Show summary ▾ This playlist highlights answers to some of the hundreds of questions I've received during my drumming Q&A livestreams. Think of these livestreams as my virtual "office hours" where I practice things I'm not good at (yet), while I answer questions that appear in the chat. When answering these questions, I draw on a wide range of experiences as a performer, educator, and scholar who has been drumming since 1998, taught every grade Kindergarten through doctoral student since 2003, and has conducted research in the fields of music education and computer science education. If you want to learn more about my professional background, here's a link to my CV. If you ever have a question about performing or teaching that you'd like me to answer, feel free to ask it in the chat during a livestream or as a comment on any of my videos.

Show summary ▾ Welcome to the ultimate resource for drummers looking to refine their chops, perfect their technique, and understand the core mechanics of high-level performance. This playlist serves as a deep dive into the world of percussion pedagogy, rudimental execution, and deliberate practice routines. Whether you are stepping onto the field for drum corps auditions or sitting behind a drum kit looking to tighten up your hands, the videos here break down exactly how to practice for maximum efficiency. Drawing on decades of experience in the marching arts, including DCI center snare experience, I walk you through the nuances of hybrid rudiments, the geometry of tenor drum techniques including scrape techniques and the French grip, and the physical mechanics needed to play fast without tension. I focus heavily on how to structure your time on the practice pad, utilizing the grid to build rhythmic independence, breaking down flams, diddles, and cheese variations, and understanding how to read and interpret complex stickings. Beyond just physical chops, these lessons cover the mental game: how to practice deliberately, how to prepare for auditions, and how to track your progress over time. These videos are designed to bridge the gap between simply learning a rudiment and mastering the musicality, control, and endurance needed to play it at any tempo. If you want to put these concepts into immediate action, this playlist directly supports the thousands of free drumming exercises, play-alongs, and grid variations available in my YouTube channel's home tab. Dive in, grab your sticks, and start leveling up your drumming vocabulary, stick control, and overall percussion fundamentals.

Show summary ▾ This page includes method books, solos, and more that I recommend for drum kit, rudimental, and concert percussionists. These books range from beginner through advanced percussionists. The page also includes the gear I use in all of my livestreams and YouTube tutorials (e.g., drum heads, sticks, cymbals, cameras, microphones, etc.).

Show summary ▾ My background in percussion is 99% rudimental and concert percussion and 1% drum kit. However, I’ve been having a lot of fun learning limb independence on the drum kit over the past few years. This playlist includes some of what I’m continue to learn and practice on kit in my drumming Q&A live streams.

Show summary ▾ In high school I thought drumline was neat, but I fell in LOVE with drumline when I saw my first drum corps rehearsal in the early 2000s. The tips and lessons I share in here are things I learned marching snare in high school, college, and DCI, from teaching drumline since 2003, and from studying with literal world champion drummers (and their drumline instructors).

Show summary ▾ This playlist has some of the goofier drumming videos I’ve created for fun. Ever wanted to play Suzie at 1 BPM? This playlist has that. Want to laugh with me at AI drumming slop? Those videos are wacky. Ever wonder what would happen if you played drum kit with mayonnaise? Now you can find out.

Show summary ▾ Taking care of both your mental and physical health as a drummer will keep your hands healthy and your motivation strong. The lessons I share in this playlist were often learned the hard way. If you don’t take care of your body and mind, you won’t be able to drum at the level you want. I hope this playlist helps you to continue to improve your health for years to come.

Show summary ▾ Think of these livestreams as my virtual "office hours." Most of the time, you'll catch me grinding for XP by practicing things I'm not good at (yet). Whether I'm pushing my chops, learning difficult limb independence variations, or trying to speed up my feet on the double kick, I want to show you what practicing can look like. But while I’m practicing, I always keep an eye on the chat so I can answer questions about how to get better as a performer or as an educator. If you ever have questions about improving your own technique, navigating life as a performer, or growing as a music educator, please stop in and say hello! When I answer questions, I draw from my experience as a percussionist (I've been playing rudimental and concert percussion since 1998) and as an educator who has taught every grade kindergarten to doctoral student in both music education and computer science education contexts. Whether you're a total beginner picking up sticks for the first time or an advanced player hitting a plateau, I'm happy to help however I can. Feel free to drop a question in the live chat or leave a comment on the VoD after the stream is over. I frequently edit the Q&As and add them to the "Drumming Tips" playlist, which has hundreds of videos to help you improve as a performer and educator.

Show summary ▾ Use this dictionary to figure out what percussion instrument you are supposed to play or what the composer is asking for. Almost all of the definitions are very short and to the point.

Show summary ▾ Learning how to practice and how to audition can have a HUGE impact on your playing (not to mention which groups you get in). This playlist is a collection of tips and lessons that can help you with practicing and preparing for upcoming auditions. If you have a question about something I don’t mention here, feel free to ask it on a video or during a livestream.

Show summary ▾ This playlist includes non sponsored reviews of drumming products I use and recommend. If you're considering Offworld's Invader V3 drum pad or Vic Firth’s new Quadropad, these review will help you decide if they’re what you’re looking for in a drum pad. If you’re interested in more products I use, see this page.

Show summary ▾ I’ve created thousands of exercises and rudiment play-alongs. This playlist includes videos that shows you how to practice some of these rudiments and exercises.

Show summary ▾ I have a weird professional background in that I turned down a professorship to instead teach for free on YouTube because I didn’t want what I taught to be behind a degree paywall at one institution. Since 2003 I’ve taught every grade kindergarten through doctoral student in both music education and computer science education contexts, so I have a wide range of teaching experience that I draw upon in these teaching tips. If you ever have a question about how to improve your own teaching, feel free to ask it on a video or during a livestream.

Show summary ▾ Drumming technique is something I LOVE to talk about. I’ve spent decades refining my technique to make it efficient and effective for the kind of music I like to play. This playlist has a bunch of videos with tips and lessons on how to improve your drumming technique.

Show summary ▾ This playlist includes all of the tenor-related drumming tips and lessons in one space. Want to learn how to play speed up moving around the drums? This playlist can help. Curious why tenor heads need to be tuned more than other drums? I’ve got a video on that. Unsure how to play crossovers? I’ve got you covered.

Show summary ▾ This playlist includes direct feedback to videos submitted to me by people who watch my content. I'm happy to provide feedback on your own playing, if you tag me in a video on YouTube and state in the title or description that you’d like me to provide feedback. Think of it like a free drum lesson where I can give you specific feedback on your playing.