I travel a lot for teaching, gigs and studio work, and over the years I’ve tuned my practice routine to be as portable and productive as possible. Building a compact setup that focuses on timing, tone and creativity isn’t about owning the biggest kit — it’s about choosing tools that let you...
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Lessons
I remember the first time a student asked me, "How do I get hands and feet to...
Technique
When I'm combining electronic drums with live kit recordings I want them to...
Grooves
When I sit down to build a modern pop groove I’m thinking about two things...
Gear Reviews
I’ve spent a long time chasing a bigger, fuller hi-hat sound without emptying...
I’ve lost count of how many mixes I’ve rescued from the “Where did the kick go?” moment. The kick is the engine of most tracks — when it disappears, the whole groove collapses. Over the years in the studio and teaching students, I’ve...
I love making lo-fi drum beats on the SP-404 because it forces me to be creative within limits. The unit's tactile workflow, immediate effects, and resampling capabilities make it perfect for building dusty, shuffling grooves that feel lived-in...
Getting a locked-in pocket for funk and neo-soul isn’t about adding more notes — it’s about making the notes you play breathe, sit with the groove, and serve the song. Below I share five focused practice routines I use with students and in my...
Small live rooms can be a nightmare for drum sounds. I’ve played and recorded in enough cramped venues and DIY rehearsal spaces to know how quickly a kit can turn into an uncontrolled wash of ringing toms and over-sustained snare. Over the years...
Keeping a steady tempo is one of those skills that separates "plays the song" from "owns the song." Over the years as a teacher and session player I've found that raw metronome practice only gets you so far. What accelerates real-world tempo control...
I love the sound of a vintage snare with a tight, focused pop that still carries warmth and body. There’s something magical about a brass or maple shell that sings with personality — but getting that balance isn’t always obvious. Over the...
One of my favorite practice shortcuts is taking a single rudiment — the paradiddle — and turning it into several musical fills you can use immediately in songs. It’s efficient, musical, and great for building vocabulary. Below I’ll walk you...