Drummer's Weekly Groovecast

This week we move back into interview mode as we sit down with, Ra Kalam Bob Moses. Bob is known for his vast catalog of recorded music and his collaboration with some of the greatest musicians of our time. Bob has worked with: Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Hal Galper, Dave Liebman, Steve Kuhn, Mike Gibbs, Steve Swallow, Jack DeJohnette, Harold Vick, Edgar Bateman, and guitarist/spiritual mentor Tisziji Munoz. We open up with discussion of his upbringing in New York City where in his building lived Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Roland Kirk and Abbey Lincoln. He was naturally drawn to honest, soulful music and was a part of the first ever jazz/rock group, The Free Spirits. We then cover his long running associations with Burton, Metheny, Liebman, Swallow, Kuhn and Munoz. In the early 1980s Bob was offered a teaching position at the New England Conservatory of Music where he still teaches today. We also discuss his book, "Drum Wisdom" complete with Bob's explanations and examples. Bob also has

In a list of life's traumatic events being fired from your job is one of the biggest. Many psychologists say that it ranks up there with the death of a spouse, imprisonment, and divorce. In this episode Phil and Jon share their personal experiences along with other real life situations. We then cover what you can do afterward to get past this occurrence and ensure that if it were to ever happen again it wouldn't be due to something under your control. We finish the show with our segment on great underrated drummers. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! If you like what you hear please stop by our homepage inside of Itunes and leave us a short written review. We'd greatly appreciate it!

This week we debut a new segment - The DWG Garage! In this part of the show we'll put your drums up on the lift, assemble, disassemble, and hot rod your favorite gear! Then our main topic puts a distinct musician's slant on the concept of balancing your personal life with your musical life. Being a professional drummer and the trappings of maintaining a successful career is very different than that of someone with an office job. Everything from our unusual hours to the hesitation of subbing out work is covered. We touch on using technology to your benefit as well highlighting the importance of clear, concise and truthful communication with your family, friends, and co-workers. In addition we talk about the benefit of work situations that allow family interaction. Finally we discuss the importance of keeping your private, personal time sacred by learning to say 'no' to situations that honestly don't serve you. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitch

Join us as we continue to work our way around the drum set. This week we discuss our favorite hi hats! Picking out the perfect set of hats has its own unique challenges. First, you have to find two cymbals that work together well. Next, they have to feel right. Lastly, they should sound good when played heavy, light, open, closed, chick sound, etc. Those demands are more than we put on any other cymbal. Add to the fact that we generally play hi hats on every single song and you discover that finding the perfect set may be a long, frustrating journey. We'll tell you what we like for rock, jazz, and everything in between. We also discuss our favorite light, medium, and heavy duty stands to mount your favorite hats. We finish the show with a segment of gear recommendations where both picks combined are under $40! Join us every Monday for a brand new show! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Tom Brechtlein is one of the premier drummers of our time. The list of names that he's performed with include: Chick Corea, Al Di Meola, Jean Luc Ponty, Wayne Shorter, Don Grusin, Kei Akagi, Allan Vizzuti, Robben Ford, and Natalie Cole. We were honored to be able to speak with Tom and he did not disappoint! In this episode not only does Tom talk about his association with the above artists he also tells us about growing up in Long Island, NY and how the music programs in public school shaped his career. We also discuss his experience with college music school and how taking lessons with a pianist led him to an audition with Chick Corea and subsequently a move to Los Angeles. Also keep your ears open for a special story about drumming great, Bob Moses! Recently Tom relocated to Austin, TX and in addition to his busy performance schedule he also has an active teaching practice. To inquire about lessons with Tom please email him at: friedarhythmdawg@gmail.com Tom offers lesson via Skype as well as in person i

Oooommmmm...breathe deeply and be amenable...Being an accommodating, thoughtful musician is a quality that all successful players have in common. In this show we talk about getting past the thought that you have to be uncompromising to be regarded as someone who is knowledgeable about their craft. In fact if you can get to the point of embracing flexibility with a thoughtful and respectful attitude you can more frequently enjoy situations of uncertainty and be regarded as an accommodating professional. We cover topics such as: bringing the right equipment, tuning, muffling, stick choices, mic choices, setting up with spatial respect, and times where being dogmatic is perfectly acceptable. New shows are available every Monday. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

This week we have the privilege of speaking with industry great, Chris Brady of Aquarian Drum Heads. We get to hear about his drumming career and how it led to his interest in the business side of the industry. He then discusses his initial contact with Aquarian and how he got the job. We then talk about their various product offerings, how they are researched and how they are manufactured. Then we spend some time discussing the business side of the industry. Chris covers: getting endorsements, personal relationships, technology, clinics, education, and more. Per usual we finish the show by donning the lab coats and administering the DWG Rorschach test. Join us every Monday for a brand new show! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

I bet you think we're going to wax poetic on the greatest drummers of all time, right? WRONG! Instead we're going to discuss the influences and pressures that all of us face trying to learn their vocabulary and ultimately trying to perform like them. The show starts with us listing several different generations of icons and the 'babies' that were born from their influence. We talk about the importance of realizing your own goals and abilities and how those don't usually line up with generational greats. We also cover how instrument manufacturers subtlety add to the issue by making 'signature gear' that we 'must buy'. Likewise publishing companies flood the market with method books and media that help you in your quest to learn the current styles of the day. We finish up the show with a segment on underrated drummers. Please stop by Itunes and leave us a short, written review. We'd greatly appreciate it. You can find the show at Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to you

By nature most informational media is based on giving tips and ideas that help get past problems and negativity. In the past our show has spent entire episodes doing just that. This week we turn the tables and aim the thrusters in full positivity mode. In this episode Phil and Jon talk in detail about what they love about being professional musicians. Each give their musical and personal reasons for why they love their job and explain how those reasons outweigh any negative aspects. We finish our show with a gear recommendation segment. Join us every Monday for a brand new show! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

This week we welcome back master percussionist, Jack Bell, for part two of our exclusive interview. This week we spend time on his lengthy and storied teaching career. Areas covered are: his move to Atlanta and initial job teaching the choral department at a local high school, developing his private percussion teaching studio, being approached to create the percussion department at Georgia State, the ascension of the GSU percussion program, the successful students enrolled, and his various teaching methods including the different interpretation of the Wilcoxin rudimental method. We finish off the show by putting Jack through the rigors of the DWG Rorschach Test! Make sure you visit Jack Bell's personal web site: www.melodiousmerchant.com At this site Jack has compiled and incredible amount of invaluable information for all percussionists including detailed biographical, educational, and performance material. Jack also has a series of videos available that highlight his instructional methods as well as his p

Today we welcome master percussionist Jack Bell to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast. For those of you unfamiliar with Jack he was the principal percussionist (for over thirty years) with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as well as the creator/coordinator of the percussion department at Georgia State University. In this episode Jack discusses his early interest in drums and his studies with legendary teacher, Harold Firestone. He details the methods he worked with, the teaching style of Firestone, and auditioning for the legendary Charles Wilcoxin. Jack then discusses studying with Cloyd Duff at Oberlin College and the opportunities that were afforded to him during his tenure there. Jack then talks about his 'audition' with Robert Shaw which initiated his eventual move and long time job as principal percussionist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. We round out the show with numerous stories about wonderful experiences along with mortifying moments that come with orchestra life. Make sure you visit Jack Bell's

Lee Falco is a drummer/singer/session musician and studio owner who just happens to have a little side project as the drummer for Donald Fagen and the Nightflyers. Much to our liking the current Nightflyer's tour happened to have a date scheduled in our neck of the woods and we took full advantage the opportunity. On a well placed 'off day' Jon and Phil absconded Lee and traipsed him all over Atlanta prior to sitting down for our interview. Lee discussed his upbringing and musical training in the Hudson Valley, New York area which led him to study at SUNY Purchase. Afterward he detailed his professional career including his initial meeting and further relationship with Donald Fagen. I'm not going to mention anything further other than you need to start listening to this episode now! For further info please head over to Lee's website: www.leefalco.com New episodes are available every Monday. We're available at Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you download your favorite podcasts. Subscri

It can happen to anyone. Too much of a good thing can result in diminishing returns. In this episode Phil and Jon talk from personal experience about how to battle burnout. Over practicing, high pressure sessions, travel, repetitive gigs, and just plain boredom are the usual suspects. However, as are most complicated subjects, the devil is in the details. We get to the root issues and give you many different solutions to overcome these problems without having to burn bridges due to frustration. We also talk about challenging gigs and give major kudos to a music director from a recent performance. In our final segment we review a new tempo improvement app available for your phone or tablet. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and wherever you acquire your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Being a cruise ship musician conjures a myriad of different thoughts: constant vacation, see the world, play every day, steady paycheck, free room and board! Then the doubt creeps in: constantly away from home, out of touch with reality, losing your mainland gigs, ground hog day! In this special episode we talk to the drummers of Royal Caribbean's mega-ship, Oasis of the Seas. They discuss their experiences from audition to every day cruise life (both good and bad) and give us the realities of playing on one of the largest cruise ships in the world. Join us for our first podcast abroad! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Accepting a compliment is something we appreciate and generally have no problem with. In fact most do so with great humility. However when it comes to taking criticism that's something we all need help with. That's because most of the time the aforementioned critique presented improperly. If we are honest with ourselves we can assess any criticism and learn from it. But that's often easier said than done. In this show we speak from our personal experience of being on both ends of the equation. Decoding criticism and the personal agendas they encompass is something we all must learn to do. It allows us to grow, improve and toss out the unfair and untrue. Join us as we give you advice and techniques to separate the wheat from the chaff. We finish the show with our segment on great underrated drummers. Join us every week for a brand new show! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Drum sticks, brushes, multi-rods, mallets, and other strikers are the tools of the trade. They're the cheapest things we use but arguably the most important! No matter what gig you're on or whose drums you play you always carry your stick bag with you. In this show we discuss what we use, why we use them, and the importance of experimenting with multiple sticks and brushes. Sit back and settle in for another great show about gear! We finish off with our segment on great, underrated drum tracks. New shows are available every Monday. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

We celebrate our one year anniversary with part two of our interview with John DeChristopher. We pick up with him becoming the artist relations manager at Zildjian and the close relationship he had with Lennie DiMuzio. He also discusses his work with the launch of Zildjian drum sticks, clinic tours, modern technology, and his rise to vice president of the company. We also touch on some specifics inside the factory and talk about the evolution of all the cymbal lines. We come full circle as John talks about his resignation from the company and the return to playing drums again. Finally we end the show with our Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Rorschach Test! Join us every Monday for a brand new show! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

There are but a few cornerstone manufacturers in the music business and the Zildjian cymbal company is one of them. Today we welcome former Zildjian VP John DeChristopher. In part one of this interview John discusses his early musical upbringing in Massachusetts and how it led him to pursue a music career in performance. Eventually John found himself on the business side of the music industry. This combined interest took him to California where he worked for the Simmons Drum Company and ultimately an early incarnation of Drum Workshop. With these first two companies John describes making life long friendships with some of the great drummers of our time. He eventually moved back east continuing to represent DW when a chance meeting with Zildjian changed his life. Lastly you only have a few days left to register to win one of two great prizes from the Monk Drum Company. First prize is a 10" original Monk Drum. Second prize is a set of Monk Drum Bongos. Go to www.monkdrums.com for audio, videos, and more info

If you stick around the music business for very long it's a 100% certainty that you will be called to sub for someone or have to ask another drummer to sub for you. For the uninitiated getting a substitute musician is not as simple as having "Jerry" in the next cubicle cover for you. Rather, almost all gigs employ you for your unique abilities and personality. So when finding or becoming a sub it's of paramount importance that certain criteria are met for your band and for the musicians that you are performing with. We finish up the show with our segment on must-have gear. New shows are available every Monday. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today! Lastly, don't forget to register to win free drums! To commemorate our one year anniversary we are partnering with Monk Drums (www.monkdrums.com) to give away two great prizes! First prize will be an original 10" Monk Drum. Second prize will be a set of Monk Drums bongos. To win

"Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical." - Yogi Berra Yogi, being the wordsmith that he was, leads us into this week's very important topic. We spend countless hours in practice rooms cultivating our technique, vocabulary and time feel. However the psychological aspect of our musical development is often overlooked. This week we dive into mental techniques to improve your drumming. We cover topics that help you confront and ultimately defeat common emotional and mental roadblocks: fear, worry, self-doubt, over thinking (restless mind), and rage. We then give you proven exercises and techniques that combat these issues. We finish the show with each of us discussing a great underrated drummer. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today! Lastly, don't forget to register to win free drums! To commemorate our one year anniversary we are partnering with Monk Drums (www.monkdr