Rob Ferrell Drum Studio

January Update | 2012

2012-01-17T12:26:00.001-08:00

Wow! It has been a very long time since my last blog. So much has been going on and it's been a little tough to find time to get to the "big" blog. I've been microblogging via Twitter, Facebook and Linked In, but have been remiss in blogging here. Let's get caught up!

First of all, the holidays were amazing. It was our first Christmas in our new house and I couldn't have asked for a better time. Since we had all the unexpected issues during the remodel last year, I didn't get a vacation. The two weeks I took off was just what the doctor ordered! I came into 2012 refreshed, revitalized and ready to take on all my new goals.

Over the holidays, my son Michael helped me move my teaching studio over to the new location. The first week of January was my first official week of teaching in the new place. It's absolutely wonderful having the studio at my house again. Even though the old house was only a minute and a half's drive away, I LOVE being able to just walk inside my house when the teaching day is done. The climate is so much nicer as are the aesthetics. I'll be posting pics shortly!

This month also has me attending NAMM. I'm looking forward to seeing all my company contacts and meeting new ones. I'm so grateful to have the support of all the great companies whose products I've used over the years to teach, perform and record. Your support is a dream come true.

Party Jones is still going strong and we are filling up dates for 2012. Remember to check the calendar on my web page to see where we're playing and come drop by for a fun time!

These Things - Buckcherry

2011-09-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

My latest drum transcription is "These Things" by Buckcherry. This tune is in 6/8 and is rockin'. It very driven by the pulse of the bass drum. Feel free to download it and check out other transcriptions as well. Click on the link and scroll down as all the tunes are in alphabetical order!

These Things

The Importance of Individuality

2011-09-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was surfing the Internet for live videos of Jim Keltner playing drums. The band I perform in regularly plays some Steely Dan and I wanted to delve into Jim's elusive playing style and feel. In addition to finding some performance videos, I found a real gem of a clip where Jim discusses the importance of developing individual style. Too many of us focus solely on technique or have the goal of being the best or the fastest. Jim poignantly states that developing one's individual style on the instrument is far more important than striving to be the best in the world. Roy Burns once told me to strive to be the best "I can be." In the Old West, there was always a faster gun around the corner. Rather than set unrealistic expectations, have this goal: Be the best YOU can be. Jim points out that each of us are individuals and can bring something no other drummer can bring to the table. Does this mean we should stop practicing technique? No it means practicing technique should be a means to an end. The end goal is to be the best WE can be.

My last blog had some great advice from Roy Burns on developing successful relationships with other drummers. I believe Jim's advice fits hand in glove to Roy's. If we realize that we're all different and at different levels in our development as drummers, there's really no need to criticize, judge, or feel inferior to our fellow drummers.

More Great Advice From Roy Burns

2011-09-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

I recently stumbled upon this article from Roy on a drumming forum I frequent. I believe the poster acquired the article from the Concepts column Roy used to write for Modern Drummer Magazine back in the day. Having studied with Roy I credit him for alleviating my hand and arm problems as well as for teaching me about the ways of the business. Here are his wise words regarding his advice for drummers and how they should conduct their relationships with other drummers:

Friendship amongst drummers takes on many curious attitudes.

For example, we have the fair-weather friend. He’s the guy who is super friendly to you if you are with a name group. When you are between groups he loses interest in you and becomes real friendly with someone who is in the limelight. This guy’s slogan is “Everyone loves a winner.” If you are out of work or having a few problems, he suddenly can’t find time for you.

Then there is the name-dropper. He is sort of cousin (mentally, that is) to our first guy. Whenever someone mentions a famous drummer he says, “Oh yeah! We are really good friends. We hang out together.” In real life this guy may not have even met the famous drummer in question.

Another type of guy comes up to you and is very complimentary about your playing, especially if you are in some way well known. The trouble with this type of guy is that he talks differently about you when you are not there. I’ve seen it happen this way: “Hey man, you really sound great.” When the drummer in question leaves, the same guy says, “He can’t play at all. What a drag he is. I don’t like his drumming.”

It also happens is reverse. A number of years ago a very famous drummer had opened the night before at a well-known jazz club. This drummer was introducing his new group. I happened to be in attendance on opening night. The famous drummer in question and his group were really sensational. The following day I was standing in a music store waiting for a student to arrive. Several drummers were standing around openly criticizing the drummer I had heard the night before. They were saying all sorts of uncomplimentary things and I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing so I said nothing. Suddenly, the drummer in question walked in and said hello to everyone. To my surprise, these same guys started to compliment this guy like crazy. Now I was really confused.

After I thought about it, I realized that talk is cheap. Also, the same people who criticize you behind your back are too weak to say the same things to your face. Unfortunately, a lot of this still goes on.

When I was at the PAS (Percussive Arts Society) convention in Dallas I ran into an old friend, Ed Shaughnessy. Ed said, “Roy, how are you? I haven’t seen you for at least six years.” While we were talking and laughing a young guy approached Ed to ask him a question; “Are you two guys friends?”

Ed said, “Sure, for many years. We are not competing with each other: we just happen to be in the same business. It gives us something in common.”

We both chatted with this young man and several of his friends. One volunteered, “You guys are so easy to talk to.”

Ed’s response was, “Professional players are usually easy to talk to. It’s the semi-pro who has the ego problem because he isn’t sure of himself. Good players understand what younger guys are going through and enjoy sharing their experiences with them.” Although there are a few exceptions, I heartily agree with Ed’s comments. Most good payers are easy to talk with.

Ed and I used to split a TV show called Saturday Prom years ago. I would do two weeks and Ed would do two weeks, depending on his schedule. It was my first TV show but one of many at that time for Ed. When he was teaching in New York we had many conversations. He was always extremely positive. He would show me things in his studio and we would discuss techniques and ideas.

In all those conversations (and to this day), I never heard Ed say a bad thing about another drummer. He appreciates all players. He understands the dedication and hard work required to play well. Ed is not only an accomplished musician, he is also a gentleman, someone to be respected.

The following ideas are ones that Ed and I have discussed at one time or another over the years:

1. Never say anything about another drummer that you wouldn’t say to his face.

2. If you believe a drummer does something well, don’t keep silent. Let the person know that you respect what he does.

3. Keep learning. It was great to see Ed taking notes at the Steve Gadd clinic so he could share some information with his students.

4. Don’t brag about yourself. If you are really good, others will tell you.

5. Learn and study different styles of drumming. Also, study other forms on music. Ed is quite knowledgeable about Indian drumming and music as well as drumset styles.

6. Be true to your friends. You need friends in the music business and that includes other drummers.

One last thought: If Ed Shaughnessy is giving a clinic, do your best to be there. You will learn something and you will witness a pro and a gentleman in action. In my case I get a plus, I get to see an old friend.

Roy Burns

A Great Lesson Learned

2011-07-21T09:07:00.001-07:00

As many of my students know, I had the privilege of studying with the great Roy Burns. Roy helped me in so many ways. He got my hands together as well as my reading. My hour lessons with Roy were so much more than just learning about drums though. Roy taught me about life.

One lesson in particular really resonated with me. At the time, I was working graveyard shift for the Orange County Probation Department. I was assigned to a minimum security youth camp up in the Cleveland National Forest about a 60 mile one-way drive from my home. I absolutely hated the job. At the beginning of every lesson, the first 15 minutes or so was devoted to Roy finding out about my week and my headspace. He was a very caring teacher and took great pride in knowing his students well. On this particular day, he asked how I was and I told him I was depressed about my job and that I would be much happier if I was doing music full-time. I had wanted to transition into a music career but lacked the courage to take the leap of faith. He patiently listened to me complain for several minutes and then simply replied, "You are where you want to be."

I remember being taken aback by this comment at first and I quickly told him, no I'm not. I'd much rather be making a living with my drumming. He then responded, "Well then, do it." This back and forth went on for a few minutes. Roy was giving me enough rope to hang myself! Through his patient and wise remarks, he made me realize that at that time in my life and due to the way I had been raised, as much as I wanted to be a full-time musician, I wanted the stability and job security of my full-time job more. At first I was angry for Roy's seemingly flippant remark. Through his gentle nudging, he allowed me to see for myself that I was my own worst enemy when it came to pursuing my goals. Over the years I've shared this story with many of my students who struggle with the same thing. I think it is important to be smart, get educated, save money and live frugally, but life is short. I think there can be a balance between pursuing one's dreams and being smart about it.

Fast forward 19 years and now I'm living the dream. I've got a full roster of drum students with a waiting list for certain days/times. I perform most weekends with a great corporate/casuals band that occasionally gets to travel. I'm privileged to have endorsements with amazing companies like Remo, Pro-Mark, Onboard Research and Spaun Drums!

Last January at NAMM, I met up with Roy at the Aquarian booth. I re-introduced myself not thinking he would remember me. Not only did he remember me, but he remembered my former occupation and the talks we had about it. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think of the impact that Roy had on me both as a drummer and as a human being.

Thanks for everything, Roy.

I'm Back - July Update!

2011-07-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time but I'm finally getting back to updating my blog! Most of the big issues with the renovations of the new house (and several unplanned renovations!) are complete. I'm in the process of moving my teaching studio over to the new house. The teaching area is actually looking like a teaching area now and I'm so excited to get it dialed in!

My newest drum transcription is the new single from Rush called "Caravan!" It's typical, Neil Peart madness with odd times, syncopations and crazy fills! I did my best with trying to notate it for a 5 piece set! Feel free to download it and give it a go! I hope to post a video of the student who I transcribed it for playing it when he finishes learning it!

Caravan - Rush

Please Don't Leave Me (Live) Drum Transcription!

2011-05-10T00:19:00.000-07:00

Latest drum transcription for a student is Pink's "Please Don't Leave Me." A student asked me to transcribe the live version. Mark Schulman kills on this tune. Lots of great groove and tasty fills! Pink's voice is as outstanding as ever!

Please Don't Leave Me (Live)

Latest Drum Transcription!

2011-04-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

My latest drum transcription is "Chelsea Smile" by Bring Me The Horizon. This is a challenging tune with lots of feel changes as well as some tempo changes. The double kick breakdowns are especially challenging as is the overall fast tempo. This one is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Chelsea Smile

Latest Drum Transcription!

2011-04-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

The latest transcription for a student is "Be Yourself" by Audioslave. The song sounds deceptively simple at first, then the buzzed ghost notes and tom grooves appear about halfway into the tune! Very cool stuff. Be sure to check my website's Chart/Transcription page for updates!

Be Yourself-Audioslave

Hunger Strike Drum Transcription!

2011-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

My latest transcription for a student is "Hunger Strike" by Temple Of The Dog! Feel free to download it as well as any other charts on my transcription page!

Hunger Strike

Developing The Single Stroke Roll

2011-04-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

Every drummer wants to have blazing singles. The question is how do we develop them? There are a number of tried and true exercises that have proven effective over the years. My latest video lesson demonstrates my favorite warm-up routine which I've found very effective in the development of the single stroke roll. It's a combination of two separate warm-ups: Countdowns (as taught by Peter Erskine) and something I stumbled upon which I call "Timed Singles."

Check out the video below and be sure to check back often for more updates!

Developing The Single Stroke Roll

Latest Drum Transcription!

2011-03-31T00:50:00.000-07:00

The latest drum transcription I've made available is "All These Things I've Done" by The Killers! It features Ronnie Vannucci's trademark tom work and cool accents. Be sure to check back regularly for more transcriptions!

All These Things I've Done

Spaun Drum Endorsement

2011-03-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

I have some fantastic news to report! I am now an official Spaun Drums endorser! I couldn't be happier with the fantastic, 100% custom drums they make. They are the best sounding and looking drums I've ever played! To work with a company that is dedicated to making such amazing instruments is a dream come true for me. The folks behind the company are like family.

I am so proud to now be a member of the Spaun Family!

Here is the official press announcement:

Spaun Drums Welcomes Rob Ferrell

Be sure to check out what they have to offer here:

Spaun Drums

March Update-Better Late Than Never!

2011-03-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

Just realized I hadn't posted an update for March. I've been absolutely overwhelmed with the new house renovations. The work is progressing but as everyone says, it has taken more time and money than originally anticipated. We hope to start moving in within the next two weeks. Most of the major work is nearing completion. Next to the death of my parents, this has been one of the most stressful events of my life. I know in the end that we will be very happy. We are trying to keep our eyes on the prize!

Party Jones is still going strong with in my opinion the best lineup ever. We've been having a blast playing together and adding new material almost every week. If you haven't seen us recently (or at all!), try coming out to a show. You won't be disappointed!

Hopefully the April update will have news of moving into the new place with some pics of the new teaching studio!

Off Topic: Contractors Suck

2011-03-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

Normally I try to maintain a positive attitude about things although it can be difficult at times. I wanted to go off topic and talk about the renovations my wife and I are having done on our new house. We closed escrow on 11/4/10 and still haven't moved in due to the large number of renovations we decided to undertake. This is what leads me the subject of this blog post: Contractors really do suck.

As a musician, I consider myself a craftsman. I spent years honing my craft to reach a level of expertise where I can actually make a living with it. As far as live performance is concerned, I rely on other craftsman (instrumentalists/vocalists) to help create a finished product much like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, dry wallers, painters, tile/grout guys and all the other craftsman work together to complete a project. Everyone must do their job well in order for the finished product to be successful.

My concern lies with the reputation that contractors have: they suck; they sub-contract out to the lowest bidder, they cut corners, they lie, they're craftsmanship is less than desirable, they're uneducated and the list goes on. As a drummer I get stereotyped as well: they're flaky, they're womanizers, they're not really musicians, they're loud, etc... I take pride in what I do and how I do it. I rely on word-of-mouth advertising for the bulk of my business. I enjoy shattering people's image of what a drummer is. So why can't I find a contractor in my area who has this same work ethic?

Every aspect of our renovation has been met with disappointment. Dry wallers, painters, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, project managers, granite fabricators, tile/grout guys and appliance installers have all delivered sub par work. Google "contractors suck" and see how many blog posts and bulletin board discussions show up! It's mind boggling. It's no wonder contractors have such a bad rap. There are shows on HGTV like Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection that show the magnitude of what I'm addressing. It's a real problem and it isn't being addressed. EVERY person I've spoken with on this subject has had at least one negative thing to say. That vast majority of people I spoke with had several things things to say and they did so with salty language!

It's too bad this industry can't be renovated as it surely needs to be.

Latest Drum Transcription!

2011-02-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

My latest drum transcription is "Jumper" from Third Eye Blind. This track features some really nice snare work as well as some interesting tom patterns. Feel free to download the chart and be sure to check out my other ones as well. They're all free to download!

Jumper

Motley Crue Drum Transcription!

2011-02-04T19:55:00.000-08:00

My latest drum transcription for a student is "Shout At The Devil" by Motley Crue! Tommy Lee's drumming in the Crue is so inventive and powerful. He's definitely my favorite part of that band. This track has some really nice syncopation as well as some nice hi hat barks and cymbal chokes! It's a little over three minutes of Glam Rock drumming at its finest! Feel free to download it for free and print it out! Be sure to check out my other transcriptions as well!

Shout At The Devil

February Update!

2011-02-02T00:02:00.000-08:00

February finds me even busier than I thought I would be! The renovations on the new house have taken quite a bit longer than originally expected. We are hoping to be in by the end of February or early March. We are most definitely chomping at the bit to get in and enjoy our new place!

My teaching schedule is nice and full and I'm so appreciative to all my students and their families for their continued support. I have a waiting list now for certain days/time slots and I'm so grateful to be busy!

NAMM was a blast and it was great seeing all my company contacts and meeting new ones. It was also nice reconnecting with some old friends. It makes for a tiring day but well worth it!

Party Jones has been playing regularly as usual. The current lineup is slamming and I'm having a blast playing with these guys! The website has been updated so be sure to check it out here:

Party Jones

The newest club we're playing is a bit of a haul from South Orange County but it is beautiful. It's La Palapa in Long Beach! Right on the water with excellent food and ambience. A great place to have some dinner and drinks and listen to Party Jones!

My latest drum transcription is "Fear Of A Blank Planet" from Porcupine Tree. A little over seven minutes of 6/4, 4/4/ and 5/4 with some CRAZY Gavin Harrison fills thrown in for good measure! You can download it and challenge yourself here:

Fear Of A Blank Planet

Hope everyone's 2011 is progressing nicely!

January Update!

2011-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe 2011 is here! Last year went by so quickly. I want to thank all my students and their families for their continued support over the years. Since I went back to teaching out of my home studio in 2006, my business has really grown. I'm so blessed to have met so many amazing students and their families.

Many of my goals for 2010 were met including the purchase of our first home. Although we're bummed that we won't be physically moving in until February or March, we are thrilled beyond words that we got a house that's perfect for us in our favorite neighborhood here in Mission Viejo. We decided to have our kitchen remodeled which we weren't planning on doing originally. I went in to strip and resurface the kitchen cabinets and realized that they were beyond repair and not designed well. Once the kitchen is complete, all the major jobs for the new house will be complete. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on when I'm moving the teaching studio to the new house!

January means NAMM! I'll be attending on Friday the 14th as that's the only day I can attend. I have a gig that night but plan on spending the day there with some of my great musician friends from near and far. I'm also excited to see my drum company contacts I only get to see once a year.

Party Jones is already booking up for 2011! In addition to our standard 2 gigs a month at Taco Surf and usual corporate and casual fare, we will be playing some new venues as well including La Palapa in Long Beach and The Salty Dog in Huntington Beach. I'd like to thank all the great fans that continue to come out, dance and support us. Without you guys, we would be playing in our garage!

I'd like to wish everyone health and happiness for 2011!

New Drum Transcriptions!

2010-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you all know I did three new drum transcriptions for students this week! You can check all my transcriptions out here:

Rob Ferrell Drum Studio Drum Transcriptions

Feel free to download and print them out for yourselves or your students. The new ones from this week are:

-"This Ain't No Love Song" (Trace Adkins)

-"We Weren't Born To Follow" (Bon Jovi)

-"Plastic Cup Politics" (Less Than Jake)

December Update!

2010-12-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us! I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving. December is a very busy month for me. In addition to my normal teaching and gig schedule, Party Jones is slated to play it usual assortment of corporate Christmas parties. I will be taking two weeks off of teaching that coincides with school's winter break. This way I can spend some quality time with my wife and son and recharge my batteries a bit.

The new house is really coming along nicely. We're chomping at the bit to move, but still need to finish some work. We completed the ceiling scraping, resurfacing, painting, recessed lighting and garage/studio but still need to renovate the kitchen. We originally thought we wouldn't need to but now it looks like we need to. I'm bummed as I know it takes a long time to renovate a kitchen but we really need to do and it is better to do it now that the house is empty.

Happy Holidays everyone and be sure to check back frequently for more updates and drum transcriptions!

November Update!

2010-11-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

In typical Southern California fashion, November rolls in with temperatures in the 90s and 100s! It was actually colder in August than it is now in November! Crazy weather for sure!

I have some very exciting news to share for this month's update. My wife and I have been looking to buy a new house for almost 2 years. Because my teaching business is so established in the northwest portion of Mission Viejo, it wasn't feasible for us to look elsewhere. This made finding a house that fit our needs, budget and location virtually impossible. We actually gave up over the summer because we got so frustrated. In late August, on of my wife's friends was visiting from New York and my wife took her for a drive in our favorite neighborhood in Mission Viejo. It's literally just on the other side of the hill from where we live now. They stumbled upon a short sale in a quiet cul-de-sac that was almost perfect in every way for us. Because the house was a short sale, there were lots of ups and downs in the process but last night (November 2nd) we received the keys to our new house. Needless to say we are elated!

The house is in good shape but there are still many little things that need to be done to spruce it up in addition to furnishings. Most importantly, I will be having the garage studio insulated and drywalled for climate control which I'm very excited about! Rob Ferrell Drum Studio will look better than ever!

Thanks to all my family, friends and students who have supported me throughout this entire process!

Free Drum Transcriptions!

2010-10-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have been offering free drum transcriptions available for download on my website for quite some time now! Every time I transcribe a song for a student to learn, I upload it to my website and make it available to download and print out as a PDF. Please check back regularly for updates! Here's a direct link:

Rob Ferrell Drum Studio Free Drum Transcriptions

Rock With You Drum Transcription

2010-10-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

My latest drum transcription is "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson. This track features the great JR Robinson on drums. My band Party Jones was thinking about doing this song and I was just going to give it a listen and play it by memory. Once I really started listening to JR's awesomely tasteful drumming, I knew I had to dig in and transcribe it note for note!

Rock With You

October Update!

2010-10-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

My favorite month of the year is upon us! There is still lots of potentially good change in the air. Unfortunately, the changes that could take place have not come to fruition yet so I don't want to jinx anything by talking about them until they come to pass!

I've been extremely busy teaching six days a week and Party Jones has been playing every weekend. With the addition of Woody Smith on bass, it has been a pleasure even playing the same cover songs I've been playing for the past seven years! The dude is an incredible bass player. On a sad note, long time Party Jones guitarist John Hagedorn has decided to leave the band as it was taking up too much of his personal time. Although I totally respect his decision, he will be sorely missed. We've been auditioning new guys starting last weekend and have some guys sitting in with us for gigs as well. I will keep you all posted on the situation as it unfolds.

Happy Fall everybody!

Soil - System Of A Down

2010-09-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

My latest drum transcription is "Soil" by System Of A Down. This is an older tune of theirs that features a blazing fast tempo and some fluctuations between 7/8 and 4/4! There are some intricate tom patterns as well. This was a challenging one for me to transcribe as it was so fast and furious. Feel free to download it!

Soil

Inaugural YouTube Lesson Video!

2010-09-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

I've finally gotten around to creating a YouTube channel for Rob Ferrell Drum Studio! It's been something I've wanted to do for quite some time. Now that my son has started first grade, I have a little more time while he's in school.

For the first installment, I've opted to talk about one of my favorite rudiment/conjunction licks. It's the 6 Stroke Roll with an extra RLL added to create a 9 note grouping. Using the original 6 Stroke Roll as one phrase and the 6 Stroke Roll plus RLL as another phrase, we can randomly mix and match the two phrases to create longer more music phrases!

Have fun practicing this one. Remember to start slowly on one surface (practice pad or snare drum) then you can experiment with orchestrating it around the drum set!

6 Stroke Roll/RLL Conjunction

Rob Ferrell Drum Studio's YouTube Channel!

2010-09-12T11:27:00.001-07:00

Rob Ferrell Drum Studio now has it's official YouTube channel! You can check it out here:

Rob Ferrell Drum Studio

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time as I recently picked up a ridiculously easy to use Flip camera. I've been doing online drum lessons for a couple of years now and finally got around to re-creating a YouTube channel for my drum teaching studio where I hope to upload little video drum lessons for anyone's enjoyment!

I have to thank my good friend and colleague Marty Fullard for once again providing the inspiration and impetus to get this done. I'm hoping to upload the first drum lesson video sometime later this week!

Stay tuned!

Avenged Sevenfold's "Nightmare"!

2010-09-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

The latest transcription I've done for a student is "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold. It is the first single off their new album that was released after their original drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan passed away. A7x asked Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy to come in and track the drum parts and tour with the band. I think Mike did a fine job of blending The Rev's drumming style with his own. The song features wicked fast double bass beats and some very tasty fills as well as some tempo and feel changes as well! Feel free to download it and give it a go!

Nightmare-Avenged Sevenfold

September Update!

2010-09-01T01:28:00.000-07:00

Where did the summer go? I can't believe it is September already! Fall is my favorite season of the year and also one of my busiest teaching times. I opened up Friday and Saturday mornings and my Saturdays are already almost completely booked!

There are lots of big things cooking at Rob Ferrell Drum Studio but I'm not at liberty to share some of them until they are solidified. Be sure to keep checking back for updates regularly and feel free to contact me if you have any drum related questions!

I've continually been adding new drum transcriptions to my page so be sure to keep checking here or on my website for new charts! I'll be posting more of them here!

Drum Transcription

2010-08-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

"She" by Green Day is my latest drum transcription for a student. This tune is from their breakout "Dookie" album and is FAST! Tre' Cool's drumming is very fast and precise on this tune as is most of his drumming for Green Day... especially the older songs! Feel free to download it for free and check out other transcriptions on my drum transcription page!

She - Green Day drum transcription

Drum Transcription Page

August Update!

2010-08-01T01:08:00.000-07:00

I start August off with a bang by taking a trip back east to visit my wife's family. We're spending the first part of our trip in Upstate New York and the second part in Alabama. I'm not looking forward to the heat, humidity and bugs but I am looking forward to some down time with the family.

Party Jones is sounding the best I've ever heard thanks to the recent addition of Brad "Woody" Smith on bass. Brad's bass prowess is matched only by his cool demeanor. I was watching a fairly recent video interview of my all-time favorite drummer (Steve Gadd) who when asked whether he prefers playing with an organist or a bassist replied: "When you play with someone who cares about the pocket, then it's fun." Truer words were never spoken. Brad's dedication to his instrument, the craft of music, his bandmates and the client are unparalleled. I'm having a ball playing cover music again! YAY!!!

The first part of my vacation back east will be interrupted by a trip to Sundance, Utah to play a corporate gig with Party Jones for DaVita Corporation! We've played several of their corporate functions before. They are a blast to play for and treat us like rock stars! I fly to Upstate New York on Monday, August 2nd. DaVita then flies me to Utah (the other three guys are flying from LAX) on August 3rd. We do the gig on August 4th and I fly back to Upstate New York to finish my vacation on August 5th. I'll be pretty worn out but it will be worth it! :)

July Update!

2010-07-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and things are heating up! My family and I took our first of three family vacations to celebrate our birthdays (my wife and I). We went to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (where we've been going every year since 1994). We had a great time floating around the pool and playing with Michael. This month we are going to Lake Mojave to play in the water with some good friends!

My teaching roster is bursting at the seams! I've actually started to teach on Fridays now because I no longer have open slots Monday-Thursday! I'm so thankful to be so busy and love each and every one of my students! They keep me on my toes and keep me laughing! They're the BEST!

I've been networking with the OC Music Center, a brand new music store offering lessons, sales and rentals in Rancho Santa Margarita. They carry the drumsticks and drumheads I recommend for all my students. Be sure to check out their site!

Party Jones has a new bass player! I'm thrilled to announce the addition of Brad Smith to Team Party Jones! Brad is a great player and a super nice guy. You can read about him on the Party Jones website!

Chart of the Month!

2010-06-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

For June's chart of the month I'm posting "Zero Chance" by Soundgarden. Matt Cameron's unique style and use of odd time signatures make playing this chart down a bit challenging. This is a great way to work on phrasing in odd time signatures. The nice thing about this particular tune is that although it is laden with odd time, you still can feel the thick groove!

Zero Chance

June Update!

2010-06-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Summer is almost here. That means much needed vacation time for me! We plan on taking some nice trips over the summer and I'm very excited about that.

My teaching schedule is really full right now! I only have a few openings and am thinking about the possibility of opening up another day of teaching. We are also still looking for a new house but we are looking in the same zip code so it won't affect the travel time for any of my existing students.

One of my old students from back when I co-owned the Orange County Music Academy came back to me for lessons a few months ago. He is drumming for a really good rock band called "Fight Friendly." They are based in Los Angeles and have been involved in some really cool opportunities. They auditioned to for the FreeCreditReport.com band and made it to the top three but were cut due to Brandon being under 21. They played at South By Southwest in Austin. They were also one of three bands being filmed for an independent movie about up and coming bands in LA. You can find out more about them here Fight Friendly. I'm very proud of Brandon. He's a great drummer and the nicest kid!

Chart of the Month!

2010-05-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

The May Chart of the Month is "Doomsday" by Orange County's own Atreyu. This track features some really cool double bass and nice tom and snare work as well. It has some feel changes and nice dynamics. I charted this song for one of my female students who is 16 years old and rocks HARD!

Doomsday

May Update!

2010-05-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Happy May Day everyone! I hope everyone is excited about summer! I know I am. I have several family trips planned that I'm very much looking forward to. Here's the May Update!

Two of my students have been actively gigging and I couldn't be any prouder! Brandon Lark has been holding down the drum seat for Fight Friendly, an LA based pop rock band with great hooks and slammin' grooves. He's been playing the club circuit in LA and even travelled to Austin, TX to play during South By Southwest! You can check them out online here:

Fight Friendly

Anirudh Jain has been performing with Street Legal, a cover band comprised of middle schoolers who've been opening up for bands at clubs, playing talent shows and lunchtime school gigs! In addition to performing with Street Legal, Anirudh also plays for his school's advanced jazz band. You can check out Street Legal online here:

Street Legal Facebook

Street Legal MySpace

Chart of the Month!

2010-04-04T11:09:00.001-07:00

For April's Chart of the Month I've chosen "Animate" by Rush off of the Counterparts album. This track features a very groovy Neil Peart playing a deep R&B groove with lots of cool ghost notes on the snare drum and offbeat ride cymbal bell hits. There are some signature "Peart-isms" like the cool hand and double kick licks as well. This is a great track to play along with!

Animate

April Update!

2010-04-01T09:39:00.001-07:00

Spring is here and in Southern California that means one day it can be drizzly and 60 degrees and the next day it can be sunny and 80 degrees! Spring brings thoughts of renewal and refreshment. Every day I'm so thankful to be able to provide for my family through teaching and playing the drums. Each day I have a renewed commitment to be the best teacher I can be as well as the best drummer I can be! I would encourage everyone to not strive to be the best in the world but rather strive to be the best you can be. This takes and enormous amount of pressure off but still provides a lifelong challenge that offers fulfillment and rewards.

Not much out of the ordinary to report for April of 2009. My student load is still slamming and I'm gigging every weekend. I have some little family trips on the horizon for the summer that I'm looking forward to. Please be sure to check my website regularly for new transcriptions as well as new student videos on the Student Spotlight page. I will be posting the "Chart of the Month" in the very near future!

Chart of the Month!

2010-03-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

March is waning and I almost forgot to post my chart of the month! Better late than never they say!

This month I've chosen the song "Inside the Fire" by Disturbed. Anyone that knows me knows that I like all kinds of music no matter how hard or soft as long as there is a good melody with tons of hooks. I've been listening to Disturbed since they first hit the mainstream and I LOVE their brand of hook-laden metal. The vocals are powerful yet melodic and the production on their albums is amazing. The interplay between Mike Wengren's drumming and the bass and rhythm guitar has always been very strong and interesting. "Inside the Fire" is no exception. There are his signature broken double kick patterns underneath a sparse quarter note hi hat pulse and his tribal tom patterns as well.

Inside the Fire

March Update!

2010-03-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

March has arrived and with it comes the Party Jones schedule madness! This month, in addition to playing our normal club fare, we are playing the Dana Point Festival of Whales. This is a really neat event that we played last year. It is very family-friendly with food vendors and artisans in a street faire atmosphere in the beautiful coastal town of Dana Point. Be sure to click on the link above for more event information as their are lots of activities around the city! We are scheduled to play Sunday, May 7th from 11:00am-5:00pm. Bring the family on down and say hi!

I had an unprecedented amount of consult lessons and subsequent signups last week! I had 6 potential students come in for consults and all 6 signed up! Even back when I co-owned the big music school we never had that many drum students in a week sign up! I'm very grateful that people are still managing to find ways to ensure music lessons are a priority despite the current economy.

I'm still transcribing songs for my students and posting them on the Drum Transcriptions page of my website. Be sure to check their regularly for updates. I also post them on my Twitter account as soon as their uploaded so you can also keep up to date on them by following me on Twitter.

Hudson Music's Featured Teacher!

2010-02-16T21:54:00.000-08:00

It is with great pride that I announce I was selected to be the featured teacher in Hudson Music's Teacher Integration Program (TIP) February newsletter. Hudson Music is responsible for putting out some of the best instructional media available on the market. The VHS tapes and early DVDs I learned from that featured my drumming heroes that were so instrumental in my development as a drummer and teacher were produced by the predecessor of Hudson Music! To be featured is a great honor for me! Please check out the article here:

TIP Teacher Spotlight

Chart of the Month!

2010-02-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking about starting a "Chart of the Month" section for my blog. I'm going to test it out this month and see how it goes. As many of you know, I've been transcribing charts for my students for many years. When I came back to teaching out of my home studio after co-owning the large music studio, I had more time to focus on my teaching. As a result, I was able to make much better transcriptions than the hand scrawled ones of years gone by! One of my drum teacher peers suggested I make them available on my website for other drum teachers, students and hobbyists alike to download. Many of the tabs available on the Internet are horribly inaccurate.

The inaugural installment of my Chart of the Month feature for February 2010 is "Bat Country" by Avenged Sevenfold. Unfortunately the drummer for Avenged Sevenfold (Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan) passed away late December 2009. His drumming on this track is really cool. There's lots of double bass and fast tom rolls as well as really cool dynamic and feel changes. It is a high energy track that is a blast to play. Feel free to download it and give it a go!

Bat Country-Avenged Sevenfold

February Update

2010-02-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

I don't have much news to report for the month of February. January was a whirlwind of activity with NAMM. February has me back to my normal routine of teaching and gigs. I've been adding new transcriptions to my website so please be sure to check there regularly if you're interested in downloading free charts for yourselves or your students. I hope 2010 is going well for everyone!

NAMM 2010!

2010-01-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

This weekend marks the passing of yet another NAMM show. For those that don't know, NAMM is the National Association of Music Merchants. It is the biggest music industry trade show. Winter NAMM is usually held in Anaheim and summer NAMM is held in Nashville. The NAMM show encompasses every aspect of the music industry. You'll find everything from small mom and pop companies selling erasers that look like musical instruments to industry giants like Yamaha. It is truly a spectacle to behold.

I first attended the NAMM show in the late 80s with my friends. I was blown away by the amount of new gear and the amount of my drumming heroes walking the aisles! It was very inspirational for me to go and I remember feeling extremely motivated after my visits. Now that I'm older, I don't get quite as star-struck as I did when I was younger. I bemoan how my feet, knees and hips feel after hours of walking. I don't enjoy the volume levels within the convention center nor the crowds. But even though I'm a grizzled veteran, I still enjoy the spectacle. I love the smell of new drums. I enjoy seeing friends I've made on Internet drumming boards that I only get to see once a year at the show. I also enjoy geeking out with my local friends that I'm lucky enough to gig with and hang out with. I still have to pinch myself when I walk up to the booths of the companies whose products I endorse and they KNOW me. I remember being a kid thinking how cool that must be. I can't thank Remo, Pro-Mark and Onboard Research enough for all that they do for me. Having an excellent product is one thing, but having stellar people skills and customer service in addition to that excellent product is a rarity in today's market.

So despite the crowds, noise level and aching extremities, NAMM still holds some magic for me and probably always will!

To Speed Or Not To Speed...

2010-01-08T22:57:00.000-08:00

There isn't a single teaching day that goes by that I don't get asked by a student "how do I get faster?" Since I was once a young lad, I too was consumed with speed. All I cared about was how fast I could play. As I got older and matured in both my drumming and life, I realized much like the hired guns in the Old West that there will ALWAYS be somebody faster. Once I accepted this reality, I began to focus on other areas of my drumming such as time, feel, technique and reading. Although I've found much satisfaction (and job security) in honing those areas of my drumming, I occasionally feel that same twinge deep down as if I were 16 again and wanting to have blazing hands and feet. As a private drum instructor, I also need to deal with speed on a daily basis with my students. The following is my personal take on how to develop speed.

RULE NUMBER ONE: There are no shortcuts. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking there is some special way you can build speed in your limbs without putting in proper practice. There are no drugs, gimmicks or magic pixie dust available that can safely increase your speed. Diligent practice is where it is at. The key lies in HOW you practice. Whoever said "practice makes perfect" is only partly correct. RULE NUMBER TWO: PERFECT practice makes perfect. Drumming is very similar to other activities such as video games and athletics. All these activities require repetitive motions and practice in order to excel. The question or mystery lies in how do we effectively practice for speed?

It is my personal belief that speed is born from the following: control, relaxation and comfort. Think about it... EVERYTHING we do in life that requires dexterity yet can be accomplished quickly is typically the result from slow, methodical repetition. I always use texting as an example with my students. It requires quite a bit of dexterity for my young students to quickly text back and forth amongst their friends. I ask them if they are consumed with how fast they can text or if they are concerned with how accurately they can convey their messages. Of course they always choose the latter. I ask them if they practiced texting fast and they always answer "no." I ask them how they got fast and they answer "I don't know, I guess I just do it a lot." VOILA! Video games, typing on a comptuer, texting and pretty much everything else in life we do on a daily basis is done fast if we are comfortable, relaxed and in control.

If we as drummers are serious about increasing our speed, we need to stop practicing FOR speed and start focusing on accuracy, control, relaxation and comfort. The minute we're comfortable with something, the sooner we can execute it faster. I saw Steve Smith (amazing drummer) on a DVD explain how he likes to practice new licks. He says he likes to play things VERY slowly to allow his muscles the chance to feel what they need to feel and his ears the chance to hear what they need to hear. By practicing slowly and engraining the muscle memory, we can reach our speed goals quicker subconsciously. Practicing for speed can lead to problems such as tension, repetitive motion injuries and incorrect muscle memory which must first be unlearned before the proper muscle memory can be established.

Remember, there is no ONE right way to play the drums. It is important to seek out different techniques and approaches. This is my personal take on how to develop speed and it has worked well for both my students and myself. I'd encourage anyone interested in developing speed to at least experiment with my approach. You can apply it to rudiments, sticking patterns, fills, beats and just about anything we drummers do behind the kit.

Have fun!

January Update

2010-01-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

I can't believe 2010 is here! I ended 2009 and rang in 2010 with a great New Year's gig with Party Jones. It was a blast playing with my boys and seeing all our friends celebrate the start of a brand new year. It was a tough year for many of my closest friends and family who suffered the losses of loved ones and the end of long-term relationships. I'm hoping that 2010 brings all of us health and happiness!

My two week vacation to celebrate the holidays with my family was awesome! We enjoyed many family outings such as Disney On Ice and Las Vegas where we saw the Blue Man Group and Barry Manilow. Both shows were outstanding and we had a wonderful time. It was nice celebrating a quiet Christmas and New Year's as well!

I resume teaching on January 4th and am looking forward to getting back in the saddle. Although I enjoyed my time off immensely, I'm anxious to get back to my students and my routine. I'm so grateful to have such wonderful students and am hopeful for more great students in 2010.

I'm attending NAMM this month and am excited to visit with my reps at both Remo and Pro-Mark. I can't thank my reps and their respective companies enough for all their support. Bruce at Remo and Staci at Pro-Mark have bent over backwards to ensure that all my needs are met. I'm proud to endorse their products as they not only provide superior quality products, but amazing customer service. Their dedication to promoting the education of percussion is unsurpassed.

I wish all of you the very best that 2010 has to offer!

Year in Review

2009-12-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that 2009 is coming to a close. As we approach the end of the year, I thought I would reflect on some of the great things that happened for me in 2009.

At the start of the year, I added online teaching to my list of services. I was able to reconnect with a former student who moved to Japan and teach a good friend's son in Oregon. The technology available to musicians today is absolutely amazing. I also upgraded my notation software and made all the drum charts, drum transcriptions and exercises I use with my students available to anyone who wishes to download them. I've received positive feedback and kudos from many drummers around the world.

I met my 2009 student load goal and am in the process of setting my goals for 2010. I have to say that I have some of the best students a drum teacher could ask for. A former student of mine is finishing up his second year at Berklee College of Music in Boston. I also wrote two letters of recommendation for students wanting to attend Musician's Institute in LA. I've seen my students with disabilities make great leaps and bounds as well as several students perform for their own bar mitzvahs, school concerts and block parties. Having such great students who work so hard make my job such a pleasure!

I was accepted into Hudson Music's Teacher Integration Program (TIP.) TIP is a neat program that focuses on ways to elevate the art of teaching drums and percussion using modern technology. I was already an ardent user of technology in my teaching practice. I've implemented tools such as drum machines and the BeatNik as well as software such as the Amazing Slow Downer, Finale 2009, iChat, Skype, GarageBand and Logic Express. I'm also using instructional DVDs and Internet sites like YouTube and DrummerWorld to expose students to different drummers and drumming techniques. Having such great technology at my disposal really helps me to customize my lessons to fit each student's individual needs.

On the good news/bad news front, I'm happy to report that the Professional Drum Teachers Guild is still growing. The Guild's commitment to helping drum teachers around the world by providing a forum to share ideas and uphold standards has been realized beyond co-founder Martin Fullard's and my own expectations. I am proud to be affiliated with such fine drum educators and couldn't ask for a better friend than Marty. Unfortunately Marty had to relocate to England and I was saddened that such a great friend had to move so far away. We still communicate regularly but I miss our coffee dates.

Party Jones played more city and corporate events this year than ever. We are looking forward to even more in 2010. Despite the economy, several of the companies we regularly work with still hired us to play their functions. We played in Las Vegas, Santa Barbara and Kansas City! This month we are playing our usual stable of corporate Christmas functions for GeoSyntec, Astra Oil, the LAPD's Air Support, PayLess Foods and Disney's Candlelight Christmas Celebration. I'm so happy and thankful to be playing in a band that allows me these opportunities.

Last but definitely not least, I added another endorsement to my resume. In addition to being endorsed by Remo drumheads, I am now an official Pro-Mark drumstick endorser. I owe this to my good friend Marty Fullard who had been gently suggesting I try their sticks for the last two years! I had been playing Vic Firth sticks exclusively since 1986 save for a brief stint with SilverFox in the early 2000s. Although I was accepted as a member of Vic Firth's Education Team, I was simply not receiving the kind of support I felt I needed or deserved. I was BLOWN AWAY by the quality and consistency of Pro-Mark's products! Being affiliated with Pro-Mark is like being a part of a family. I have received such amazing care since joining their artist roster. I'm still pinching myself!

I hope all of you had a wonderful 2009. I'm hoping that 2010 is filled with many great things for all of us.

Happy Holidays everyone!

How To Buy Your First Drum Set!

2009-11-21T16:56:00.000-08:00

I frequently get asked for help by my students and their parents when it comes time for them to buy their first drum set. After composing so many emails over the years, I decided to add a how-to on my FAQ page on the intricacies involved in purchasing a drum set. I decided to copy and paste it here on my blog as well.

A drum set should be purchased ONLY when you or your child are serious about the instrument. Buying a drum set is an expensive and daunting task that can be very confusing with all the brands, types, sizes, levels, configurations and accessories. When the time comes to take the leap, I am here to provide advice and offer help.

Much like automobile manufacturers, drum manufacturers offer many makes and models which include different series within the models. The main three series offered from the major drum companies are Beginning, Intermediate and Professional. Beginning kits and Intermediate level kits are mass produced and are therefore cheaper than their handmade, Professional counterparts. Sticking to a reputable company means even their Beginning level series will be of good quality. I've been playing Yamaha drums since 1986 and have never had a problem with their sound or quality. Other reputable companies include: Pearl, Tama, Gretcsh, Sonor, Ludwig, Mapex and PDP. I recommend steering clear of the cheap sets offered for $200-$300. A good Beginning or Intermediate series set should run between $500 and $1000 new.

I recommend buying a 5 piece drum set to start out with. Most of the companies I mentioned above offer their Beginning and Intermediate series sets in a 5 piece configuration. This refers to the number of drums in the set and not the cymbals, hardware or other accessories. A 5 piece drum set includes a bass drum, snare drum, two mounted toms and a floor tom. When purchasing a 5 piece kit, it should include the following hardware: snare stand, hi hat stand, crash cymbal stand, mounted tom holder, ride cymbal stand and bass drum pedals. Drum thrones and cymbals typically are not included when buying a new set. I'll touch on cymbals a little later.

The main two configurations that are available when purchasing a 5 piece set are Standard and Fusion. This refers to the diameter and depths of the drums. Standard sized kits have larger sized toms (12", 13" and 16") whereas Fusion sized kits have smaller toms (10", 12" and 14".) Usually Standard kits have a floor tom with legs and Fusion kits have a mounted floor tom. The bottom line here is personal preference. I recommend going to a large music store like Guitar Center or Sam Ash and playing some of their drums to get a feel for the difference. You can also base your decision on what your favorite drummer plays! One is not better or worse than the other.

Wood type plays a huge role in drum sound. The two most popular wood types are maple and birch. Maple offers a resonant, warm sound and birch provides a more controlled sound with focused attack and low end. Oak and other more exotic woods are also offered but usually not in the Beginning and Intermediate series. Some of the lower series drums offer sets with mixed wood types. If the set is from a reputable manufacturer and provides the desired sound, that is all that matters. Personal preference again is key in the decision making process.

The two types of finishes on drum sets are wraps and lacquers. Wraps are a laminate that are glued to the drum shell whereas lacquered shells are stained and finished with a clear coat. Lacquered sets tend to cost more due to the manufacturer's costs in making them. Wrapped sets can come unglued and warp if left out in the sun but they can resist dings better than a lacquered set. Lacquered sets look beautiful, but can scratch and ding easier. Personal preference plays a huge role in deciding your first drum set's color and finish.

Cymbals also come in different makes, models and series. I recommend a good entery level cymbal pre-pack from a reputable company like Zildjian, Sabian or Paiste. It should include 14" hi hats, a 16" crash cymbal and a 20" ride cymbal. Additonal cymbals and stands can be purchased as add-ons later! Typically a decent cymbal pre-pack runs just under $300.

Many of my students have had great luck purchasing used kits from places like Craigslist. They have been able to get Intermediate series sets with everything included for the price they would have paid for a new Beginning series set. I always have them send me the links to new or used sets for me to check out to see if it is a good deal or not.

The more informed you are when buying your first set, the better your chances of avoiding buyer's regret. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Pro-Mark Website Profile!

2009-11-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

I just got word that my profile has been put up on the Pro-Mark website. It looks really cool and I couldn't be happier! I have to thank my good friend Martin Fullard for setting the wheels in motion on my transition from Vic Firth drumsticks to Pro-Mark. I also want to thank Staci Stokes, Director of Education at Pro-Mark for all she's done to make this happen.

Last year at Winter NAMM, I had the opportunity to hang out with my friend and Pro-Mark endorsee, Randy Walker. Randy is good friends with Styx drummer Todd Sucherman who is also a Pro-Mark endorsee. Both these guys use the same word as my friend Marty when referring to Pro-Mark... FAMILY.

I'm very proud to be a part of the Pro-Mark family now!

Pro-Mark Artist profile

Pro-Mark Drumsticks!

2009-11-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce that I am now endorsing Pro-Mark drumsticks! After playing Vic Firth drumsticks since the mid 80s (save for a brief stint with SilverFox in the early 2000s) I decided it was time for a change. My good friend and business associate Marty Fullard has been singing the praises of Pro-Mark the entire time I've known him. I finally made the leap and I couldn't be happier.

Their products are amazingly well made and consistent. The people at the company actually care about their endorsees... even guys like me who aren't famous but who still have an impact on the buying trends of their students. My contact at the company is incredibly nice and friendly. I couldn't be happier!

Stay tuned for more updates on this development!

Pro-Mark Drumsticks: The World's Finest Sticks

November Update

2009-11-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

Halloween was great this year! Michael and I had a blast decorating the house and my sister came to visit for a couple of days. We carved jack-o-lanterns, went trick or treating and watched scary movies.

I played several private Halloween parties with Party Jones and the band is sounding better than ever! Our new bass player, Bill Horton, has stepped up to the plate and is learning all of our material and playing very consistently. His positive attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to make the band sound good is very refreshing.

November is upon us and with that brings the onset of the holiday season. Michael will be turning 6 years old on November 30th. October was a great month for him as he was Student of the Month at Del Lago Elementary School and received his yellow belt in karate! My father-in-law will be visiting us for the month of November as well. Party Jones has been booked solid for holiday parties so it will be a very busy holiday season as usual.

Stay tuned for more updates this month as I have some exciting irons in the fire!

New Blog/News Format!

2009-10-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! I've decided to use Blogspot for my monthly updates as it is easier to read and allows me the freedom to post pertinent items more frequently. For my first official blog post, I've copied and pasted the year-to-date monthly updates below. I look forward to being able to post more frequently with this service!

10/1/09 - October is here! This is my favorite month of the year. My wife Bess and I will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary. It seems hard to believe that 14 years have flown by so fast. My student roster is busting at the seams! I'm very thankful to have such awesome students. They teach me so much without even realizing it! Performances this month are plentiful! Party Jones will be playing three private Halloween parties (actually Party Jones is playing 4 but I'm subbing out on the 4th one as it is on Halloween night and I will be trick or treating with my son Michael and watching DVD's with Bess later on!) Party Jones has a big corporate gig on October 16th in Kansas City, MO! We will be living the rock star life on that weekend. We fly out of LAX at 6:15am on the 16th. We play the gig the night of the 16th and spend the night in KC. We fly back to SoCal on the 17th in time for a private party in Huntington Beach that night! Good times! I'd also like to welcome Bill Horton into the Party Jones family. He is our new bass player. He played his first gig with us at Taco Surf in Sunset Beach on 09/26/09 to a packed house! Band friend Jay Milner threw a surprise party for his awesome wife Terri and the turnout was fantastic!

09/01/09 - I survived my trip back east despite debilitating heat and humidity! Fall is around the corner and I'd be lying if I didn't say I was looking forward to cooler weather! My son Michael is going to be starting kindergarten this Fall. It's hard to believe how time flies! Fall is the busiest time of year for me as all my students who took time off for the summer return and many new students enroll for lessons. It's my favorite time of year as well (even though we don't get that much of a season change here in sunny SoCal!) My student load is growing and I'm thinking about opening up another day of teaching. Having sold my shares of the large studio I co-owned in 2006, this is the third time I've had to rebuild my student roster in the last 9 years! I'm very excited about the growth. Party Jones has cut back on several club gigs which I'm grateful for. It allows me more time for my family. The focus has shifted to more corporate and casual work which has always been my preference! This may also allow me the opportunity to play with other groups I normally wouldn't have been able to play with due to scheduling conflicts. I'm very proud to share that one of my former students is now a sophomore at the prestigious Berklee School of Music. He was accepted into the Orange County High School of the Arts and graduated. He's now entering his second year at Berklee! Here is a link to his website: Graham Spillman. Here's a link to a video of him playing with the Ambassador Jazz Orchestra last year at OCHSA!

08/01/09 - The end of summer is rapidly approaching! I hope everyone had a great one! Here's the news update for August: Bess, Michael and I will be taking a big trip to Florida to visit one of her sisters and aunts then we're going to Upstate New York to visit her father. We will be spending one week in Florida and two weeks in Upstate New York. I will be teaching the first week in August, then won't resume until Monday, August 31st. Thanks to Kenny and Danny for subbing for me in the Party Jones drum chair while I'm gone. Speaking of Party Jones, it looks like our goal of playing mostly corporate/casual gigs is being realized. We've cut our club dates down to Taco Surf in Surfside and Mahe's in Seal Beach. These two clubs pay great, have great crowds and spoil us rotten. We will continue playing our regular Metro Pointe gig as well. This is particularly exciting for me as it allows me to spend more time with my family without affecting the pocketbook! My contact at Vic Firth drumsticks, Olin Johannsen, is leaving the company to pursue his Master's degree. Although I'm sad to see him go, I'm happy to see him follow his dreams. My new contact is Michael Moore who has some pretty serious credentials under his belt!

07/01/09 - Happy 4th of July everyone! I celebrated Independence Day by playing the huge Delmer 4th of July party in Huntington Beach for the 6th year in a row. In other news, I will be playing at my good friend Randy Walker's wedding in beautiful San Diego on July 8th. It is such a privliledge to call Randy my friend. He is the sweetest most humble dude I know. He's a fantastic drummer and audio engineer as well. I will also be playing a concert in the park in La Mirada on July 9th. The weekend of July 10-12 I will be taking a short family trip to Las Vegas to relax for a few days. On July 21st I will be traveling to Santa Barbara to play the DaVita corporation's big yearly corporate party. The rest of July has me playing a few club dates here and there. Stay cool everone

06/01/09 - Summer is here! I want to thank all my students for their hard work and dedication over the school year. I know it is challenging trying to balance drum lessons with school and other extra-curricular activities. Party Jones has an extremely busy schedule this summer. We are booked solid every weekend! I will be taking some time off in July and August to travel with my family, but other than that, I will be performing quite frequently. I'm happy to say that we were asked to play at the Taste of Rancho Santa Margarita on June 6th. We will also have our first gig at Peppino's in Foothill Ranch immediately after performing at the TORSM. We are also hoping to get into regular rotation at the Doubletree Hotel's lounge in Dana Point/Doheny.

05/01/09 - It is with a heavy heart that I report that my good friend and founder of the Professional Drum Teacher's Guild, Martin Fullard had to move to England. I will still be in contact with Marty and he'll still be fulfilling all of his duties as founder of the Guild from across the pond, but I will miss him dearly as he's been a source of encouragement and strength for me and a beacon of light in our profession. He has done much for many local drum teachers all around the world. England is lucky to have the likes of him! Summer time is quickly approaching and with it comes news of Party Jones playing locally (finally!) Thanks to my good friend (and student's dad) Paul Todd, Party Jones will be playing regularly at Peppino's in Foothill Ranch. This means all my students and their families as well as local friends can come check us out without having to drive to Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach or Long Beach! I'm very excited about having a gig close to my neighborhood!

04/01/09 - Spring is here and with it comes news! The Professional Drum Teachers Guild has a new website. Guild founder and webmaster Martin Fullard was forced to expand the site because of the growth in membership. I am now a member of Hudson Music's Teacher Integration Program. As a teacher who uses modern technology and various media tools, this is a wonderful opportunity. Thanks to Mike Sorrentino for allowing me to be a part of the TIP program! This month also has Party Jones playing the Long Beach Grand Prix again in addition to a wedding and numerous club dates.

03/01/09 - Happy March everyone! This year is really moving by quickly. I have quite a bit of good news to report. First off, the Professional Drum Teachers Guild celebrated it's one year anniversary last month. It is hard to believe that it has been around for a year now. My good friend Marty Fullard has been working hard and the Guild has grown exponentially. In fact, Marty had to create a whole new website in order to accommodate our growing membership. Be sure to check out the new site! My teaching roster has also grown significantly. I met my 2008 goal (and then some) and am practically at my 2009 goal and the year has just begun! Thanks to all my wonderful students for their hard work and diligence. I'm so thankful to be in the position to teach them and I've met some truly wonderful families. The online lessons are going well. I'm currently teaching a former student in Japan and I've picked up another student in Oregon. I've added quite a few new charts to the charts page, so be sure to check back regularly for updates. Anytime I get a student request for a song and I do a transcription, I make them available to anyone to download for free! Party Jones is performing every weekend. We've never sounded better and are starting to pick up more and more gigs. Be sure to check out my calendar for gig info!

02/01/09 - February is here and I'm happy to report that 2009 is starting off GREAT! NAMM was really fun. I got to meet some of my contacts at the companies I work with like Neil Larrivee at Vic Firth and Bruce Jacoby at Remo. I also got to hang with my good friend Randy Walker, his fiancee' Carol and Todd Sucherman of Styx fame! I also got to see and meet some of my online friends from the House of Drumming board. Needless to say it was a really memorable time. In 2008 I exceeded my student load goal and am setting new goals for 2009. I already have some online students even though I just started providing this service last month. One is a former student who now lives in Japan! Technology is really something these days! Party Jones is sounding better than ever. We are starting to fill up our performance calendar despite the bleak economy. If January is any indication how the rest of '09 plays out, I'm going to be very happy!

01/01/09 - Happy New Year everyone! After a rough end to 2008 with the passing of my mother-in-law and my nose surgery, I'm very much looking forward to starting fresh in '09. I plan on attending the NAMM show later this month (thanks to Neil Larrivee of Vic Firth for the pass!) I'm looking forward to hooking up with some friends I haven't seen in a while and meeting some new ones I made over the Internet. I also hope to get a picture with Steve Gadd, my favorite drummer of all time! Joey Oddo, bassist for Party Jones for the last 2 1/2 years decided to pursue other paths this year. We were very lucky to have found a replacement for him in the form of Donny Goldberg. Donny grew up in a musical family reminiscent of the Cowsills and toured the country performing Beach Boys songs! The Professional Drum Teacher Guild is continuing to grow and flourish under the direction of my good friend Martin Fullard. On the teaching front, I've now started to offer online lessons using AVChat technology. Students can study with me in real-time from the comfort of their own home! Click HERE to learn more about it! Thanks to all my students for a great year and here's to a productive, happy 2009!