Drummer's Weekly Groovecast

Phil and Jon are back in a newly revamped studio B with a topic suggested by a member of our listening audience. This week we discuss the pros and cons of playing with recordings versus playing with live musicians. The request was sent to us in regard to the tribute band show that we did several weeks ago. Our listener, Tony, recently became involved with a Steely Dan tribute act. He’s spent copious amounts of time working with the original recordings however he’s discovering that he has to make numerous adjustments when playing the exact same songs with live musicians. We discuss Tony’s situation and then debate some of the positives and negatives of playing with recordings. Some of the benefits we outline are: ear training, learning typical song forms, learning grooves, ‘playing’ with the professionals, de facto transcription, learning good time/feel, and the pleasure of playing with good music. We then discuss possible detriments such as: being led thus not stating assertive time, possibly learning bad feel/tempos, not listening to yourself, setting up your band mates to fail, and trying to measure up to studio fidelity perfection. We also give some tips to combat these issues along with some ideas for practicing with drummer-less tracks. We finish out the show with a brand-new segment of the DWG Garage. Jon has not one, but two, great tips for dealing with problematic, vintage Ludwig drums. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

In the field of drumming we all have heroes. Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, John Bonham, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd and the list goes on and on. However, we often overlook the unsung heroes of drumming, the teachers. In the past few years, I’ve realized just how important and influential great teachers can be. The ability to clearly and concisely articulate ideas, techniques, and concepts is not an easy task. When you factor in that this must be done in a classroom setting as well as in private lessons, where teaching styles must be customized from student to student, then you understand that great teachers should hold a high position on our hero list. This week we welcome one of the great teachers in our discipline’s history, Dr. Michael Udow. Mike was head of percussion at the University of Michigan for thirty years as well as a respected clinician and author of the new book, Percussion Pedagogy (Oxford University Press). He was gracious enough to join us from his home in Colorado for a candid interview about his career, the art of education, and a description of, Percussion Pedagogy. We discuss his early interest in music, his personal path in higher education (culminating in the first DMA in percussion at the University of Illinois), his literature preferences, teaching techniques, state of the university, and much more. There’s something here for every teacher, student, and performer. You can visit Michael at his website: www.michaeludow.com You can explore Michael’s new book, Percussion Pedagogy, by clicking this link: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/percussion-pedagogy-9780190902940?lang=en&cc=us Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

After a rather lengthy absence, we present to you the reemergence of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. The board is back after skipping season three and we’re welcoming several new members to this season’s show. Our in-studio co-host is Justin Chesarek. Justin is an Atlanta based performer and educator who holds positions at three major metro Atlanta colleges: Emory University, Kennesaw State University, and Morehouse College. For the remote participants we welcome back long-time board members Joel Rosenblatt and Rod Morgenstein. New for season four we have added esteemed drummer/educators, Carter McLean, George Marsh, and Steve Smith. The question that we will address is: “What mistake (or questionable choice) do you most commonly see and hear your students or other drummers commit?” We listen and comment on the various answers given by our board members. When listening to the answers it’s worth noting that almost everything mentioned relates to basic techniques and thoughtful musicianship. In the current and popular social media world of practicing ear candy and chops it’s completely refreshing to hear some of the world’s best drummers teaching the basics of our craft. We discuss listening, dynamics, musical choices, phrasing, basic drumming technique, listening to recordings, and getting stuck in the routine of the ‘medium phenomenon’. Tune in for a great discussion! Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Tribute bands have been around for quite a long time. However, over the last several years they’ve become significantly more prevalent and a viable alternative to the original artist. In fact, some will even say that many tribute acts perform the music even better than the original artist. When you also consider that many classic bands are charging several hundred dollars per ticket while their corresponding tribute band may charge less than a typical parking fee, the choice becomes even clearer. This week welcome to the show Wayne Viar. Wayne has been a friend of the podcast since its inception and has known the hosts for 20 years. In recent years Wayne has become the tribute band drummer of choice for several high-profile acts. Wayne regularly performs with Abba Mania, A1A (Jimmy Buffet tribute), Almost Elton John, and Piano Men (Billy Joel tribute). In this show we discuss how he became involved with tribute acts and how that led him to work with others. Wayne tells us about preparing for the shows, the venues, travel, and the backline provided for each gig. He goes over the perks of the job as well as the challenges. Finally, Wayne talks about a typical day on the Abba Mania tour. On our way out of the show please check out Wayne’s playing on the track: Hard Eight Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Just like that, we are halfway through the fourth season of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. The midway point means it is due time for another edition of listener mail. Phil and Jon begin the show discussing the audience response to the new episodes. We also get caught up on the news of the early fall season and discuss how the gigging and teaching jobs are going. This season’s mail bag was overflowing with a variety of questions, comments, and suggestions. We address a host of comments that relate all the way back to the Jim Gordon artist feature and as recent as the re-post from the Crash and Ride podcast featuring Phil. We then answer questions regarding snare drum repair, teaching, and Mel Lewis. We then discuss threads found on drumming forums that reference past shows and answer questions found there. We finish out this season’s mail with the feel-good email of the year! Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Since we started doing the artist feature segment approximately two years ago it has become one of the most popular formats for this podcast. Ultimately it has provided some of the best listener feedback. Last season we featured the great Sonny Payne and the response was tremendous. We discuss the reaction from the listeners and then talk about our Jim Gordon feature from two years ago. Back when we posted the show on YouTube the Gordon episode received a tremendous amount of attention (and continues to do so presently). Since then we’ve decided to pick players that are either under the radar or tracks that are not obvious representations of the featured player. For this season we decided to feature southern California studio and live ace, Josh Freese. Since his initial gig at Disneyland Josh has performed with acts as diverse as: Devo, A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, Kelly Clarkson, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails, Evanescence, the Offspring, Guns and Roses, the Replacements, and his current gig with, Sting. We discuss his background and then listen to several of our favorite tracks. Phil’s picks: 1. Down – Live performance with 311 2. Paranoid Android – In-studio performance with Weezer covering Radiohead 3. Pretty Young Soldier – Sting 4. It’s F*’ed Up – from Freese’s solo CD, “Since 1972” Jon’s picks: 1. Judith – A Perfect Circle 2. Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Buble 3. Can’t Change Me – Chris Cornell 4. You Get What You Give – Brand New Immortals Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

We begin the show with a quick callback to our season four premiere and then talk about social media issues. Ultimately there has been a bit of confusion regarding listeners following the wrong account on Instagram. Phil and the podcast only have one Instagram account. You can follow the show by using the Instagram account name, Drummers Weekly Groovecast. Dealing with money responsibly is difficult for many people but it seems endemic for the creatives found in the music business. It’s a story that’s been told over and over again. It’s either the tale of the starving artist or the musician that’s done well only to lose it all through bad decisions. In this episode we talk about being smart with your money. We cover topics such as: student loans, filing income taxes, learning deductions, keeping records, investing, planning for retirement, frivolous spending, and substance abuse. We finish up the show with a segment on must-have gear. Jon starts by recommending the Tama version of lug locks called, Tama Tension Locks. This product completely eliminates issues with varying distances between different brands’ tension rod holes and the hoop itself. Phil’s pick is the DrumNBass Hoop Protect 180. This product protects the top and bottom sides of your bass drum hoop while allowing your pedal to comfortably grip the drum and eliminate slide. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

This week we welcome legendary drummer, Steve Smith, to the Groovecast for the first interview of the fourth season. Steve was gracious enough to speak with us just before a series of dates with Journey that culminates in a three-week residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve will also be showing his artwork (at Carnavale Gallery at Caesar’s Palace) during this residency. If you are in Las Vegas and would like to see Steve’s art work and meet him in person please RSVP using the form found on Steve’s web site (link below). During this show we discuss many things including: the differences between playing with Journey today vs. 40 years ago, the difference in touring with Journey vs. Vital Information, his legendary practice routine, his orthopedic hand issues leading to his development of matched grip and the creation of ‘Pathways of Motion’, his yoga practice and how it helps with touring and performing, his Berklee experience with Gary Chaffee and Alan Dawson, meeting Vinnie Colaiuta at Berklee and their long relationship, the abundance of talent at Berklee and enjoying the classroom experience, and finally the requisite sashay through the maze that is the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast, Rorschach Test! As mentioned during the show if you’d like to visit Steve online his personal website is: http://www.vitalinformation.com/ You can also visit Journey’s web site and view their tour itinerary to see Steve when he’s in your town: http://www.journeymusic.com/ Lastly, in the spirit of transparency, I would like to mention that this episode was fraught with technical audio issues. I discuss, in detail, what happened the day of the interview but if you’re reading this prior to listening, do yourself a favor and use headphones for this show. We pride ourselves on great audio quality but due to circumstances beyond our control our normal standards of fidelity are not up to par on this episode. That being said, I believe you’ll find the quality of the content to be very good. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

The boys are back from the summer hiatus with a new season of shows. We start this premiere episode by discussing summer gigs, travel, teaching, and vacations. We then break open the mail bag and address our correspondence with new and longtime listeners. We also discuss two new companies started by drummers who listen to our show. Please check out Ryan’s new product for wrist support and compression, Wrist Grips: https://wristgrips.myshopify.com/ There is also a drum-less play-along app created by Damani (from the Drum Coaches) entitled, Drum Trax. This free app is available on Android and Apple platforms so visit the online store of your choice to download it. The main topic of discussion for this show is the growing amount of envy, anger, and depression we see emanating from direct comparison to others on social media. We talk about what happens when we see someone who posts about an abundance of gigs, gets a new piece of gear, or flaunts their new car or home. We then offer our own suggestions about how you get past this issue and subsequently avoid it in the future. We finish up by revisiting our segment on great, underrated drummers. This time around Phil picks English session drummer, Henry Spinetti. Henry can be found on a host of major releases but is most known for his work with Eric Clapton and Gerry Rafferty. Jon picks New York session great, Alan Schwartzberg. During the 70s and 80s Alan was as busy as anyone on the scene including dates with: Kiss, Donna Summer, Tony Orlando and Dawn as well as hundreds of commercials and jingles. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

As we languish through the summer we temporarily break our hiatus by posting a pop show. Late last winter I appeared on a new podcast that deals with musicians who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD and other psychological issues, the Crash and Ride Podcast. The host and Groovecast power listener, Patrick Ferguson, has done a tremendous job highlighting an incredibly underrepresented topic that affects quite a large number of musicians. In this episode he and I discuss the different aspects of chronic, long-term anxiety and how it touches every part of your life. As musicians we elaborate on how anxiety can sometimes drive us toward music as well as how the disorder affects the music perform. We each talk about our personal battles and give ideas for real, lasting solutions to help mitigate the suffering. Please visit Patrick and the Crash and Ride Podcast by visiting his site: http://crashandride.libsyn.com/ Patrick was recently awarded a $5,000 grant for his great work creating this show. Please support him! The Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast is still in hibernation but we are presently working on new shows for the upcoming season. Please stay subscribed and keep and eye on our social media. We’ll slowly start powering up over the next few weeks with a formal announcement of season four’s start date. In the meantime… Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. During our publishing season new shows are posted every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

As we come to the end of the third season, we take some time to discuss the news of the day and the many events that have happened over the course of recent episodes. We discuss https://possiblechops.com/ref/8/ created by friends of the show, Dave Hooper, Gary Novak, and Dave Johnstone. We also humbly discuss the honor of being included by a popular online blogger in their list of top drumming podcasts. Also, the show will observe its three-year anniversary in July. Even though we’ll celebrate during our off-season please stay subscribed. From time to time we’ll give updates on the upcoming season as well as possibly publish a special ‘off-season’ episode. With that in mind, please stay in touch with the show. We appreciate the support and welcome all ideas for future episodes and interviews. As our long-time listeners will attest, we respond to all email and many times use your suggestions for future episodes. For this episode we take on the topic of being imperfect in a digitally perfect music scene. Recently a video went viral illustrating what John Bonham might sound like if he were recording today. The author of the video takes extant Bonham tracks and ‘corrects’ them through digital quantization. We discuss this video and then talk about our favorite, imperfect drummers. We talk about different drummers, their tracks, and how some are unintentionally imperfect while others are intentional. We discuss what make these imperfections perfect along with the various methods they may intentionally employ that make their playing imperfect. Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. During our publishing season new shows are posted every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

As we moved through the third season, the show saw unparalleled growth. With that growth we received more email and social media messages and comments. In this episode Phil goes through some of the most common questions and comments with answers, concepts, and explanations. We cover the questions and topics: 1) You’re only as good of a drum set player as you are a snare drummer 2) Speed is one of the easiest things to accomplish and seldom needs to be practiced 3) Because you can play your high school’s halftime show doesn’t mean you can play the instrument 4) Playing with a metronome doesn’t intrinsically help you keep better time or play with better feel 5) Music school is not for everyone. But, how do you know? 6) Many students lack curiosity and the spirit of investigation. Here is a list of the music included in this show. 1) Billy Cobham – Crosswinds Album 2) Ralph Towner – Waterwheel – from the album, Batik 3) Tony Williams Lifetime – Snake Oil – from the album, Believe It 4) The Griffith Park Collection – L’s Bop – from the album, Griffith Park Collection 5) Canticum Canticorum Salomonis – Krzysztof Penderecki 6) Pat Metheny – Every Day I Thank You – from the album, 80/81 Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. You can find our page at ITunes by following this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drummers-weekly-groovecast/id1140363227?mt=2 Of course, you can search Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast inside of ITunes to find us as well.

Obsession is generally considered a personality flaw. However, there are times when it proves beneficial if focused on a career goal. As musicians it seems logical that having some type of obsessive personality trait would be beneficial when it comes to studying and practicing our craft. Enter this week’s guest, Rob Knopper of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, a self-professed obsessive musician (and prog rock officianado). We were due to hear from the concert side of our discipline and Rob does not disappoint. Aside from having a gig in one of the world’s top orchestras Rob is known for his expertise on snare drum. We pick his brain about: technique, practice, methods, concert snare setup, tuning, and more. Rob is also one of the foremost experts on French percussion author, Jacques Delecluse. Aside from discussing Delecluse and his method we take a solo from Douze Etudes and discuss its general aspects as well as hit the hot spots breaking down rolls, stickings, and more. Rob is also known for expertise with auditions. Part of his teaching studio focuses on helping musicians prepare for and demystify auditions. We talk about his various auditions, what he learned from them and how it led to his successful audition with the Met. Finally, we take a furious pace through the classical edition of the DWG Rorschach Test! As mentioned in the episode Rob has a website where you can contact him and shop for the various products we talked about during the show. You can visit his site by clicking here: https://www.robknopper.com/ Rob’s YouTube channel can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/robknopperstudio Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. You can find our page at ITunes by following this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drummers-weekly-groovecast/id1140363227?mt=2 Of course, you can search Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast inside of ITunes to find us as well.

These things take time. Sometimes they take six to eight months. However, if business is good who can complain? We originally reached out to Avatar Events owner, Kenny Cresswell, last fall to do a show about backline gear. However, Kenny was just a tad busy providing gear for some of music’s biggest acts. Jon and I realized that we had used the term ‘backline’ on numerous occasions throughout the history of the podcast. However, we never took enough time to fully explain what it was, why he and I needed it, and why we sometimes complained about it. Well luck would have it that not only does Atlanta have one of the premier backline rental companies in the US, but the owner is a mutual friend. During our visit to the Avatar Events warehouse we got the grand tour which comprised of 40 drum kits, 120 snare drums, 1000+ cymbals, a wall of hardware, timpani, vibes, marimbas, and more accessory percussion than any 10 retail stores combined. When we began the show, we asked Kenny everything you would want to know about not only what to expect when renting backline but what to include on your rider. We then cover aspects of the business such as: company endorsements, broken gear, selling gear, shipping equipment to remote locations, pricing, third party rentals, loaner stock,s and everything else you’d ever want to know about renting drums. If you would like to check out Avatar’s inventory and/or rent gear for your next event you can find them here: http://www.avatareventsgroup.com Avatar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avatareventsgroup/ Avatar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avatar_events_group/ Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today

Whether right or wrong we like being different and truly enjoy bringing you guests that challenge, enlighten, and entertain our listeners. This week certainly checks all those boxes. Our guest, George Marsh, is probably best known to our listeners as either the drummer from the David Grisman Quintet or as the author of “Inner Drumming” (one of our genres greatest methods). During my first chat with George he was excited to talk music and was very eager to share some of his favorite recordings of which he was a part. Throughout this episode as George describes the various musicians he’s worked with I thought it would be a nice change to mix in some of those artists’ mp3s as the interview progresses. It’s the first time we done that on the show. We hope you enjoy it and that it adds some context to the conversation. We caught up with George at his home in Santa Rosa, California. The long-time bay area resident is originally from the US Midwest where he grew up just outside of Saint Louis. His interest in music led him to gigs in Chicago and eventually to study with legendary educator, Tom Siwe at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. As the 1960s progressed it became clear to George that the weather, music, and culture of San Francisco had a magnetic appeal. Marsh relocated in 1968 and has remained in the bay area since that time. Partaking of the bay area’s fertile music scene George has played and recorded with artists as varied as the Jerry Hahn Brotherhood, Denny Zeitlin, John Abercrombie, Listen, and David Grisman. We discuss his teaching studios at Sonoma State University and the University of California at Santa Cruz. He details his nearly 40-year tenure at both schools and what he teaches there respectively. We finish having George describe the origin of “Inner Drumming”, the use of graphic notation, the nature of deliberate practice, and the myriad benefits of the method. Of course, we finish the show by taking George through the DWG Rorschach Test! Dr. Zeitlin would be delighted! Visit George at his web site: http://georgemarsh.com/ There you can view his media, purchase his book, and contact him for lessons. Here is the list of songs included in this episode: 1) “Time’s Caught Up with You” – The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood 2) “Aural Hallucination” – Listen 3) “This Ain’t Me” – Mose Allison 4) “Camel Walk” – Marsh, Abercrombie duo 5) “Geysers” – Zeitlin, Marsh 6) “Losing You” – Noam Limish 7) “After Hours” – Marsh, Wilsey, and Mathieu Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today

As we reach the midway point of season three, we dig into the mail bag for our topic this week. A while back we received listener email requesting a show that focused on the business of home recording. Immediately Jon and I knew this would be the perfect show to include a third mic guest. There’s no one better to fill that spot than our mutual friend, recording ace, and Nashville denizen, Sean O’Rourke. Sean has performed with some of the music industry’s biggest names. A partial list includes: Sugarland, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Mother’s Finest, Derek Trucks, Jerry Ragavoy, Oteil Burbridge, and Arrested Development. In this episode we call upon Sean’s 20+ years of traditional studio and in-home recording experience to answer some questions. We cover what gear it takes to make a basic home studio functional along with upgrades that may make a big difference. Sean talks about the importance of signal path, the different room treatments he’s experimented with and what works best for recording drums. We then discuss dealing with clients, what materials they should provide, charts, cues, and session set up. We then talk about finishing the session, getting the tracks approved, different audio formats, delivering the tracks, and getting paid. Finally we discuss the proliferation of online studio musicians and what you can do to help separate yourself from the pack. Check out Sean and his studio by visiting his site at: http://seanorourke.com/ Sean also has a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/seanorourke Here is Sean's Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/seanorourke Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with our social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

I always enjoy the interviews we do at Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. Part of the reason is that I only ask guests that I have a genuine interest in. It certainly doesn’t hurt if they have something to say. If they have a good time saying it, it’s just a bonus. This week I dumbed into a grand slam. I know, I know. You’re saying to yourself that you’ve heard this guy on other podcasts and social media. Not like this you haven’t. If you’re in the drumming business and unaware of Carter McLean, get out from under your rock and listen up. If you removed his current, long-term gigs (Broadway’s ‘The Lion King’ and Charlie Hunter) and his resume was reduced to his social media and educational posts, that’d be enough. If that doesn’t convince you, what if I told you that Vinnie Colaiuta was a fan? Well, he is. In this episode we cover some areas of Carter’s playing and teaching that have not been touched on. We discuss, in minutia, what it’s like getting into the Broadway orchestra pits. We talk about everything pertinent to drummers: following various conductors, subbing out shows, learning the book, covering mistakes, taking direction, monitoring, drum cages, and much more. Carter then gives us his daily routine from his commute into the city until he walks out of the theatre. We also spent a good amount of time discussing his teaching practice, his web site, and the upcoming release of his new method book, “Concepts and Creativity”. Carter discusses his educational background and how his experiences led him to create his own methods. He has documented many of his main ideas on his web site: www.fourhandsdrumming.com There you can discover his thoughts on topics such as: groove, feel, time, tuning, soloing, and more. Carter then gives us a preview of his upcoming book and walks us through a few of the concepts and exercises found within. We finish up by discussing his current, personal practice routine and then, of course, a comfortable jog through the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Rorschach Test! You can find out more about Carter by visiting his educational site: https://fourhandsdrumming.com I encourage you to also check out his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/cartermac Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

We are back with season three’s artist feature. This time around we highlight Sonny Payne (Count Basie, Harry James, Frank Sinatra, Erskine Hawkins). Payne is simultaneously one of the most influential yet underrated big band drummers in jazz history. When asked to list the most influential big band drummers a typical response might be: Buddy Rich, Papa Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Louie Bellson, Mel Lewis, Ed Shaughnessy, Chick Webb, etc. However, when many musicians, including some of the aforementioned drumming greats, are asked to name influential drummers Payne is at the top of the list. Combining innate musicality with bombastic setups and unparalleled showmanship Payne became the blueprint for which all future Basie drummers were compared. Harold Jones, who replaced Payne after his departure in 1965, unapologetically said that he took everything he could from Sonny during his time with the Basie band. Butch Miles, a fifteen-year Basie veteran, echoed that all drummers were told to emulate Payne’s playing as the definitive versions of the Basie catalogue. Phil and Jon discuss Payne’s playing style, his sound, his gear, and then listen to excerpts from their favorite recordings. Phil’s Picks: Shiny Stockings from Ella and Basie! Cute – from Basie Plays Hefti Whirlybird – from The Dynamic Basie Orchestra One O’Clock Jump – from Breakfast Dance and BBQ Jon’s Picks: Jumpin at the Woodside – Live at the Sands (Before Frank) I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Sinatra at the Sands All of Me - Sinatra at the Sands One O’Clock Jump - Sinatra at the Sands Join us every Monday for the best interviews and topical discussion in the drumming podcast idiom! We’re available on ITunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts. Subscribe today! If you listen via Itunes please stop by the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast home page inside of ITunes and leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it and it helps other people looking for our content find us a bit more easily. Lastly please visit our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can listen to all of our shows, interact with our social media accounts, view our videos, and contact us through our email form. Share us with your friends!

We spread our wings this episode and interview our first bassist, Jimmy Haslip. Now before you call me out regarding our bassists’s perspective show, with two of our favorite bass players, keep in mind that was a four mic show and not really an interview. Most of you will know Jimmy from his long-term relationship with the seminal fusion group the Yellowjackets. During his 32-year tenure with the band Jimmy and fellow band mates released some of the most influential music in that genre’s history. All the while Jimmy continued to work with other musicians on various live and studio projects which ultimately led him to develop an affinity and mastery for production. In 2012 Jimmy decided to take a break from touring to concentrate on producing music of his own and for other like-minded musicians. Little did he know that break would turn into a permanent full-time gig. In this episode we caught up with Jimmy during his recent stop in Atlanta with the Oz Noy trio. I met him in the lobby of his hotel where we set up shop and talked about his recent gigs and production projects. We then devote the majority of show discussing the drummers that Jimmy has worked with. It is one of the most impressive and comprehensive lists of drummers and percussionists I’ve ever seen. We naturally discuss his work with great jazz and fusion players such as: Will Kennedy, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gergo Borlai, Tom Brechtlein, and Joel Rosenblatt. But we also cover a list of players that you wouldn’t normally associate with Jimmy. And…of course, we finish up with a run through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach test. Visit Jimmy at his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.haslip Visit Jimmy at Blue Canoe Records: https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/arctrio_jh_sc_gb.html Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

After a long winter’s nap Phil and Jon make their return to the Groovecast studios. In what is becoming a recurrent tradition they reveal the season three theme and discuss the clips therein. We then spend some time catching up from the past few months discussing new gigs and opportunities. We also pay our respects to the great Hal Blaine. We then talk about social media etiquette and how to contact us to be better connected. Our topic to start season three is positive forms of motivation and its long-lasting benefits. We each explain how this type of motivation is the polar opposite of ‘stage bullying’ and negative commentary. Sometimes you receive the motivation from a teacher. Sometimes it can be a fellow musician. It can also be discovered in forms of self-realization. Each host then describes how different real-world scenarios of positive motivation enhanced the situation they were in. They also recount how these styles of motivation stayed with them and how they are used currently. We finish out the premiere episode by making a visit to the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Garage. In this segment Jon talks about the relevance of vintage, chrome plated, brass drum hoops. He discusses where you’d typically find them, ways to identify them, the potential benefits of using them and the resale value compared to steel hoops. Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

In the snowy mountains of rural, western North Carolina Jeff Sipe (Apt. Q-258) resides. You may know him from his tenure with acts such as, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Herring, Leftover Salmon, Col. Bruce Hampton, Jazz Is Dead, and Shawn Lane/Jonas Hellborg. However most know him from the group that gained him his initial popularity, Aquarium Rescue Unit. To finish out our second season Jeff agreed to talk to us about all of the above including his current gigs and the publishing of his new method book, “Rhythm Patterns for Drum Set”. Stories. Everyone likes to hear them and many musicians have colorful tales about being on the gig. If you look at Sipe’s past credentials you’ll quickly recognize that he’ll have plenty to offer in that category. We start with how he received the moniker, ‘Apt. Q-258’. We also spend a good bit of time discussing his upbringing abroad and how it fostered his love for music. Jeff also tells great stories about his time in Boston and attending the Berklee College of Music. One of the stories revolves around his friendship with guitarist, Steve Vai, and being present during Steve’s ‘transcription phase’ prior to his tenure with Frank Zappa. Jeff then talks about his departure from Boston and subsequent arrival in Atlanta. From there he tells of how a chance meeting with Bruce Hampton ultimately led to a long relationship with the legendary performance artist. From there we go through the lexicon of his gigs including the formation of the Aquarium Rescue Unit and the bands that followed. We finish up talking about his current teaching studio including a description of his new method book. As always, we end the show by putting Jeff through the obstacle course that is the DWG Rorschach Test. Jeff wants you to stay abreast of his upcoming gigs. Please go by his web site at: www.jeffsipemusic.com There you can find out where he’s performing and check out his new method book, “Rhythm Patterns for Drum Set”. Thank you very much for your support during season two of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. Please stay subscribed during our short hiatus and let us know what you’d like to hear in the next season. You can email us via our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can also listen to all of our episodes, watch our videos, and manage your social media accounts. Lastly, please take a moment to share our podcast with your friends. If you are an Apple user and access the show through Itunes we’d greatly appreciate a review the next time you’re at our homepage inside of Itunes. Finally, if you do not use Itunes you can find us at Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts.

The Berklee College of Music is ubiquitous with musicians worldwide. When we think of the great institutions of education along with the world’s greatest musicians Berklee is routinely mentioned in both instances. However, with any topic of conversation that conjures legendary tales there are as many negative connotations as positive. In this episode we cover everything you’d want to know about the school from a gentleman who has been a part of the faculty for 36 years, John Ramsay. Ramsay, a Massachusetts native, was a self-taught drummer who soon realized that if he was going to make a living as a musician he’d have to seriously learn his craft. Through meeting Max Roach at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst he was ultimately steered toward private lessons with master drummer/instructor, Alan Dawson. With Dawson he learned the legendary methods associated with Ted Reed’s ‘Syncopation’, soloing with Stone’s ‘Stick Control’, and Alan’s creation of the ‘Rudimental Ritual’. After several years Ramsay became the second drummer and tour manager in Art Blakey’s big band. Between this experience along with side-man duties with many other legendary jazz artists Ramsay bolstered his resume leading to his hiring at the Berklee College of Music in 1982. John’s list of Berklee credentials includes copious classroom and applied teaching along with an administrative stint as chair of the percussion department. In our chat he describes exactly what the aspiring student should prepare themselves with including knowing the 26 American rudiments, chart reading, styles, and more. He then details what the audition process is like. We also spend a good amount of time discussing the acceptance process and the different types of scholarships and financial aid that is available. We then talk about the many different degree paths that are available including the new graduate programs. Applied lessons, the celebrity teachers, and how students can request them are then covered. John then talks about the required classes, labs, etc. Then we finish with a discussion about the state-of-the-art facilities (recording studios, practice rooms, performance venues, media center, and more). After the Berklee talk has concluded we conclude the show by running John through the maze that is the DWG Rorschach Test. As mentioned during the show you can keep up with John and Henrique de Almeida are doing by visiting the web site: www.thedrumsetcoach.com You can buy John’s books by visiting Amazon: Art Blakey’s Jazz Messages: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Blakeys-Jazz-Messages-Publications/dp/0760400091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543503787&sr=8-1&keywords=john+ramsay The Drummer’s Complete Vocabulary as taught by Alan Dawson: https://www.amazon.com/Drummers-Complete-Vocabulary-Taught-Dawson/dp/0769265243/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543503787&sr=8-2&keywords=john+ramsay If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from access to all of our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. We try to personally answer all emails and questions. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

We are back again with our illustrious panelists from the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. With the success from the last episode featuring the advisory board we knew it was a must for the second season. For this show’s topic we have employed a few past board members and welcome a few new faces to the panel. Please welcome Rod Morgenstein, Chris Fryar, Tom Brechtlein, Joel Rosenblatt, and Ted Mackenzie to this session’s advisory board. This time around we pose the question, “What important aspect do you believe is missing or should be done better in music education?” Each guest gives their answer and we discuss our own thoughts on what might be beneficial to modern students in today’s current and future music business. We analyze different topics such as: curriculum, application, concepts, student accountability, methods, technology, and much more. If you haven’t heard the previous episodes featuring interviews with our panel members you listen to them by following the links below: Rod Morgenstein: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-100-interview-rod-morgenstein You can also visit Rod’s web site at: www.rodmorgenstein.com Tom Brechtlein: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-65-interview-tom-brechtlein You can also visit Tom’s web site at: www.tombrechtlien.com Chris Fryar: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-90-interview-chris-fryar-of-the-zac-brown-band You can visit Chris’ web site at: www.chrisfryar.com Joel Rosenblatt: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-29-interview-joel-rosenblatt You can visit Joel’s web site at: http://joelrosenblatt.com/ Ted Mackenzie: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-103-the-adler-technique-with-ted-mackenzie You can also visit Ted’s web site at: www.tedmackenize.com If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from access to all of our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. We try to personally answer all emails and questions. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Jason Bittner is one of the premiere heavy metal drummers. His resume includes the bands, Shadows Fall, Flotsam and Jetsam, Burning Human, Stigmata, Anthrax, and currently he is a member of the legendary east coast band, Overkill. Not a bad way to welcome our first, straight-up, metal drummer to the Groovecast. He sat down with us from his home in upstate New York. I was introduced to Jason through our mutual friend, and previous show guest, Ted Mackenzie. A few days before Thanksgiving we found a time to chat. Aside from being a tremendous player Jason is a fantastic storyteller. He starts the interview with details about a clinic he recently conducted near his hometown. That story leads to other accounts from past tours including an unforgettable night in the UK where his clinic was held in a pub. We spend a good amount of time discussing his education (early teachers and methods) and how it led to him reading Modern Drummer, noticing ads, and ultimately attending the Berklee College of Music. He talks about his time in Boston and his teachers, Ed Uribe, Arvin Scott and Skip Hadden. We then discuss the early metal bands he was in and the perseverance it took until the formation and success of Shadows Fall. We then talk about his current gig with the band, Overkill. Jason takes us through a typical day of being on the road including his pre-show routines. We finish up talking about his daily practice schedule before he runs through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach test. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Here at the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of the year. It gives us the perfect opportunity to give thanks to our art form and for us, Phil and Jon, to give thanks for our listeners. In this episode we dedicate the entire time to answering listener questions. We begin the show with a short segment of listener comments directed at the last two shows, JM Van Eaton and Roger Hawkins. We often say it but never say it enough. Thank you very much for your loyal support of the show! Your comments and reviews mean the world to us! We then get to the main part of the show which is a full session of Q & A. Over the last several months we’ve received quite a few emails. We always respond personally but most of the time we don’t discuss them on the show. We decided this time around to publicly answer our most frequently asked questions. Topics we cover include: practice, injury, gear repair, recording tips and technology, music theory, ear training, and more. We finish the show with a segment on underrated drummers. Phil and Jon each share their picks along with representative tracks and videos. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

“Now, Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers. And they’ve been known to pick a song or two.” Literally millions of people have heard this famous line from Lynyrd Skynyrd but how many actually know what it means? The Swampers were the famous rhythm section from Muscle Shoals’ FAME recording studio and they are responsible for hundreds of popular hits and thousands of great feeling tracks. This week we’ll christen the midway point of the second season and listen to the Swampers’ incredible drummer, Roger Hawkins, for our artist feature. Knowing that this topic would be dead center of Jon’s strike zone he details a short biography of Hawkins and discusses the many influences, sometimes unknowingly, on the drumming populace. Hawkins is sometimes mistaken for RnB studio greats, typically Al Jackson or Bernard Purdie, so we take time to explain the reasons for that. We then listen to several tracks featuring Roger and analyze what’s happening in each track. Below are the song choices from each host. Phil’s tracks: 1) Land of a 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett 2) Get Ready – King Curtis version 3) Respect Yourself – Staples Singers 4) Katmandu – Bob Seger Jon’s tracks: 1) Never Loved a Man – Aretha Franklin 2) I’ll Take You There – Staples Singers 3) I’d Rather Go Blind – Etta James 4) Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are a subscriber on any Apple platform please go by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. Not only does it help the show rank higher it also allows new listeners to find us more easily when their looking for shows with our content. Lastly, please take a moment at visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast There you can listen to the show, watch our videos, manage your social media accounts, and interact with the show through our email form.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that JM (Jimmy) Van Eaton was at rock and roll ground zero. It certainly didn’t hurt that he was unknowingly living in one of the great hot beds for American music, 1950s Memphis, TN. Although it’s no longer in the top echelon of music cities, being significantly overshadowed by its eastern neighbor a mere 200 miles away, Memphis paved the way for future generations of rock, RnB, country, and jazz musicians. After a long stretch of living in rural West Tennessee JM recently retired from his long-time occupation in financial services. I caught up with JM at his new residence is Memphis. From there we discussed his upbringing and how it led to his initial musical training on trumpet. He soon moved to percussion in his school’s concert band and subsequently cobbled together a complete drum set using different pieces from their percussion cabinet. Van Eaton transitioned to professional gigs ultimately landing him at the world-famous Sun Recording Studios. JM quickly moved from demo sessions to master tracks. The rhythm section on one of the sessions included a young, hungry up and coming pianist named, Jerry Lee Lewis. JM continued playing sessions and live gigs with Jerry Lee and ended up on several of Lewis’ iconic hits including, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. Aside from his long-standing relationship with Lewis, JM played on over 200 records and has worked with legendary musicians, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins to name but a few. We finish up hearing about his recent playing endeavors and then we run him through the gauntlet that is the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast, Rorschach Test. Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud and everywhere you listen to your favorite show. Also, please visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. Aside from accessing all our shows you can also view our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and email us using our contact form. Please share our podcast with your friends and leave us a review if you subscribe using Itunes.

“Yeah he’s a great drummer, but he’s a jazz player.” I’d be willing to bet that sometime during a conversation you’ve heard a similar comment. What does that even mean? And more importantly what’s the rationale for saying that? It’s obviously a reference to the musical approach of the jazz player and how he’d be inappropriate for a particular job. It’s certainly no secret that many musicians devote the majority of their time to one particular musical style. That devotion however can lead to neglect and the superimposition of the preferred style while playing another genre. That’s not good. However, instead of a sweeping generalization what particular aspects of his approach make him suitable for jazz but not for rock? In this episode we welcome Marlon Patton to the show as we dissect and examine the differences between the jazz and rock mindset. What makes up the mentality of a great jazz or rock musician? We take the topics of touch, gear, independence, feel, groove construction, song structure, and gig preparation to dig deep into what makes the approach different between the two styles. We also spend a few minutes talking about the start of the new season while reviewing a few listener emails. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Daniel de los Reyes is one of the premiere percussionists in the world. Even if he wasn’t a member of one of today’s most popular bands, the Zac Brown Band, his resume is as impressive as anyone’s in the music business. He’s recorded or toured with: Earth, Wind, and Fire, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Sting, Chicago, Ben Vereen, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Steve Winwood, Sheryl Crow, and Peter Frampton to name a few. All that being said he’s an even better human being. In our time together, we certainly talked drumming and music. However, we spent significantly more time discussing life, family, priorities, mistakes, ambitions, and giving back. Daniel has seen it all and has walls full of awards to prove it. Right now, one of his priorities is furthering his philanthropic endeavor, Day Glow Music. Danny blends culture, art, and music together to educate and enlighten kids with the hopes that they can share their passion with others. He’s also working to bring relief to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. We also speak in detail about his current gig, percussionist with the Zac Brown Band. He tells how his relationship with the band started, including his first gig with them at Red Rocks, becoming a member and how each person in ZBB builds a group concept that is integral to the success of the band. We finish off with a sprint through the obstacle course that is the DWG Rorschach test! If you’d like to donate or read more about Day Glow Music please visit Daniel at: www.dayglowmusic.org If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Welcome back to the start of a new season of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. We greatly appreciate your patience and support during our hiatus. We look forward to bringing you the best in topical conversation, interviews, and recommendation segments. After our cold open we debut our new show theme and discuss what we’ve been doing during our break. Our topic for the week is “Performance Panic/Neurosis”. In past episodes we’ve covered several subjects that deal with problems arising from outside sources: stage bullies, outdoor events, unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances, etc. Today we discuss how to manage problems that are self-manifested. We often sabotage ourselves when we get the chance to perform with or for a great musician or personal hero. We get inside our heads and let the voice of negativity and doubt ruin our experience. We discuss our personal understanding and the different ways it has affected us during gigs and sessions. Sometimes we respond by over playing. Sometimes we play it too safe. Then are times we completely panic and send ourselves off the rails. After addressing each scenario, we talk about proven ways to rationalize and overcome these stressful situations. We then finish up the show with must-have gear recommendations. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Keeping tabs on social media use is now something all responsible people must do. Naturally we think that most of the problems generated by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, come from the original poster. Sometimes that is correct. However with the omnipotence of technology and its accompanying social media, savvy users have to be equally careful simply being onlookers. In this episode Phil and Jon discuss the proliferation of several social media platforms and the benefits they offer. Likewise we dive into the worm hole of exactly what can go wrong when social media use goes awry. We cover issues like: bad posting etiquette, problems arising from overconsumption, loss of productivity, addiction, and anxiety resulting from social media overexposure. We then discuss proven, practical ways to loosen the grip of social media and get you back on the road to productivity. We also talk about our recent inclusion in Drum Magazine's top drumming podcast's list. We are humbled and honored to be listed with such wonderful people and podcasts. If you would like to see what was said about us click this link: http://drummagazine.com/streaming-the-beat-top-drumming-podcasts-right-now/ We also discuss a recent article written by listener Kyle Edmonston. His paper is about 'Time' and he cites episode 37 of the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast as one of his primary sources. Thanks Kyle and tremendous work! You can read Kyle's article by clicking this link: https://kyleedmonster.wordpress.com/2018/07/17/time/ Finally, we get another tip from Jon during our visit to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Garage. If you have broken or partially operational snare stands this segment is for you. Special thanks once again goes to everyone who has ever listened to the show. It means more to us than you'll ever know. If you haven't left a review for the show please swing by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. We'll never ask you for money so if you have a few minutes to leave us a five star review we'd be very grateful. It helps us reach a bigger audience for people who are looking for our type of show. If you'd like to listen to any back episodes, view our videos, visit our social media, or get in touch with us go to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com

Two years ago we ventured into the podcast arena with a topic that resonated with thousands of musicians. This week we revisit the original episode that started it all. Stage bullies come in all shapes, sizes, and volumes! Some musician bullies like to exercise their control when in leadership positions. Others are micro managers and like to dictate everything you play and do. Some leaders are nervous, snippy yellers who don't know how to deal with high pressure situations. You may also run into the ego maniac who likes to demean others and force his will onto the music and everyone at the gig. Conversely you may run into the brooding, passive aggressive player who sneers and gives condescending looks or comments. Those types of 'stage bullies' are only the most common! There are a myriad of others. Let us help you deal with them. If you haven't heard this original broadcast give it a listen. If you have heard it, check it out again. In this inaugural episode Phil and Jon sit down and discuss this negative aspect of performing by relating their own experiences and how they got past the problems. If you listen to our show on your Iphone or directly in Itunes please leave us a review! Simply click a 5 star review on our Itunes homepage. It helps us tremendously and allow people looking for shows of our type find us that much easier. Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

This week's show is dedicated to our listeners! Episode 104 officially marks the two year anniversary of the podcast and we celebrate with news, listener questions, two year statistics, favorite guests, favorite show moments, and more. We start the episode with Phil and Jon discussing the benefits of hosting the show by recently being invited to two major concert events. We then tackle a few listener questions. If you've ever experienced what you believe is carpal tunnel symptoms make sure you listen closely. We also cover the nebulous topic of shuffle differentiation. In particular we answer the question: "What is the difference between the Texas Shuffle and the Chicago Shuffle"? We then give our appreciation to the listeners who've supported the show for the past two years. We talk about the continual growth of the show and then play a 'stats game'. We go over podcast stats for several topics including: the most listened to show, top countries who listen, top non-English speaking countries, top US states, top US cities, top referring web sites, and much more. During the past two years we've experienced some memorable shows and guests. Phil and Jon reflect back to the creation of the show and ultimately how it led to their first episode, "Stage Bullies". They discuss how that initial topic resonated with many people and ultimately established their listener base from the beginning. The topic of favorite guests is then addressed. We go over our first interview, road trips, our first remote interview, the creation of the advisory board, and ultimately the lasting friendships that have resulted from this podcast. Special thanks once again goes to everyone who has ever listened to the show. It means more to us than you'll ever know. If you haven't left a review for the show please swing by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. It helps us tremendously. If you'd like to listen to any back episodes, view our videos, visit our social media, or get in touch with us go to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com

For this episode we welcome back to the show author/educator/performer, Ted Mackenzie. In a previous show Ted spoke about his relationship with master teacher, Henry Adler, and how his knowledge of Adler's method led to him to be chosen to revise the popular book, "Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments". In that show we discussed how he revised the book, his lessons with Adler, the publication process, and his companion methods that followed. Listener response to that particular show was tremendous. However there were several listeners who wished that we had discussed the actual Adler method and how it is applied to the book. We do just that in this show. Ted takes the time to discuss Adler's thoughts on grip (both matched and traditional), stroke motion, stroke heights, accepting the rebound, accents, non-bounce vs bounce strokes, wagging the brush, and more. Here you'll get the 'flyover' concept of Henry Adler's famous method. We also touch on how the Adler technique relates to other popular methods such as Moeller and Gladstone. We also discuss why the Adler method is not quite as prevalent as other techniques due to its perceived difficulty and depth of study. He also mentions a few teachers that he knows are qualified to teach the Adler method. Aside from Buddy here are few of Adler's higher profile students: Ed Shaughnessy, Louide Bellson, Charlie Perry, Sonny Igoe, Sonny Payne, Kenny Clare, Jack Sperling, Bobby Morris, Alvin Stoller, and Doug Allen. To see Ted explain and demonstrate some of the Adler concepts click on the links below. There you'll be taken to Ted's web site, his Amazon store, and video links for visual demonstration. Ted's website: www.tedmackenzie.com Resistance training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZHThqTbp4g&feature=youtu.be Development of Hands and Wrists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awZq8jgRRMw&feature=youtu.be Traditional Grip (Bounce): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWDdjBHRoM&feature=youtu.be Ted's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00J3333UO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true Ted is also aware of three instructors that are qualified to teach the Adler Method. These teachers are: Nat Oliveri in North Carolina, Walt Heitner in Long Island, NY, and Christopher in Shaw in England. Contact Ted via his website for direct contact information to these teachers. The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast needs some help! We're calling upon our loyal listening audience to help us find an intern. We need someone who is well versed in website creation, search engine optimization, social media promotion, and research. If you or someone you know would like to be a part of our show please reach out to us. Send us a message on social media or an email from our website: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You do not have to live in Atlanta to be our intern. If you have skills and a reliable internet connection you will certainly be given full consideration. Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Every year professional musicians brace themselves from April to October. That six to seven month span encompasses outdoor gig season. In this episode we welcome David Freeman, saxophonist/keyboardist of the Yacht Rock Revue, to the show. He's a long time, power listener and part time drummer. In his decades of performance experience Dave has had hundreds of performances during shed season. Aside from giving our personal stories about perfect outdoor gigs versus nightmare outdoor gigs Phil and Dave give a host of practical tips that will prepare you for anything that comes your way. We spend some time talking about listing and packing specialized equipment that will protect your gear and survive the rigors of the elements. In particular we talk about several different ways to protect your electronics from rain, humidity, and moisture. We give tips about self-preservation including different items to bring for personal comfort (insect repellent, sun block, cooling towels, etc.). We then cover the best and lightest ways to load and transport gear to keep you as fresh as possible during times of oppressive heat. If you have ever considered contracting outdoor events there are many aspects that differ from traditional, indoor gigs. Dave and Phil run through a list of requests that are mandatory when considering an outdoor gig. We cover everything from staging, to food and beverage needs, to case storage and miscellaneous rider inclusions. Finally we give you practical, on-the-job tips that can make a potentially bad situation tolerable if not enjoyable! Don't forget that the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast is looking for an intern. We need someone who is well versed in web site design, SEO, social media, promotion and creative writing. If you are interested or if you know someone who might be interested please go to our website: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and drop us a line. We can help you achieve college credit if you need it. Thanks to all of our listeners who have continually supported the show. We appreciate you very much. If you subscribe to the show using Itunes please stop by our page and leave us a short Itunes review. It helps our show grow organically by making us show up higher in searches where musicians are looking for our type of podcast.

For this mini-episode of 'Accountability Thursday' we'll take a look at the companion piece to last week's show solo "Trip-It". "Flip-It" authored by Herman Wiegman is a traditional solo written in two-four with a couple interesting twists. At the start of the solo we roll off with a traditional, ternary seven stroke roll. However when we get to the first ending and prepare for the repeat we notice there's no seven stroke roll! This can be interpreted literally where upon repeat we'd play a single stroke on the downbeat of the first bar. However I took the liberty to 'correct' what could be a misprint and played the traditional seven stroke roll that would finish the first ending and lead back to the top (like the introductory roll off). Ultimately do whatever feels best for yourself but always remember that certain interpretation liberties can be used on these old solos. The next interesting twist is found at the beginning of the second half of the solo. The author writes the Lesson 25 rudiment three times in a row but forces us to alternate the rhythm when it is traditionally played all on one hand. Again practice these stickings exactly as written since they affect everything that is played afterward. Finally in the last two measures the author writes two separate sets of sixteenth note triplets that are connected with binary sixteenth notes. Play the binary sixteenth notes as a right handed paradiddle so that it will 'flip' the second set of sixteenth note triplets to lead with the left hand. Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Flip-It". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

We begin our show this week asking our audience for a little help. No, it's not for money! Rather we are in the market for an intern! That's right. We need some help in the I.T. department and feel sure that there's a student or professional musician out there that would love to help us. If you are familiar with social media promotion, web site design, SEO, and don't mind helping answer and send a few emails than you might have yourself a gig (or some college credit). Head on over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and drop us a line. Before we get to our main topic of the day Phil breaks the news that he's had an article published in the July issue of Percussive Notes magazine. We also discuss the passing of drumming legend, DJ Fontana. We also talk about his contributions to rock and roll and his lesser known role as a Nashville studio drummer. This week Phil and Jon step outside the lines and do a show recommending some of their favorite things. We intentionally stay away from genres that we've picked in our recurring segments and choose things that inspire us when we're away from the drums. Phil's picks: 1) www.trello.com 2) http://vetrafitness.com 3) Karl Ove Knausgaard Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Karl-Ove-Knausgaard/e/B00NS0C37C Jon's picks: 1) http://www.kentvilledrums.com.au/ 2) http://thedrummershort.com/ We finish up by visiting with author, Jake Brown. Jake is the author of the book, "Beyond the Beats". His book is a collection of print interviews from 1980s arena rock drummers. He talks about how he started writing, the process of this book, and his future books highlighting different types of drummers. Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Rod Morgenstein is one of the preeminent musicians of our time. He is known for being in one of the most important fusion bands (Dixie Dregs) in history, one of the most popular hard rock bands (Winger, also known for their individual musical virtuosity as well) of the 80s, and a legendary educator (author of several popular method books, hundreds of pedagogical articles, and a twenty year stint at the Berklee College of Music). Fresh from an extensive North American tour with the Dixie Dregs, Rod was kind enough to join us from his home in New York to chat about drums, his education, performing, the music business, and his passion for writing and teaching. We discovered during our chat that Rod has connections with DWG guest and advisory board member, Tom Brechtlein. Both drummers studied under Ronnie Gould while attending Nassau Community College. Rod then transferred to the University of Miami where he befriended Danny Gottlieb, graduated with his music degree and ultimately formed the Dixie Dregs with Steve Morse, Andy West, Allen Sloan, and T Lavitz. We then discussed the music business and what it means to be a full member of a working band. Rod details the pros and cons along with how it sometimes pays to be a side man in certain situations. Winger happened just at the right time after the Dixie Dregs went on hiatus and Rod relocated to New York to find work. Rod tells us how a chance meeting turned into his lifelong dream of playing in a successful arena rock band. We finish up with Rod detailing how he was hired on a temporary appointment to teach at the Berklee College of Music. Ultimately it turned into a twenty year association with the school having Rod commute 240 miles (one way) each week during his tenure there. Finally we put Rod to the test with the DWG Rorschach test! You can visit Rod at his website: www.rodmorgenstein.com You can visit Rod's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/rod.morgenstein Rod's books are available here: https://online.berklee.edu/store/product?product_id=11333&usca_p=t&offer_code=5610 Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud and everywhere you listen to your favorite show. Also please visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. Aside from accessing all our shows you can also view our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and email us using our contact form. Please share our podcast with your friends and leave us a review if you subscribe using Itunes.

As we move into the month June and close in our 100th feature episode we continue pushing forward in the NARD book. This Thursday we'll be looking at the solo, "Trip-It". It'll be our second solo composed in six-eight hence the solo's name. Like most of our traditional rudimental solos this piece is felt in two but with a triplet undercurrent. Another facet of this solo that lends to its name is the author's use of triplets in the second half. One thing to watch out for is his use of triplets leading into paradiddles at the end of the third and fourth lines. In both cases he uses the triplet to turnaround the stickings forcing us to play three notes on one hand. That sticking is crucial to the feel and execution of the rudiments that follow those measures. Also pay particularly close attention to the crescendos that occur in the second half. They add texture and excitement to the solo since there are no other dynamic markings written aside from accents. Lastly, play the accented triplet rhythms (at the start of the fifth line and in the penultimate measure) with alternating stickings. Don't drag! Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/dk47ewHgonU You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Trip-It". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

The North Georgia country side doesn't normally evoke the thought of rock stars. However Interpol drummer, Sam Fogarino, doesn't particularly care to live up to stereotypes. He's experienced the city life and finds himself quite comfortable living miles away from the rat race. Recently Sam invited me to his home and we set up shop in his guest house turned studio. We discussed the local music scene and his recent move just before the mics were turned on. Once we began our conversation flowed freely and easily. Sam discussed growing up in west Philadelphia and how he started playing drums. He navigates through his learning process and how his curiosity and spirit of investigation led him during his formative years. After several relocations Sam took a chance and moved to New York City with the hopes of finding like minded musicians to form a new band. While working in a clothing store (which sold vinyl as well) and contemplating the woes of the music business he was invited to watch a friend's band play. Ultimately it was the start of his relationship with Daniel Kessler and Paul Banks from Interpol. During a first for the DWG Phil and Sam listen to the Interpol song, "Obstacle 1" while Sam analyzes the song in real time! Listen closely to really get inside the creation and recording of this Interpol favorite. From there Sam tells us about a day in the life of an Interpol tour, his gear, the upcoming album release and tour, and the band's appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Friday, June 8th). Finally we finish the show with a run through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach Test. You can visit Sam and Interpol at their website: www.interpolnyc.com Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. You can subscribe to the show in Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Please visit our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll find every episode, all our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and contact us through our email form. Please share our show with your friend and co-performers! Also, if you subscribe in Itunes please take a moment and review our show with five stars. We'd greatly appreciate it!

This week we are back with another installment of signature grooves. Back in episode 48 we presented a baker's dozen of definitive beats that were so uniquely crafted that they would need to be learned and played exactly in order to stay authentic to the song. In some cases these proprietary grooves may require a totally new playing or technical approach. In this episode we are presenting 'level two' of these signature grooves. This batch of beats embody common traits or patterns found in many other beats. However a twist or specific aspect of the groove makes it unique for the song in which it's played. We'll traverse many different genres: pop, rock, hard rock, fusion, funk, and RnB. We'll also address many decades: 60s, 70s, 80s and more. The drummers we'll discuss cover several different aspects of the drumming spectrum: pop icon (Ringo), rock god (Bonham), funk legend (Stubblefield and Starks), linear pioneer (Garibaldi), drumming virtuoso (Hakim) and much more. As we move through the list we'll analyze the importance of the groove and how it became a signature beat for the song. We then break down why it's important to us as drummers and how it may have spawned a new technique, independence or style. We'll also discuss how the drummer, band, and song connected with the era in which it was recorded and how it affected future music. The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today! If you are an Itunes subscriber please leave us a short review on our Itunes DWG home page. It really helps us relate to other similar shows and allows people looking for our content find us a bit easier. Lastly, please share the show on your social media and with your friends!

This week we honor one of the greatest drummers in the history of music, Roy Haynes. Originally from Boston, Haynes is one of the last living musicians who performed with all of the following jazz giants: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughn. If you include other past and current jazz greats it's not a stretch to say that Roy has literally played with everybody. A partial list would include: Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Gary Burton, and Pat Metheny. Known for his signature sound, Phil and Jon discuss his cymbals, drums, and tuning and how that became an integral part of the jazz lexicon. They also talk about the first time they heard Roy and how he's been a legitimate influence on virtually every drummer in existence. Before the guys give their favorite Haynes picks they discuss the passing of the great John "Jabo" Starks and their remembrances of his tenure at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Florida. Phil picks are: "Sneakin' Around" from Roy Haynes' CD, "We Three" "Snap, Crackle" from Roy Haynes' CD, "Out of the Afternoon" "Satan's Mysterious Feeling" from Roy Haynes' CD, "Hip Ensemble" "Solar" from Pat Metheny's CD, "Question and Answer" Jon's picks are: "My Favorite Things" from John Coltrane's CD, "Live at Newport '63" "Rhythm-a-Ning" from Chick Corea's CD, "Trio Music" "Elucidation" from Gary Burton's CD, "Like Minds" "Now's the Time" from Roy Haynes' CD, "Birds of a Feather" Join us every Monday for brand new, feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes. You can find us everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts. You can also listen to every episode, manage your subscription, watch all our videos, interact with us on social media, and directly email us at our web site www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com Subscribe today!

Welcome back for another edition of Accountability Thursday, mini-episode number ten. This time we'll be working on another solo from the NARD book entitled, Old Drum. This is a longer piece than many of the traditional solos found in this book so aside from working your chops it will also be a challenge to your concentration as well. The first things to notice when preparing this solo are the 'X's' above certain notes along with the author's performance instructions. Whenever you see the 'X' you will strike your left stick with the right stick. Both sticks should be off the drum when doing this. This is not a 'stick shot' where the left stick would be pressed into the drum head. Rather both sticks will be off the drum with this technique being a device of showmanship as much as a musical technique. This solo has two distinct parts. The first half is divided into two sections that focus on duple metered flam rudiments. Be sure to have your flamacues and flam taps in good shape while working on this. The second half is also divided into two sections. These two sections concentrate on ternary rhythms and drag rudiments. Ratamacues are featured in this second half. Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Y_Wn1Dq4HEE You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Old Drum". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

This week we begin by paying our respects to Roy Burns. Roy was best known as the founder of Aquarian Drumheads. We take time to discuss his contributions to our profession regarding his groundbreaking educational concepts (clinics, lessons, and writings) as well as his performance career (Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, and more). Roy passed away in Anaheim, CA on Saturday, May 5th at the age of 82. We also welcome to the show performer, author, and educator, Ted Mackenzie. Ted recently relocated to the Atlanta area from upstate New York. By a chance meeting Ted was chosen to revise Henry Adler's seminal book, "Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments". Mackenzie, one of Adler's previous students, knew the book and recognized there were a few things that could be revised or added. We get to hear about the full process, the blessing from Adler, the follow up book ("Buddy Rich's Rudiments Around the Kit"), the recording of supplemental DVDs, the creation of the "The Ultimate Drummer's Workout", and much more. You can contact Ted as well as purchase his books and DVDs at the following places: Ted's personal site: https://www.tedmackenzie.com/ Ted's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00J3333UO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 Ted's publisher, Hal Leonard's page: https://www.halleonard.com/ Join us every Monday for brand new feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for our 'practice along' mini-episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription. Lastly, if you listen to the show on Itunes, or even if you just have an Itunes account, please a take a moment and leave us a short, written review. It really helps the show grow and allows other people looking for podcasts of our genre to find us.

"What tempo would you like for this song? Too fast or too slow?" - drummer to singer Musicians like to analyze and complain about the tenuous relationships that they have with other players in the band. However none of those associations compare with the relationships between the vocalist(s) and the rest of the band. There are copious tales and jokes that solidify that point. In this episode we discuss working with singers and welcome back, power listener and previous guest, Dave Johnstone. Dave stopped in Atlanta on his way to Augusta to play with the dynamic vocalists (and trombonist) Aubrey Logan. After catching up for a bit we tackle this topic by acknowledging that not only do we occasionally have to learn 'singer speak' but sometimes have to depend on our instincts and musical depth to allow us read into what singers are telling us. We also discuss the importance of compromise, supporting a vocalist, count-ins, volume level, setting up phrases, knowing when to correct a singer's tempo, and much more. Make sure you visit Dave Johnstone at his personal web site. You can find him at: www.davejohnstone.com Also follow Dave at his instagram account. He's @johnstonedrums Join us every Monday for brand new feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for our 'practice along' mini-episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription. Subscribe to us today. Lastly, if you listen to the show on Itunes, or even if you just have an Itunes account, please a take a moment and leave us a short, written review. It really helps the show grow and allows other people looking for podcasts of our genre to find us.

With the coming of May also comes another installation of Accountability Thursday! In this mini-episode we are working on a solo dedicated to the legendary, William F. Ludwig. "Assault and Battery' by Tommy Bloomingdale from the NARD book is the subject of this week's practice. Unlike most of the NARD book (yet similar to the Wilcoxon books) this solo utilizes very specific stickings and rudiments. The first place where we need to use our traditional interpretation skills is the dotted quarter note roll in the first measure of the second half of the solo. Perform this roll as a 15 stroke roll over the dotted quarter note value. Try to play the roll evenly and smoothly while landing on the downbeat of the following measure. Also take note of the alternating drags three measures from the end. You may find that upon initial run through that you may want to use the opposite stickings that the author has dictated. Make sure you resist that temptation and play his intended stickings! Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/yaT2TQ9KoJs You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Assault and Battery". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows. The next time you log into your Itunes account please take a moment to go by our page and leave us a short, written review. It helps us out tremendously and allows other people searching for podcasts of similar content find us more easily.

There are aspects of life and music that simply take patience and time. Many times we're blinded by the plethora of helpful videos and internet information available to us. Yet the subtle message we receive is that with the surplus of details and opinions at our fingertips we should learn this sought after information quickly and easily since everyone can already do it. Not so fast. Even with the best instructional examples obtainable you'll discover it's doubtful that the original poster/author divulges how long it took them to master this lesson. The art of patient persistence is something that should be included in all of these online instructional videos. In this episode Phil and Jon talk about taking your time while embracing and trusting the process of learning. Some of the topics they cover are: learning the basics at an early age, partial learning of material and lack of musical depth, trying to learn advanced concepts and techniques without mastery of earlier foundational material, and simultaneously working on too many methods at once. We also broach the topic of rushing and forcing personal relationships in order to gain higher social, educational, and work status. We finish off the show with each host picking a great underrated drum track. Jon picked: "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright with Jim Keltner on drums. Phil picked: "Boulevard" by Jackson Browne with Rick Marotta on drums. One last note. We misspoke regarding John Beck. Mr. Beck is the long time percussionist of the Rochester Philharmonic and legendary instructor at the Eastman School of Music. Don't forget to join us every week for a brand new show. We publish feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every first and third Thursday of the month. Go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to access everything DWG. On our site you can listen to all our shows, watch our videos, manage your podcast subscription, interact with our social media, and contact us through email. Subscribe today!

In the music business we generally point to three industry hot spots in the US: New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. There are a host of the next tier cities that include Boston, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, etc. However many forget that at one time Las Vegas was a major destination for many working musicians. What happened? Was it the introduction of electronics? Was it the replacing of musicians with tracks? What about the general decline in live and recorded music? Many have said that since Las Vegas reinvented itself as a family vacation destination that it ruined the music scene. Or is all of that wrong? In this episode Phil sits down with his long time friend Joseph Patrick Moore for an up to date look at the Las Vegas music scene. Phil and Joseph have traveled together and played thousands of gigs in their thirty year relationship. However last year Moore relocated to Las Vegas and has established himself inside the Vegas music community. Before we tackle the gig scene we catch up and discuss a few stories from back in the day (trust me, no one suffered long term effects from that first tale). We then talk about the quality of life, the affordability of Vegas, other choices of relocation areas, and how Las Vegas compares to other large cities. When it comes to work we discuss the current state of big Las Vegas resident shows (Celine Dion, Bette Midler, etc) and how it affects the local musicians. Moore also gives details about his interactions, auditions, and ultimate hiring by Cirque Du Soleil as a resident artist for the show, KA. He also gives us his insights on everything from corporate gigs, hotel, lounge, and casino work. Visit Joseph at his website: http://www.josephpatrickmoore.com/ Visit Joseph's record label: https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/ The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today! Lastly, please share our show with all your friends, students, and co-workers! We greatly appreciate your support and truly enjoy bringing you new content every week.

We are back once again with another mini-episode of Accountability Thursday. They say that you should dance with the date that brought so we're once again pulling from the NARD book. This week we are working on the solo 'Omaha' which is also our first 6/8 piece. Aside from the time signature one thing that you might notice is that the author has designated a specific tempo for this solo. In previous, duple meter, solos we've normally interpreted their respective speed by using the commonly accepted range of 90 to 100 beats per minute. For this piece we need to aim for our finished performance tempo at dotted quarter note equaling 128 beats per minute. The next thing to be aware of is the copious use of specific dynamic markings. From our experience we are aware that many ancient rudimental solos have no dynamic markings. In those cases common practice tells us to play the entire solo at the forte dynamic level with accents at double forte. However in "Omaha' take care to perform crisp and articulate dynamic changes where notated. Finally 'Omaha' is rather plain in contrast to previous NARD solos. It's very repetitive and not particularly rhythmically interesting. With those factors in mind it's imperative that the dynamics and accents are performed flawlessly. The author relies on those devices to bring musicality and intrigue to this etude. Upon practicing make sure you use a slow enough tempo to execute the dynamics correctly! It's pointless to practice without the dynamics. Not only will you learn to hear the solo incorrectly but you'll also have to learn it twice! Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/9buCgZCOdgI You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Omaha". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

As creative individuals many of us are sensitive, sentient people. That very trait gives us an ability to speak on our instrument in a way that our voice sometimes lacks. The negative side to that sensitivity can sometimes lead to a lack of confidence, lack of competitive drive, or inability to recognize our own accomplishments. If you then factor in the anxiety of being exposed as a fraud or musical dilettante you then have the archetypal recipe for Imposter Syndrome (sometimes referred to as Charlatan's Syndrome). In this show Phil and Jon tell their own personal accounts of imposter syndrome and the ways they overcame those scenarios. We discuss studio sessions, live performances, and academic situations where we both encountered this issue. Also on the docket is the rehash of the Steve Gadd tribute. We go over the show itself and ultimate hang that it has become. We give shout outs to the folks and companies who participated as well as the new friends that we met. We finish up the show with another installment of the DWG Garage. This time around Jon has major advice for people working on or refurbishing Gretsch drums. One of the major problems with disassembling Gretsch drums is the finicky nature of their self tapping lugs. If you don't know what you're doing you're setting yourself up for a costly and time consuming repair. Give this segment an attentive listen before you start removing Gretsch lugs! We always appreciate your listenership and support of this podcast. To help our show reach others who are looking for this type of program please take a moment and share our show with a friend. Our podcast can be shared via social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) or by giving them our website: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com We publish new episodes every Monday and can be found everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

"May you live in interesting times." - purported Chinese curse Ryan Brown, drummer for Dweezil Zappa, found himself in Atlanta recently. And with a healthy dose of deja vu we found ourselves cordoned away in the tiny office of the local theatre where we first met about a year and half ago. Long time listeners will recall his interview (episodes 18 & 19) and subsequent mentions on other episodes. Plus, he's a member of the much vaunted 'advisory board' of this very show. Needless to say he and I have become pretty good friends and when the opportunity presented itself to do a topic based show we jumped on it. When musicians talk about bands that commonly write and perform in odd times a litany of jazz, fusion, and progressive rock bands come to the forefront. But for my money the Zappa family holds the patent on odd times. So, who better to discuss the topic than a guy who has had to play the Zappa catalog 339 times? But before we get to the nuts and bolts of drum geekdom there was plenty to catch up on. These nuggets of brilliance include: BBQ (KC vs. Texas vs. Memphis vs. NC), the ghosts of theatres past, Los Angeles, custom snare drums (built by first time drum makers), dogs and drums named Harvey, road life (replete with 4am tacos), the median height of the Dweezil Zappa Band, Vinnie Colaiuta 'phobia', a Bobby Rock sighting, setting up Bozzio's drums, and a chance encounter at Joe Rogan's podcast location. Of course we talk learning, counting, memorizing and practicing odd time signatures. We even discuss our favorite bands that specialize in this genre. Plus for you folks that want get the skinny on how to play/count/learn "Keep It Greasy" you'd better listen closely because Brown is telling you how it's done right here. Then like Paulie on Goodfellas he's turning his back on you. From now on when someone asks him how to play "Keep It Greasy" he's simply says, "91". You can follow Ryan at his webisite: https://ryanbrowndrums.wordpress.com/ The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today!