From MusicRadar.com:

Being a drummer is to be a driver, not a passenger. We are the wind in the sails. We make the ship GO. It is well accepted amongst musicians that a mediocre band with a great drummer can sound truly great

Click here to read more…

Check out Modern Drummer’s educational team giving their thoughts on ergonomics.

Click here to read more…

Did you know you can get lessons with your favorite drummers?  We talk about how on Drummer Talk 188!

INTRO

• Happy birthday to Troy!

• The MusicRadar.com Drum Expo 2013 was an online expo. Derp on us. http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/drums/drum-expo-2013-is-coming-580309

 

News from the Pinboard

• DCI Big, Loud & Live tonight – http://drummertalk.org/2013/08/08/catch-dci-big-loud-live-tonight-at-your-local-theater/

• Drumline Battle – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMRrjliY4z8

• Does Portnoy want back in Dream Theater? – http://drummertalk.org/2013/08/05/does-portnoy-want-back-in-dream-theater-i-would-do-it-in-a-heartbeat/

• Cool Roger Taylor Timpani Solo – http://drummertalk.org/2013/08/06/▶-roger-taylor-drum-timpani-solo-montreal-1981/

• Chris Adler warm up routine – http://drummertalk.org/2013/08/07/chris-adler-warm-up-routine/

• 6 Year old playing “Hot For Teacher” – http://drummertalk.org/2013/08/07/hot-for-teacher-by-6-year-old-drummer/

• New DrummChannel.com – http://www.drumchannel.com

 

Topic – “Next Level” Lessons

 

Ways to connect with the pros for lessons

1. Go to them

   1. Making Contact

      1. What to write in your introductory letter keeping in mind some players don’t teach

      2. Be clear on your objectives & why you want to study with this person – Technique, reading,  style analysis

      3. Give a bio of yourself, recording examples

      4. if you’re in a hotel room book a conference room in the hotel room and rent gear be sure to let the hotel knows what’s up

2. Catch them in your town!

   1. Making Contact

      1. Find their contact information from their website.  Send them an email (similar to the letter above)

      2. Via Twitter?

   2. Meet them at the venue or a local drum shop.  Be prepared for it to be at a weird time (between sound checks and show start)

Why bother?

• Experience learning from a “next level guy.”

• Lineage?

• These guys are doing what you want to be doing.  Can transcend just technique and skills. Can be an ongoing thing if you’re close enough, or they come through your town enough.

• Finding someone new to look at your technique.  Make new observations.

Tips

• Don’t book a private lesson to be told how good you are or to show that particular teacher that you can do their gig

• To get the most benefit from a single lesson be clear in your objectives and the open to what the teacher has to say and most importantly teaching style.

• Cost can be high.  $100+ an hour.

• Record the lesson, but be cool about it.  Don’t post it on the web or release it.  Think about a non-disclosure agreement.  Protects the teacher. Take notes.

• Check your ego at the door.

 

Outro, drops, plugs, etc.

• Like our Facebook Page –  www.facebook.com/drummertalk

• Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/drummertalk

• Help support DT by making a donation!  100% of the proceeds goes back into the show and the site!

• How about a shout out on iTunes?

Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

From MusicFeeds.com

Scar The Martyr, the latest project from Slipknot’s Joey Jordison, have unveiled the single from their upcoming debut album. The single is called Blood Host and is available to stream via the Roadrunner Records SoundCloud page.

Click here to read more…

You can catch DCI Big, Loud & Live tonight at 6:30p ET.  Tickets are on sale now.

Click here to read more…

“I would do it in a heartbeat,” claims Portnoy. “They are the ones that have closed the door on it. I’ve only needed a break, and I’ve had that break. So I’m ready, willing and able.

Click here to read more…

So… what do you think of this?

From MusicRadar.com

Asked by MusicRadar to compile his list of 10 essential drum albums, Copeland immediately expanded the concept to 16 records but also took exception with the notion of the word ‘essential.’ “That takes all of the fun out of it,” he says.

Click here to read more…

Memphis Drum Shop will host funk drumming legends Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks in a free live webcast from the world famous myCymbal.com studios. August 7, 2013 at 2pm CDT.

Click here for more info…

From Drummer Cafe:

The legendary Kenny Aronoff will be at Drumeo for an explosive online clinic featuring his unique playing style and technique – and Yamaha DTX digital drums.

Click here to read more…

Today we talk about about pilgrimages every drummer should make at least once in their life. Show notes after the break.

INTRO

• Welcome!

• We’ve crossed 5500+ followers on Twitter

News from the Pinboard

• Dave’s writing a book!

• “Fool in the Rain” lesson with Gregg Bissonette – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdw930nuN7s

• Bill Ward “I’m the drummer of Black Sabbath” http://loudwire.com/bill-ward-im-the-drummer-in-black-sabbath/

• Behind the Grandma Drummer (http://drummertalk.org/2013/07/24/drumming-grandma/) – http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/22/204458394/video-grandma-drummer-says-she-loves-to-play

• Mike Mangini on the new Dream Theater record – http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=193223

• Why Drummers are the Backbone of the Band – http://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/why-drummers-really-are-the-backbone-of-the-band-580362

 

TOPIC: The Drummer’s Pilgrimage

Conventions

• PASIC  http://www.pas.org/pasic.aspx

• NAMM Not open to the Public (But there are ways) – http://www.namm.org

• MusicMesse – http://musik.messefrankfurt.com

• KOSA –  http://www.kosamusic.com/

• Music Radar Drum Expo? – http://www.musicradar.com/event/drum-expo/

Festivals

• Modern drummer Festival – http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/category/mdfest/

• Montreal Drum Fest  https://www.facebook.com/montrealdrumfest

• Meinl Drum Fest  http://meinldrumfestival.com/

• Drum Fantasy Camp http://www.drumfantasycamp.com/

Summer programs - benefits include access to libraries, practice facilities, networking opportunities, teacher mentoring relationships, and introductions for HS students if they want to go to a big school that has a waiting list for freshmen.

• Aebersold  http://workshops.jazzbooks.com/
• Stanford     https://stanfordjazz.org/
• Juilliard Perc Workshop  http://www.juilliard.edu/youth-adult-programs/summer-programs/summer-percussion-seminar,

  http://www.juilliard.edu/youth-adult-programs/summer-programs/summer-jazz-workshops?destination=node/13621

• Lafayette Summer Music Workshop http://lafayettejazz.wordpress.com/

 

Drum camps - benefits include a more focused approach, studying with your heroes vs studying with great teachers

• Mikeslessons camps  http://www.mikeslessons.com/index.php/drumcamps

• Benny Greb Master Camp http://www.bennygreb.de/mastersession/

• Thomas Lang Boot camp http://www.thomaslangdrumcamp.com/www.thomaslangdrumcamp.com/Welcome.html

• Drum Fantasy Camp http://www.drumfantasycamp.com/

 

Outro, drops, plugs, etc.

• Like our Facebook Page –  www.facebook.com/drummertalk

• Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/drummertalk

• Help support DT by making a donation!  100% of the proceeds goes back into the show and the site!

• How about a shout out on iTunes?

• Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

 

Next Week – Next Level Lessons