LTR PODCAST – Chris Lesso

“Being a musician means being part of a total experience—no winning, no losing.” Jim Blackley Anxiety and depression levels are at all time highs. How do we handle the amount of distraction pummelling us day in and day out from every direction on the battlefield of life? Our brains didn’t evolve to deal with the Read more about How to lower ANXIETY through DRUMMING (with Navy SEAL David Rutherford)[…]

In the volatile landscape of the today’s world, our biggest challenges are to do whatever it takes to avoid mediocrity, lack of focus, and dis-couragement. Recently I was honoured to be interviewed recently by Dom Famularo on behalf of Sabian Cymbals, and we got DEEP into tactics on how to avoid getting to the end Read more about Find your COURAGE through DRUMMING (with Dom Famularo)[…]

‘Time is not on your side, but your choices are.’ How do you balance family, work, and pursuing your passions? YOU CAN’T. All you have is time and focus. There are so many ‘spinning plates’ we all have moving simultaneously in our lives, and the only thing that keeps them all going is our CHOICES Read more about Balancing Family, Drumming, and Pursuing Your Passions[…]

I was recently a guest on Eric Boudreault’s show Drumfills Kafé where we went into some tools on how drummers can use adversity as a tool to get BETTER. Uncover ways you can use attitude, technique, and resiliency to be your best self through drumming by using obstacles to your ADVANTAGE. Check it out, and Read more about Find your ATTITUDE, TECHNIQUE, and RESILIENCY through DRUMMING[…]

A few years ago, I let go of perfection as one of my goals in my drumming, and replaced it with CLARITY. What is clarity? Expressing yourself so clearly, that the person at the very back of the room can hear and FEEL your ideas with a bright intensity. Going for clarity in your drumming Read more about Drum with CLARITY, not PERFECTION (play it WRONG & STRONG!)[…]

Bowing to the best within yourself means to STEP UP by living the standards that will elevate your rise. But how to do this consistently, especially on the days that you just don’t have the drive for it? Motivation is great, but it DOESN’T LAST. This is where a grade to continually level yourself up Read more about KEEP YOUR STANDARDS HIGH with Jocko Willink[…]

I am excited to share this with you! This is a conversation I had with Mike Mangini where he reveals his systems and tactics, pulled from the archives of 2002. In my years of being the eternal student of drumming and life, I’ve always strived to spend time with some of the best in the Read more about Mike Mangini’s SYSTEMS and TACTICS[…]

This is a story from my hometown about how I was innocently and unknowingly doing everything possible to get myself fired from the first pro gig I ever had. What was I doing so badly that was practically guaranteeing I would never play with this band again? Find out the concepts I learned the hard Read more about How NOT To Get Fired From Your Band[…]

Like every drummer on the planet, I was impacted by the artistry and craftsmanship of Neil Peart’s drumming. When I was 9, after months of begging my parents declared a big NO to me bringing a drumset into the house. At the time I was far less enthusiastically taking piano lessons, but I really REALLY Read more about What we can learn from Neil Peart[…]

  *This is an excerpt from ‘LTR METHOD: Unleashing Your Best Self Through The Power Of Drumming’. Get it now to elevate your drumming and life at chrislesso.com It’s easy to be your best in the beginning. You’re fired up, motivated, ready to go! But what do you do when you’re on that last mile, Read more about LME | Last Mile Excellence for Drumming & Life (with Josh Waitzkin)[…]

  What is open handed drumming? Simply, it’s not crossing your hands. Why? As you read earlier in the LTR method, there is no right or wrong. AND all your favorite drummers play with their hands crossed. So why go against the grain? Because when obstacles are removed, freedom expands. The goal of the LTR Read more about The WHY and HISTORY of Open Handed Drumming[…]

  “You train how you fight and you fight how you train.” Navy SEAL saying You can’t just think your way to being a better drummer and human being. Living the art of possibility and potential takes continuous massive action. This is about having SYSTEMS NOT GOALS, and then living the never ending process of Read more about The 5X Training Challenge for DRUMS & LIFE[…]

Make SOME percentage of your playing OPEN HANDED now! Even if you only play this way a little at a time, the worst that will happen is you’ll come up with new ideas and your hands will balance out and get stronger. You’ll cultivate GRIT by going bravely into the unknown and trying something uncomfortable. Read more about You Must Make SOME Percentage Of Your Drumming OPEN HANDED[…]