at about the same time as Colaiuta’s switch to Paiste cymbals. Vinnie will be taking his new Legacy and Classic Maple kits on tour this summer with Sting. He’ll also be performing select dates with Herbie Hancock and continuing his copious session work in L.A.

Both kits feature a Black Galaxy finish and Mini-Classic lugs; sizes include a 14×22 bass drum (with Elite spurs and a double tom mount), 7×10 and 8×12 toms (with Keystone brackets and no Vibraband suspension rims), and 14×14 and 16×16 floor toms (with Keystone brackets). Vinnie will also be using 5×14 Supraphonic and Hammered Brass snare drums.

Great news for Ludwig ;)

Amedia Vigor Rock Cymbals

 

The Vigor Rock series consists of raw, heavily hammered cymbals featuring unlathed bells and tightly lathed, brilliant-finish bows. The rides are said to be strong with great bounce and clear-sounding bells. The crashes pack a punch, and the hi-hats are loud with a tight stick response.

amediacymbals-usa.com

Keep drumming ;)

[Playalong] Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water

Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water

Download Full PDF - Here

Download Drumless Track - Here

Keep drumming ;)

What about hand drums?

It’s common for drumset players to be curious about hand drumming, and to eventually decide to buy their first set of bongos…or would congas be better…or perhaps a djembe?

Modern Drummer’s sister publication, Drum Business, recently ran an article hipping retailers to the current hand-drum trends, and much of what was covered in that piece would also be helpful to kit players looking to expand their skills. DB originally enlisted the help of Victor Filonovich at Toca Percussion, Glen Caruba at Pearl, Quincy Yu at Tycoon, Sue Kincade at Remo, and Chris Brewer at Meinl, and we’ll examine some of what these experts said in the original article and apply it to the needs of the novice player.

First, here’s a basic list of the primary hand drums of various regions and countries.

Africa: djembe (large goblet shape)
Brazil: pandeiro (frame drum with metal jingles, similar to a tambourine)
Cuba: conga (tall and narrow) and bongos (set of two small drums)
India: tabla (set comprising one small wood drum and one larger metal drum)
Ireland: bodhran (circular frame drum)
Japan: taiko (many variations of large-shell drums)
Middle East: doumbek (small goblet shape)
North America: hoop drum (circular frame drum)
Peru: cajon (wooden box)
Thailand: klong yao (long goblet shape)

That’s a lot of drums to choose from, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Pearl’s Glenn Caruba suggests that the cajon could be the ideal entry point for set players looking to expand their percussive palette. “The cajon has multiple frequencies that emulate the sound of a drumset,” he explains, “and it’s very easy to play and mike.”

Chris Brewer at Meinl agrees. “Cajons are our top-selling hand drum because they’re such versatile instruments and are just plain fun to play,” he says. “The cajon can be used in so many different musical styles and settings, and it’s easy to play for beginners and novices.”

Toca’s top-selling hand drum is the djembe. “We have lightweight djembes as well as traditional-style models,” Victor Filonovich says, “and our djembes’ prices fit every budget, from inexpensive to premium models.”

“Remo’s key-tuned djembe has had great success,” Sue Kincade concurs. “With features like portability, tunability, durability, and playability, it’s [a good] choice for professionals, educators, and recreational drummers for all drumming activities.”

Tycoon has had a lot of success with its cajons and djembes as well. “Right now, our best-selling hand drum would be our Supremo series cajon,” Quincy Yu says. “Part of the reason is that cajons in general are one of the faster-growing markets in the percussion world. The other part is that cajons are affordable and durable instruments that can be used in so many different ways. Djembes have a similar ability, in that they can find their way to fit into music from around the world. Naturally, the wider the range of any instrument, the more styles it might find a way to be a part of.”

Congas might not produce low-end frequencies as well as djembes do, but they cross musical genres fairly easy. Bongos can work well in many settings too. “Congas, bongos, and djembes could be played in any genre of music,” Brewer says. “But some of this depends on how experimental the user is within the style that he or she is playing.”

Here’s a breakdown of the basic tones of cajons, djembes, and congas:

Cajon: moderate low end, woody mids, snappy high end
Djembe: big low end, warm mids, high-end “pop”
Conga: moderate lows, warm mids, high-end “slap”

Like the modern drumset, today’s hand drums are available in a variety of materials, which might play into your preferences for one instrument over another. “Natural products allow for natural sounds,” Filonovich says. “Also, natural products capture the beautiful elements of the wood. With a wood conga, bongo, or djembe, for example, you’ll see the natural beauty of the wood grain.”

“Natural materials are great because they’re safe, time tested, and very durable,” Yu adds. “The process of making wood congas, bongos, and cajons is fairly well established. Of course, each manufacturer’s different techniques are what give them their uniqueness.”

Synthetic materials have their own advantages. Caruba feels that they “produce brighter tones, are less affected by varying climates, and are greener to the planet.” Brewer points out the visual, sonic, and economic advantages of synthetic instruments. “Using man-made materials opens the door for new and exciting opportunities in unique sounds and appearances,” he says. “Along with being resistant to changes in weather, synthetic materials in some cases can also allow us to have more affordable options.”

Remo offers drums featuring lightweight synthetic Acousticon shells; the company’s Mondo synthetic drumheads offer additional benefits. “Weather-resistant and durable synthetic drumheads produce deep bass tones and sharp slaps in all weather conditions,” Kincade explains. “They stay in tune longer and are easy to maintain.”

The characteristics of natural versus synthetic construction are generally as such:

Natural materials: warm, round tones, tuning affected by climate changes, less durable
Synthetic materials: bright, sharp tones, less affected by climate changes, very durable

For individuals looking to purchase a hand drum for a youngster or beginning percussionist, djembes, congas, and cajons might be the best bet. According to Filonovich, “A djembe is very user-friendly because it can be played in different styles of music and it’s very easy to learn to play.” Adds Kincade, “Mondo djembes are very popular, lightweight, and easy on the hands. They’re durable, portable, tunable, and playable.”

Caruba chooses the cajon because it’s “easy to play, and a drummer can quickly relate to the kick/snare/hi-hat drumset patterns that can be emulated. It also doubles as a throne.” Similarly, Brewer prefers cajons. “They’re fun and easy to play,” he says, “even without a proper musical background or teaching. Through its bass tones and slap, a cajon allows the player to create a wide variety of beats and sounds.” Yu feels that “congas, bongos, and djembes are great for beginners. Learning congas or djembe teaches a player to achieve three different sounds—open tone, bass tone, and slap tone.”

Answering a few simple questions could help your decision making: What type of music are you looking to use the drum for? What is your price range? What materials would you prefer your drum be made from? Once you whittle down the options, go to your local drum dealer and try out a few different models to see which one feels like the best match. Good luck!

Drummer: John Bonham

John Bonham is the most influential Rock Drummer of all-time.

Describing the style of John Bonham's drumming instantly conjurs up visions of the thunderous power he created. His contributions to rock music were revolutionary, and his talent unmatched and irreplaceable. You can only imagine Jimmy Page's reaction to first seeing him in 1968, ending his search for a new drummer to form a new band, the New Yardbirds (later renamed Led Zeppelin.)

A childhood friend of Robert Plant, they played together in the 'Band of Joy', resulting in local gigs and a few studio demos. At first, Bonham was reluctant to join the well-known guitarist because of a steady gig with Tim Rose. But... the rest of history...

As John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have all stated many times, Led Zeppelin wouldn't have been half as good without him. Along with JPJ, they provided the solid foundation and backbone of the band, which made it all possible. Live performances truly showcased his abilities during the numerous improvised jams throughout every concert and of course his famous "Moby Dick" drum solo; reaching a half-hour in length at times! Immitators are usually left frustrated, since Bonham made it look so easy - not only in his playing but also in the incredible drum sound he acheived. His legendary right foot (on his bass pedal) and lightning-fast triplets were his instant trademark. He later refined his style from the hard skin-bashing approach to a more delicate wrist controlled one - which produced an even more powerful & louder sound with less effort.

His tragic passing on September 25th, 1980 immortalized his legacy forever. His only son, Jason proudly continues the tradition. Daughter Zoe also has a strong interest in music and is experimenting with her own original material. John's sister Deborah is a highly acclaimed & talented singer.

Modern Drummer Interview with Jason Bonham

The rumors started spreading months before the official press release went out: “Led Zeppelin is getting back together and they’re going on tour.” MD, like everyone else, was getting excited at the possibility. Was it true? We made calls and sent emails back and forth. And we tried to speak with Jason Bonham–son of famed Zep drummer John Bonham and likely heir to his throne–to find out the scoop. But frankly, it wasn’t so easy, since every writer and magazine in the world was thinking the same thing.

After a few attempts, we finally hooked up with Jason. The plan to have him on the cover of MD asap to announce the reunion went into action. Unfortunately, jazz icon Max Roach passed away, and that plan had to change so MD could honor the legend in a timely, respectful way.

But details have a way of working themselves out, and here we are, getting the inside skinny on the most anticipated rock reunion–certainly of this young century, and perhaps of the past twenty years.

On December 10, all three surviving members of Led Zeppelin–Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones–were joined by Jason Bonham, a respected journeyman drummer in his own right, to play a tribute concert for Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. As an indicator of just how huge an event this was, 90,000,000 people (!) tried to get tickets for a show at a concert hall that only holds 17,000.

Jason Bonham was born on July 15, 1966, to parents Pat Phillips and John Henry Bonham. Most rock fans are familiar with the story of Jason’s father and the gargantuan impact he made on music and on drumming. But many are unfamiliar with Jason’s journey to rock stardom, from his early fascination with drums and dirtbikes, to his not-always-easy career in the music business.

By following his passion for the drums, Jason would forever be burdened with living up to his dad’s legacy as “the greatest rock drummer ever.” Of course, having a famous drummer for a father has had certain advantages. But the Bonham name also brought on more pressure than any other drummer would ever have to live up to.

Jason’s career certainly had its ups and downs, but the passion he had for being the best drummer he could be would always burn in his heart. At seventeen he formed his first band, Air Race, and later joined Virginia Wolf (whose record was produced by Queen drummer Roger Taylor). In 1988, he joined Jimmy Page for his Outrider record and tour, and that same year he played for the first time as an “official” member of Led Zeppelin when the band reunited for Atlantic Records’ Fortieth Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden.

Jason’s first solo album, The Disregard Of Timekeeping, was released in 1989 to critical acclaim. After his second solo album, Mad Hatter, Bonham concentrated on session work, including supporting Bad Co. singer Paul Rodgers on the Grammy-winning Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute To Muddy Waters. In 1994, Jason appeared at Woodstock II with Slash and Paul Rodgers. In 1995, the drummer represented his father when Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, where he sat in for an unrehearsed reunion that featured Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler.

Soon after that, Jason put together another solo project, this time focusing on the songs of Led Zeppelin, titled In The Name Of My Father, with proceeds from the album going to charity. From 1999 to 2003, Jason drummed for Healing Sixes. In 2000, he appeared in the film Rock Star. And in 2006, Jason breifly became a TV star on VH1’s reality showSupergroup.

Following an album and tour with his aunt Debbie, the younger sister of his dad, Jason joined the classic hard rock group UFO. Also in 2006, he recorded with guitar slinger Joe Bonamassa. And for the past few years, he’s been touring constantly with Foreigner. Without question, Jason has had an impressive career.

So how is Jason preparing to play with Zeppelin–and how will that first show go? The following interview took place–by coincidence–on a very special day in late September.

MD: As you know, today is the twenty-seventh anniversary of your father’s passing.

Jason: Yeah, I know. I didn’t actually think about it until this morning, when I got up and said to my kids as they were squabbling on their way out of the door for school, “You know what day today is?” And they said, “Of course, it’s Tuesday.” [laughs] It’s good we can talk about it all today. And with all the things that have been going on, it’s pretty special.

MD: Speaking of which, when did you start rehearsals for the Zeppelin show?

Jason: We started back in June. Basically we got together to see if we were going to do something, to see how it would play out and how it would sound–and whether we would all get along. Our first get-together lasted three days, which was mainly two days of playing and one day of planning. And then I heard nothing from them for about a month and a half.

MD: And I’m sure that left you thinking: Did they like it or not?

Jason: Exactly! I’m like, were they kidding me in the room at the time when they were saying it was great? I thought, whatever it is, it’s something they have to talk together about and be comfortable with. That’s the main thing. This is not being done for money. It’s purely because they wanted to play together again.

MD: So how was it playing with them?

Jason: It was a very emotional and amazing experience. I walked in a boy, but they made me feel like a man when I walked out. I felt all grown up. I felt taller…it felt like I could speak on the same terms and I didn’t feel like that young sweet boy anymore.

MD: So you felt you held your own.

Jason: Yes, and they were all very encouraging. You have to remember, for the past fifteen, twenty years, people have always asked, “When are you guys going to get back together?” So to finally have it happen, it was a bit overwhelming at first, because I had kind of put it to rest in my mind. “This is not going to happen, move on.” Of course, as soon as I moved on, it came back to bite me. That was actually a good thing, because once I stopped expecting that seat to be mine, instead of being cocky, I actually started to doubt myself, which all led to me being a different human being and a lot more honest with myself. It made me go back and really listen, instead of assuming that I knew it all and that I’m the rightful heir to that drum seat. Nonsense! You get the gig if you can play it. I had a foot in the door, but there’s also more pressure on me than there might be on another drummer.

Pick up the February 2008 issue of Modern Drummer to read the full interview with Jason Bonham.

Latin Percussion - February Clinic Tour

Sun, Feb 5th & Mon, Feb 6th

MICHAEL SPIRO

University of Wisconsin

Madison School of Music

455 North Park St.

Madison, WISCONSIN

Phone: 734-883-3272

Tue, Feb. 7th 

SCOTT KETTNER

Syracuse University

215 Crouse College

Syracuse, NEW YORK

Phone: 315-373-6126

Sat, Feb 11th

JOHN RILEY

Scotch Plains-Farmwood

Days of Percussion

667 Westfield Road

Scotch Plains, NEW JERSEY

Phone: 908-757-7555

Sat, Feb 11th

VICTOR RENDON

NYC PAS / KoSA 

NYU Steinhardt, Music and Performing Arts

35 W. 4th Street

New York, NEW YORK

Sat, Feb 11th

SHAWN PELTON

NYC PAS / KoSA 

NYU Steinhardt, Music and Performing Arts

35 W. 4th Street

New York, NEW YORK

Sat, Feb 11th

ALDO MAZZA

NYC PAS / KoSA 

NYU Steinhardt, Music and Performing Arts

35 W. 4th Street

New York, NEW YORK

Mon, Feb 13th

DON PARKER

University of Mississippi

Room 116 Education Bldg

University, MISSISSIPPI

Phone: 662-915-5665

Wed, Feb 15th

DON PARKER

Alabama State Univ.

Tullibody Music Bldg #404

915 S. Jackson Street

Montgomery, ALABAMA

Phone: 334-229-4346

Thu, Feb 16th, 7 – 9 pm 

IGNACIO BERROA

Drummers Collective

1003 Pacific Avenue

New York, NEW YORK

Phone: 212-741-0091

Thu, Feb 16th

ALLAN MOLNAR

Valley City State Univ.

“Band Day”

101 College Street SW

Valley City, NORTH DAKOTA

Phone: 701-845-7271

Fri, Feb 17th

DON PARKER

Bethune Cookman Univ.

Larry Handfield Bldg #202 

Daytona Beach, FLORIDA

Phone: 386-481-2746

Fri, Feb 24th & Sat, Feb 25th

TOMMY IGOE

PEAKS Jazz Festival

Westlake Auditorium

99 North 200 West

Saratoga Springs, UTAH

Phone: 801-763-0200

Chad Smith Clinic at the Collective NYC

Chad Smith will be performing a clinic at the Collective on Thursday, February 9th at 7PM. Students and the public are welcome. Click here to visit the Collective website.

Keep drumming! ;)

[Playalong] Nirvana - In Bloom

Nirvana - In Bloom

Download Playalong - here

Download Full PDF - here

Hope you like it ;)

Keep drumming!! :D

Mapex Drums’ Drummer of Tomorrow Contest US Final Round

Mapex Drums’ Drummer of Tomorrow contest is gearing up for the United States Final round, being held at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, this coming January 19. The performance is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. at the Anaheim Hilton in California, Pavilion C & D. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and unlike most NAMM Show events that require a pass, the event is open to the public.

The four Drummer of Tomorrow finalists set to perform are Joe Maddox of Indianapolis, Indiana; Stephen Mixson of Detroit, Michigan; Michael Davila of Kerrville, Texas; and Rick Trice of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

The finalists will be performing with the all-star band Sinverguenzamusic, which features musicians who have played with artists including Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, and Madonna. The group is led by Mapex artist Walfredo Reye Jr.

The winner of this round will travel to Frankfurt, Germany, to compete against twelve other countries for the World Title in April. All winners of the Drummer of Tomorrow contest will be entered to receive over $50,000 in prizes and drum gear, including drumsets from Mapex, cymbals from Zildjian, drumheads from Remo, sticks from Vic Firth, and songbooks from Alfred Music Publishing. In addition, the top winner will win an artist endorsement contract from Mapex Drums and will appear on the company’s official Artist Roster.

For more information, visit www.DrummerofTomorrow.com.

Another good event ;) I'll try to post here the results :D

Keep drumming!