Originally posted 3/6/13 The drum throne just may have the highest ratio of most-critical/most-overlooked in terms of components of the kit. That's mainly because of the simplicity of its function. Hey, it's a seat. You sit on it, and that's it. What's the big deal? Here's the big deal. If you're going to play with... Continue Reading →

Originally posted 12/3/12 A couple of recent lessons have highlighted a critical component of practicing for me. I had a student work through an exercise, playing it mostly correct, except for one added note in the ride cymbal part. It was a very typical coordination error, as the snare was playing on that beat as... Continue Reading →

Originally posted 4/23/12 I have recently been reading Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs. As a musician and meditator, I've always identified with Jobs's Zen side and his fondness for an artistic aesthetic that stems from that philosophy. When Jobs hooked up with designer Jonathan Ive in the late '90s, a great collaborative partnership was... Continue Reading →