Drummer's Weekly Groovecast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 136 - Playing With Recordings Vs. Playing With People Dec 02, 2019

Phil and Jon are back in a newly revamped studio B with a topic suggested by a member of our listening audience. This week we discuss the pros and cons of playing with recordings versus playing with live musicians. The request was sent to us in regard to the tribute band show that we did several weeks ago. Our listener, Tony, recently became involved with a Steely Dan tribute act. He’s spent copious amounts of time working with the original recordings however he’s discovering that he has to make numerous adjustments when playing the exact same songs with live musicians. We discuss Tony’s situation and then debate some of the positives and negatives of playing with recordings. Some of the benefits we outline are: ear training, learning typical song forms, learning grooves, ‘playing’ with the professionals, de facto transcription, learning good time/feel, and the pleasure of playing with good music. We then discuss possible detriments such as: being led thus not stating assertive time, possibly learning bad feel/tempos, not listening to yourself, setting up your band mates to fail, and trying to measure up to studio fidelity perfection. We also give some tips to combat these issues along with some ideas for practicing with drummer-less tracks. We finish out the show with a brand-new segment of the DWG Garage. Jon has not one, but two, great tips for dealing with problematic, vintage Ludwig drums. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 135 - Interview - Michael Udow Nov 25, 2019

In the field of drumming we all have heroes. Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, John Bonham, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd and the list goes on and on. However, we often overlook the unsung heroes of drumming, the teachers. In the past few years, I’ve realized just how important and influential great teachers can be. The ability to clearly and concisely articulate ideas, techniques, and concepts is not an easy task. When you factor in that this must be done in a classroom setting as well as in private lessons, where teaching styles must be customized from student to student, then you understand that great teachers should hold a high position on our hero list. This week we welcome one of the great teachers in our discipline’s history, Dr. Michael Udow. Mike was head of percussion at the University of Michigan for thirty years as well as a respected clinician and author of the new book, Percussion Pedagogy (Oxford University Press). He was gracious enough to join us from his home in Colorado for a candid interview about his career, the art of education, and a description of, Percussion Pedagogy. We discuss his early interest in music, his personal path in higher education (culminating in the first DMA in percussion at the University of Illinois), his literature preferences, teaching techniques, state of the university, and much more. There’s something here for every teacher, student, and performer. You can visit Michael at his website: www.michaeludow.com You can explore Michael’s new book, Percussion Pedagogy, by clicking this link: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/percussion-pedagogy-9780190902940?lang=en&cc=us Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 134 - Season Four DWG Advisory Board Nov 18, 2019

After a rather lengthy absence, we present to you the reemergence of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. The board is back after skipping season three and we’re welcoming several new members to this season’s show. Our in-studio co-host is Justin Chesarek. Justin is an Atlanta based performer and educator who holds positions at three major metro Atlanta colleges: Emory University, Kennesaw State University, and Morehouse College. For the remote participants we welcome back long-time board members Joel Rosenblatt and Rod Morgenstein. New for season four we have added esteemed drummer/educators, Carter McLean, George Marsh, and Steve Smith. The question that we will address is: “What mistake (or questionable choice) do you most commonly see and hear your students or other drummers commit?” We listen and comment on the various answers given by our board members. When listening to the answers it’s worth noting that almost everything mentioned relates to basic techniques and thoughtful musicianship. In the current and popular social media world of practicing ear candy and chops it’s completely refreshing to hear some of the world’s best drummers teaching the basics of our craft. We discuss listening, dynamics, musical choices, phrasing, basic drumming technique, listening to recordings, and getting stuck in the routine of the ‘medium phenomenon’. Tune in for a great discussion! Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 133 - Tribute Drumming Featuring Wayne Viar Nov 11, 2019

Tribute bands have been around for quite a long time. However, over the last several years they’ve become significantly more prevalent and a viable alternative to the original artist. In fact, some will even say that many tribute acts perform the music even better than the original artist. When you also consider that many classic bands are charging several hundred dollars per ticket while their corresponding tribute band may charge less than a typical parking fee, the choice becomes even clearer. This week welcome to the show Wayne Viar. Wayne has been a friend of the podcast since its inception and has known the hosts for 20 years. In recent years Wayne has become the tribute band drummer of choice for several high-profile acts. Wayne regularly performs with Abba Mania, A1A (Jimmy Buffet tribute), Almost Elton John, and Piano Men (Billy Joel tribute). In this show we discuss how he became involved with tribute acts and how that led him to work with others. Wayne tells us about preparing for the shows, the venues, travel, and the backline provided for each gig. He goes over the perks of the job as well as the challenges. Finally, Wayne talks about a typical day on the Abba Mania tour. On our way out of the show please check out Wayne’s playing on the track: Hard Eight Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 132 - Season Four Listener Mail Nov 04, 2019

Just like that, we are halfway through the fourth season of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. The midway point means it is due time for another edition of listener mail. Phil and Jon begin the show discussing the audience response to the new episodes. We also get caught up on the news of the early fall season and discuss how the gigging and teaching jobs are going. This season’s mail bag was overflowing with a variety of questions, comments, and suggestions. We address a host of comments that relate all the way back to the Jim Gordon artist feature and as recent as the re-post from the Crash and Ride podcast featuring Phil. We then answer questions regarding snare drum repair, teaching, and Mel Lewis. We then discuss threads found on drumming forums that reference past shows and answer questions found there. We finish out this season’s mail with the feel-good email of the year! Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 131 - Artist Feature - Josh Freese Oct 28, 2019

Since we started doing the artist feature segment approximately two years ago it has become one of the most popular formats for this podcast. Ultimately it has provided some of the best listener feedback. Last season we featured the great Sonny Payne and the response was tremendous. We discuss the reaction from the listeners and then talk about our Jim Gordon feature from two years ago. Back when we posted the show on YouTube the Gordon episode received a tremendous amount of attention (and continues to do so presently). Since then we’ve decided to pick players that are either under the radar or tracks that are not obvious representations of the featured player. For this season we decided to feature southern California studio and live ace, Josh Freese. Since his initial gig at Disneyland Josh has performed with acts as diverse as: Devo, A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, Kelly Clarkson, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails, Evanescence, the Offspring, Guns and Roses, the Replacements, and his current gig with, Sting. We discuss his background and then listen to several of our favorite tracks. Phil’s picks: 1. Down – Live performance with 311 2. Paranoid Android – In-studio performance with Weezer covering Radiohead 3. Pretty Young Soldier – Sting 4. It’s F*’ed Up – from Freese’s solo CD, “Since 1972” Jon’s picks: 1. Judith – A Perfect Circle 2. Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Buble 3. Can’t Change Me – Chris Cornell 4. You Get What You Give – Brand New Immortals Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 130 - Musician Finances, Taxes, and Money Oct 21, 2019

We begin the show with a quick callback to our season four premiere and then talk about social media issues. Ultimately there has been a bit of confusion regarding listeners following the wrong account on Instagram. Phil and the podcast only have one Instagram account. You can follow the show by using the Instagram account name, Drummers Weekly Groovecast. Dealing with money responsibly is difficult for many people but it seems endemic for the creatives found in the music business. It’s a story that’s been told over and over again. It’s either the tale of the starving artist or the musician that’s done well only to lose it all through bad decisions. In this episode we talk about being smart with your money. We cover topics such as: student loans, filing income taxes, learning deductions, keeping records, investing, planning for retirement, frivolous spending, and substance abuse. We finish up the show with a segment on must-have gear. Jon starts by recommending the Tama version of lug locks called, Tama Tension Locks. This product completely eliminates issues with varying distances between different brands’ tension rod holes and the hoop itself. Phil’s pick is the DrumNBass Hoop Protect 180. This product protects the top and bottom sides of your bass drum hoop while allowing your pedal to comfortably grip the drum and eliminate slide. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 129 - Interview - Steve Smith Oct 14, 2019

This week we welcome legendary drummer, Steve Smith, to the Groovecast for the first interview of the fourth season. Steve was gracious enough to speak with us just before a series of dates with Journey that culminates in a three-week residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve will also be showing his artwork (at Carnavale Gallery at Caesar’s Palace) during this residency. If you are in Las Vegas and would like to see Steve’s art work and meet him in person please RSVP using the form found on Steve’s web site (link below). During this show we discuss many things including: the differences between playing with Journey today vs. 40 years ago, the difference in touring with Journey vs. Vital Information, his legendary practice routine, his orthopedic hand issues leading to his development of matched grip and the creation of ‘Pathways of Motion’, his yoga practice and how it helps with touring and performing, his Berklee experience with Gary Chaffee and Alan Dawson, meeting Vinnie Colaiuta at Berklee and their long relationship, the abundance of talent at Berklee and enjoying the classroom experience, and finally the requisite sashay through the maze that is the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast, Rorschach Test! As mentioned during the show if you’d like to visit Steve online his personal website is: http://www.vitalinformation.com/ You can also visit Journey’s web site and view their tour itinerary to see Steve when he’s in your town: http://www.journeymusic.com/ Lastly, in the spirit of transparency, I would like to mention that this episode was fraught with technical audio issues. I discuss, in detail, what happened the day of the interview but if you’re reading this prior to listening, do yourself a favor and use headphones for this show. We pride ourselves on great audio quality but due to circumstances beyond our control our normal standards of fidelity are not up to par on this episode. That being said, I believe you’ll find the quality of the content to be very good. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 128 - Season Four Premiere - Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy Oct 07, 2019

The boys are back from the summer hiatus with a new season of shows. We start this premiere episode by discussing summer gigs, travel, teaching, and vacations. We then break open the mail bag and address our correspondence with new and longtime listeners. We also discuss two new companies started by drummers who listen to our show. Please check out Ryan’s new product for wrist support and compression, Wrist Grips: https://wristgrips.myshopify.com/ There is also a drum-less play-along app created by Damani (from the Drum Coaches) entitled, Drum Trax. This free app is available on Android and Apple platforms so visit the online store of your choice to download it. The main topic of discussion for this show is the growing amount of envy, anger, and depression we see emanating from direct comparison to others on social media. We talk about what happens when we see someone who posts about an abundance of gigs, gets a new piece of gear, or flaunts their new car or home. We then offer our own suggestions about how you get past this issue and subsequently avoid it in the future. We finish up by revisiting our segment on great, underrated drummers. This time around Phil picks English session drummer, Henry Spinetti. Henry can be found on a host of major releases but is most known for his work with Eric Clapton and Gerry Rafferty. Jon picks New York session great, Alan Schwartzberg. During the 70s and 80s Alan was as busy as anyone on the scene including dates with: Kiss, Donna Summer, Tony Orlando and Dawn as well as hundreds of commercials and jingles. Join us each week for brand new shows. We can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere you access your favorite music and shows. If you are an Apple subscriber, the next time you are in iTunes please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it. Lastly, go by our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our shows, visit our social media, and contact us via email.

Episode 127 - Hiatus Breaker Featuring The Crash And Ride Podcast Aug 12, 2019

As we languish through the summer we temporarily break our hiatus by posting a pop show. Late last winter I appeared on a new podcast that deals with musicians who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD and other psychological issues, the Crash and Ride Podcast. The host and Groovecast power listener, Patrick Ferguson, has done a tremendous job highlighting an incredibly underrepresented topic that affects quite a large number of musicians. In this episode he and I discuss the different aspects of chronic, long-term anxiety and how it touches every part of your life. As musicians we elaborate on how anxiety can sometimes drive us toward music as well as how the disorder affects the music perform. We each talk about our personal battles and give ideas for real, lasting solutions to help mitigate the suffering. Please visit Patrick and the Crash and Ride Podcast by visiting his site: http://crashandride.libsyn.com/ Patrick was recently awarded a $5,000 grant for his great work creating this show. Please support him! The Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast is still in hibernation but we are presently working on new shows for the upcoming season. Please stay subscribed and keep and eye on our social media. We’ll slowly start powering up over the next few weeks with a formal announcement of season four’s start date. In the meantime… Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. During our publishing season new shows are posted every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 126 - Perfect Imperfection Jun 03, 2019

As we come to the end of the third season, we take some time to discuss the news of the day and the many events that have happened over the course of recent episodes. We discuss https://possiblechops.com/ref/8/ created by friends of the show, Dave Hooper, Gary Novak, and Dave Johnstone. We also humbly discuss the honor of being included by a popular online blogger in their list of top drumming podcasts. Also, the show will observe its three-year anniversary in July. Even though we’ll celebrate during our off-season please stay subscribed. From time to time we’ll give updates on the upcoming season as well as possibly publish a special ‘off-season’ episode. With that in mind, please stay in touch with the show. We appreciate the support and welcome all ideas for future episodes and interviews. As our long-time listeners will attest, we respond to all email and many times use your suggestions for future episodes. For this episode we take on the topic of being imperfect in a digitally perfect music scene. Recently a video went viral illustrating what John Bonham might sound like if he were recording today. The author of the video takes extant Bonham tracks and ‘corrects’ them through digital quantization. We discuss this video and then talk about our favorite, imperfect drummers. We talk about different drummers, their tracks, and how some are unintentionally imperfect while others are intentional. We discuss what make these imperfections perfect along with the various methods they may intentionally employ that make their playing imperfect. Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. During our publishing season new shows are posted every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 125 - Season Three Listener Mail, Concepts And Explanations May 20, 2019

As we moved through the third season, the show saw unparalleled growth. With that growth we received more email and social media messages and comments. In this episode Phil goes through some of the most common questions and comments with answers, concepts, and explanations. We cover the questions and topics: 1) You’re only as good of a drum set player as you are a snare drummer 2) Speed is one of the easiest things to accomplish and seldom needs to be practiced 3) Because you can play your high school’s halftime show doesn’t mean you can play the instrument 4) Playing with a metronome doesn’t intrinsically help you keep better time or play with better feel 5) Music school is not for everyone. But, how do you know? 6) Many students lack curiosity and the spirit of investigation. Here is a list of the music included in this show. 1) Billy Cobham – Crosswinds Album 2) Ralph Towner – Waterwheel – from the album, Batik 3) Tony Williams Lifetime – Snake Oil – from the album, Believe It 4) The Griffith Park Collection – L’s Bop – from the album, Griffith Park Collection 5) Canticum Canticorum Salomonis – Krzysztof Penderecki 6) Pat Metheny – Every Day I Thank You – from the album, 80/81 Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. You can find our page at ITunes by following this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drummers-weekly-groovecast/id1140363227?mt=2 Of course, you can search Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast inside of ITunes to find us as well.

Episode 124 - Interview - Rob Knopper - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra May 13, 2019

Obsession is generally considered a personality flaw. However, there are times when it proves beneficial if focused on a career goal. As musicians it seems logical that having some type of obsessive personality trait would be beneficial when it comes to studying and practicing our craft. Enter this week’s guest, Rob Knopper of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, a self-professed obsessive musician (and prog rock officianado). We were due to hear from the concert side of our discipline and Rob does not disappoint. Aside from having a gig in one of the world’s top orchestras Rob is known for his expertise on snare drum. We pick his brain about: technique, practice, methods, concert snare setup, tuning, and more. Rob is also one of the foremost experts on French percussion author, Jacques Delecluse. Aside from discussing Delecluse and his method we take a solo from Douze Etudes and discuss its general aspects as well as hit the hot spots breaking down rolls, stickings, and more. Rob is also known for expertise with auditions. Part of his teaching studio focuses on helping musicians prepare for and demystify auditions. We talk about his various auditions, what he learned from them and how it led to his successful audition with the Met. Finally, we take a furious pace through the classical edition of the DWG Rorschach Test! As mentioned in the episode Rob has a website where you can contact him and shop for the various products we talked about during the show. You can visit his site by clicking here: https://www.robknopper.com/ Rob’s YouTube channel can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/robknopperstudio Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. You can find our page at ITunes by following this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drummers-weekly-groovecast/id1140363227?mt=2 Of course, you can search Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast inside of ITunes to find us as well.

Episode 123 - The Business Of Backline With Kenny Cresswell Of Avatar Events May 06, 2019

These things take time. Sometimes they take six to eight months. However, if business is good who can complain? We originally reached out to Avatar Events owner, Kenny Cresswell, last fall to do a show about backline gear. However, Kenny was just a tad busy providing gear for some of music’s biggest acts. Jon and I realized that we had used the term ‘backline’ on numerous occasions throughout the history of the podcast. However, we never took enough time to fully explain what it was, why he and I needed it, and why we sometimes complained about it. Well luck would have it that not only does Atlanta have one of the premier backline rental companies in the US, but the owner is a mutual friend. During our visit to the Avatar Events warehouse we got the grand tour which comprised of 40 drum kits, 120 snare drums, 1000+ cymbals, a wall of hardware, timpani, vibes, marimbas, and more accessory percussion than any 10 retail stores combined. When we began the show, we asked Kenny everything you would want to know about not only what to expect when renting backline but what to include on your rider. We then cover aspects of the business such as: company endorsements, broken gear, selling gear, shipping equipment to remote locations, pricing, third party rentals, loaner stock,s and everything else you’d ever want to know about renting drums. If you would like to check out Avatar’s inventory and/or rent gear for your next event you can find them here: http://www.avatareventsgroup.com Avatar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avatareventsgroup/ Avatar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avatar_events_group/ Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today

Episode 122 - Interview - George Marsh Apr 29, 2019

Whether right or wrong we like being different and truly enjoy bringing you guests that challenge, enlighten, and entertain our listeners. This week certainly checks all those boxes. Our guest, George Marsh, is probably best known to our listeners as either the drummer from the David Grisman Quintet or as the author of “Inner Drumming” (one of our genres greatest methods). During my first chat with George he was excited to talk music and was very eager to share some of his favorite recordings of which he was a part. Throughout this episode as George describes the various musicians he’s worked with I thought it would be a nice change to mix in some of those artists’ mp3s as the interview progresses. It’s the first time we done that on the show. We hope you enjoy it and that it adds some context to the conversation. We caught up with George at his home in Santa Rosa, California. The long-time bay area resident is originally from the US Midwest where he grew up just outside of Saint Louis. His interest in music led him to gigs in Chicago and eventually to study with legendary educator, Tom Siwe at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. As the 1960s progressed it became clear to George that the weather, music, and culture of San Francisco had a magnetic appeal. Marsh relocated in 1968 and has remained in the bay area since that time. Partaking of the bay area’s fertile music scene George has played and recorded with artists as varied as the Jerry Hahn Brotherhood, Denny Zeitlin, John Abercrombie, Listen, and David Grisman. We discuss his teaching studios at Sonoma State University and the University of California at Santa Cruz. He details his nearly 40-year tenure at both schools and what he teaches there respectively. We finish having George describe the origin of “Inner Drumming”, the use of graphic notation, the nature of deliberate practice, and the myriad benefits of the method. Of course, we finish the show by taking George through the DWG Rorschach Test! Dr. Zeitlin would be delighted! Visit George at his web site: http://georgemarsh.com/ There you can view his media, purchase his book, and contact him for lessons. Here is the list of songs included in this episode: 1) “Time’s Caught Up with You” – The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood 2) “Aural Hallucination” – Listen 3) “This Ain’t Me” – Mose Allison 4) “Camel Walk” – Marsh, Abercrombie duo 5) “Geysers” – Zeitlin, Marsh 6) “Losing You” – Noam Limish 7) “After Hours” – Marsh, Wilsey, and Mathieu Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today

Episode 121 - The Business Of Home Recording With Sean O'Rourke Apr 22, 2019

As we reach the midway point of season three, we dig into the mail bag for our topic this week. A while back we received listener email requesting a show that focused on the business of home recording. Immediately Jon and I knew this would be the perfect show to include a third mic guest. There’s no one better to fill that spot than our mutual friend, recording ace, and Nashville denizen, Sean O’Rourke. Sean has performed with some of the music industry’s biggest names. A partial list includes: Sugarland, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Mother’s Finest, Derek Trucks, Jerry Ragavoy, Oteil Burbridge, and Arrested Development. In this episode we call upon Sean’s 20+ years of traditional studio and in-home recording experience to answer some questions. We cover what gear it takes to make a basic home studio functional along with upgrades that may make a big difference. Sean talks about the importance of signal path, the different room treatments he’s experimented with and what works best for recording drums. We then discuss dealing with clients, what materials they should provide, charts, cues, and session set up. We then talk about finishing the session, getting the tracks approved, different audio formats, delivering the tracks, and getting paid. Finally we discuss the proliferation of online studio musicians and what you can do to help separate yourself from the pack. Check out Sean and his studio by visiting his site at: http://seanorourke.com/ Sean also has a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/seanorourke Here is Sean's Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/seanorourke Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with our social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 120 - Interview - Carter McLean Apr 15, 2019

I always enjoy the interviews we do at Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. Part of the reason is that I only ask guests that I have a genuine interest in. It certainly doesn’t hurt if they have something to say. If they have a good time saying it, it’s just a bonus. This week I dumbed into a grand slam. I know, I know. You’re saying to yourself that you’ve heard this guy on other podcasts and social media. Not like this you haven’t. If you’re in the drumming business and unaware of Carter McLean, get out from under your rock and listen up. If you removed his current, long-term gigs (Broadway’s ‘The Lion King’ and Charlie Hunter) and his resume was reduced to his social media and educational posts, that’d be enough. If that doesn’t convince you, what if I told you that Vinnie Colaiuta was a fan? Well, he is. In this episode we cover some areas of Carter’s playing and teaching that have not been touched on. We discuss, in minutia, what it’s like getting into the Broadway orchestra pits. We talk about everything pertinent to drummers: following various conductors, subbing out shows, learning the book, covering mistakes, taking direction, monitoring, drum cages, and much more. Carter then gives us his daily routine from his commute into the city until he walks out of the theatre. We also spent a good amount of time discussing his teaching practice, his web site, and the upcoming release of his new method book, “Concepts and Creativity”. Carter discusses his educational background and how his experiences led him to create his own methods. He has documented many of his main ideas on his web site: www.fourhandsdrumming.com There you can discover his thoughts on topics such as: groove, feel, time, tuning, soloing, and more. Carter then gives us a preview of his upcoming book and walks us through a few of the concepts and exercises found within. We finish up by discussing his current, personal practice routine and then, of course, a comfortable jog through the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Rorschach Test! You can find out more about Carter by visiting his educational site: https://fourhandsdrumming.com I encourage you to also check out his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/cartermac Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 119 - Artist Feature - Sonny Payne Apr 08, 2019

We are back with season three’s artist feature. This time around we highlight Sonny Payne (Count Basie, Harry James, Frank Sinatra, Erskine Hawkins). Payne is simultaneously one of the most influential yet underrated big band drummers in jazz history. When asked to list the most influential big band drummers a typical response might be: Buddy Rich, Papa Jo Jones, Gene Krupa, Louie Bellson, Mel Lewis, Ed Shaughnessy, Chick Webb, etc. However, when many musicians, including some of the aforementioned drumming greats, are asked to name influential drummers Payne is at the top of the list. Combining innate musicality with bombastic setups and unparalleled showmanship Payne became the blueprint for which all future Basie drummers were compared. Harold Jones, who replaced Payne after his departure in 1965, unapologetically said that he took everything he could from Sonny during his time with the Basie band. Butch Miles, a fifteen-year Basie veteran, echoed that all drummers were told to emulate Payne’s playing as the definitive versions of the Basie catalogue. Phil and Jon discuss Payne’s playing style, his sound, his gear, and then listen to excerpts from their favorite recordings. Phil’s Picks: Shiny Stockings from Ella and Basie! Cute – from Basie Plays Hefti Whirlybird – from The Dynamic Basie Orchestra One O’Clock Jump – from Breakfast Dance and BBQ Jon’s Picks: Jumpin at the Woodside – Live at the Sands (Before Frank) I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Sinatra at the Sands All of Me - Sinatra at the Sands One O’Clock Jump - Sinatra at the Sands Join us every Monday for the best interviews and topical discussion in the drumming podcast idiom! We’re available on ITunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts. Subscribe today! If you listen via Itunes please stop by the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast home page inside of ITunes and leave us a 5-star review. We’d greatly appreciate it and it helps other people looking for our content find us a bit more easily. Lastly please visit our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can listen to all of our shows, interact with our social media accounts, view our videos, and contact us through our email form. Share us with your friends!

Episode 118 - Interview - Jimmy Haslip Apr 01, 2019

We spread our wings this episode and interview our first bassist, Jimmy Haslip. Now before you call me out regarding our bassists’s perspective show, with two of our favorite bass players, keep in mind that was a four mic show and not really an interview. Most of you will know Jimmy from his long-term relationship with the seminal fusion group the Yellowjackets. During his 32-year tenure with the band Jimmy and fellow band mates released some of the most influential music in that genre’s history. All the while Jimmy continued to work with other musicians on various live and studio projects which ultimately led him to develop an affinity and mastery for production. In 2012 Jimmy decided to take a break from touring to concentrate on producing music of his own and for other like-minded musicians. Little did he know that break would turn into a permanent full-time gig. In this episode we caught up with Jimmy during his recent stop in Atlanta with the Oz Noy trio. I met him in the lobby of his hotel where we set up shop and talked about his recent gigs and production projects. We then devote the majority of show discussing the drummers that Jimmy has worked with. It is one of the most impressive and comprehensive lists of drummers and percussionists I’ve ever seen. We naturally discuss his work with great jazz and fusion players such as: Will Kennedy, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gergo Borlai, Tom Brechtlein, and Joel Rosenblatt. But we also cover a list of players that you wouldn’t normally associate with Jimmy. And…of course, we finish up with a run through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach test. Visit Jimmy at his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.haslip Visit Jimmy at Blue Canoe Records: https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/arctrio_jh_sc_gb.html Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 117 - Season Three Premiere - Positive Motivation Mar 25, 2019

After a long winter’s nap Phil and Jon make their return to the Groovecast studios. In what is becoming a recurrent tradition they reveal the season three theme and discuss the clips therein. We then spend some time catching up from the past few months discussing new gigs and opportunities. We also pay our respects to the great Hal Blaine. We then talk about social media etiquette and how to contact us to be better connected. Our topic to start season three is positive forms of motivation and its long-lasting benefits. We each explain how this type of motivation is the polar opposite of ‘stage bullying’ and negative commentary. Sometimes you receive the motivation from a teacher. Sometimes it can be a fellow musician. It can also be discovered in forms of self-realization. Each host then describes how different real-world scenarios of positive motivation enhanced the situation they were in. They also recount how these styles of motivation stayed with them and how they are used currently. We finish out the premiere episode by making a visit to the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Garage. In this segment Jon talks about the relevance of vintage, chrome plated, brass drum hoops. He discusses where you’d typically find them, ways to identify them, the potential benefits of using them and the resale value compared to steel hoops. Please visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to our shows, interact with social media, email us, view our videos and more. If you are an Apple platform user please take a moment to review us the next time you are in iTunes. A 5-star rating would be greatly appreciated. New shows are published every Monday and can be found on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 116 - Interview - Jeff Sipe, Apt. Q - 258 Dec 17, 2018

In the snowy mountains of rural, western North Carolina Jeff Sipe (Apt. Q-258) resides. You may know him from his tenure with acts such as, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Herring, Leftover Salmon, Col. Bruce Hampton, Jazz Is Dead, and Shawn Lane/Jonas Hellborg. However most know him from the group that gained him his initial popularity, Aquarium Rescue Unit. To finish out our second season Jeff agreed to talk to us about all of the above including his current gigs and the publishing of his new method book, “Rhythm Patterns for Drum Set”. Stories. Everyone likes to hear them and many musicians have colorful tales about being on the gig. If you look at Sipe’s past credentials you’ll quickly recognize that he’ll have plenty to offer in that category. We start with how he received the moniker, ‘Apt. Q-258’. We also spend a good bit of time discussing his upbringing abroad and how it fostered his love for music. Jeff also tells great stories about his time in Boston and attending the Berklee College of Music. One of the stories revolves around his friendship with guitarist, Steve Vai, and being present during Steve’s ‘transcription phase’ prior to his tenure with Frank Zappa. Jeff then talks about his departure from Boston and subsequent arrival in Atlanta. From there he tells of how a chance meeting with Bruce Hampton ultimately led to a long relationship with the legendary performance artist. From there we go through the lexicon of his gigs including the formation of the Aquarium Rescue Unit and the bands that followed. We finish up talking about his current teaching studio including a description of his new method book. As always, we end the show by putting Jeff through the obstacle course that is the DWG Rorschach Test. Jeff wants you to stay abreast of his upcoming gigs. Please go by his web site at: www.jeffsipemusic.com There you can find out where he’s performing and check out his new method book, “Rhythm Patterns for Drum Set”. Thank you very much for your support during season two of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. Please stay subscribed during our short hiatus and let us know what you’d like to hear in the next season. You can email us via our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can also listen to all of our episodes, watch our videos, and manage your social media accounts. Lastly, please take a moment to share our podcast with your friends. If you are an Apple user and access the show through Itunes we’d greatly appreciate a review the next time you’re at our homepage inside of Itunes. Finally, if you do not use Itunes you can find us at Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud, and everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts.

Episode 115 - Interview - John Ramsay, Berklee College Of Music Dec 10, 2018

The Berklee College of Music is ubiquitous with musicians worldwide. When we think of the great institutions of education along with the world’s greatest musicians Berklee is routinely mentioned in both instances. However, with any topic of conversation that conjures legendary tales there are as many negative connotations as positive. In this episode we cover everything you’d want to know about the school from a gentleman who has been a part of the faculty for 36 years, John Ramsay. Ramsay, a Massachusetts native, was a self-taught drummer who soon realized that if he was going to make a living as a musician he’d have to seriously learn his craft. Through meeting Max Roach at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst he was ultimately steered toward private lessons with master drummer/instructor, Alan Dawson. With Dawson he learned the legendary methods associated with Ted Reed’s ‘Syncopation’, soloing with Stone’s ‘Stick Control’, and Alan’s creation of the ‘Rudimental Ritual’. After several years Ramsay became the second drummer and tour manager in Art Blakey’s big band. Between this experience along with side-man duties with many other legendary jazz artists Ramsay bolstered his resume leading to his hiring at the Berklee College of Music in 1982. John’s list of Berklee credentials includes copious classroom and applied teaching along with an administrative stint as chair of the percussion department. In our chat he describes exactly what the aspiring student should prepare themselves with including knowing the 26 American rudiments, chart reading, styles, and more. He then details what the audition process is like. We also spend a good amount of time discussing the acceptance process and the different types of scholarships and financial aid that is available. We then talk about the many different degree paths that are available including the new graduate programs. Applied lessons, the celebrity teachers, and how students can request them are then covered. John then talks about the required classes, labs, etc. Then we finish with a discussion about the state-of-the-art facilities (recording studios, practice rooms, performance venues, media center, and more). After the Berklee talk has concluded we conclude the show by running John through the maze that is the DWG Rorschach Test. As mentioned during the show you can keep up with John and Henrique de Almeida are doing by visiting the web site: www.thedrumsetcoach.com You can buy John’s books by visiting Amazon: Art Blakey’s Jazz Messages: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Blakeys-Jazz-Messages-Publications/dp/0760400091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543503787&sr=8-1&keywords=john+ramsay The Drummer’s Complete Vocabulary as taught by Alan Dawson: https://www.amazon.com/Drummers-Complete-Vocabulary-Taught-Dawson/dp/0769265243/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543503787&sr=8-2&keywords=john+ramsay If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from access to all of our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. We try to personally answer all emails and questions. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 114 - Season Two DWG Advisory Board Dec 03, 2018

We are back again with our illustrious panelists from the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. With the success from the last episode featuring the advisory board we knew it was a must for the second season. For this show’s topic we have employed a few past board members and welcome a few new faces to the panel. Please welcome Rod Morgenstein, Chris Fryar, Tom Brechtlein, Joel Rosenblatt, and Ted Mackenzie to this session’s advisory board. This time around we pose the question, “What important aspect do you believe is missing or should be done better in music education?” Each guest gives their answer and we discuss our own thoughts on what might be beneficial to modern students in today’s current and future music business. We analyze different topics such as: curriculum, application, concepts, student accountability, methods, technology, and much more. If you haven’t heard the previous episodes featuring interviews with our panel members you listen to them by following the links below: Rod Morgenstein: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-100-interview-rod-morgenstein You can also visit Rod’s web site at: www.rodmorgenstein.com Tom Brechtlein: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-65-interview-tom-brechtlein You can also visit Tom’s web site at: www.tombrechtlien.com Chris Fryar: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-90-interview-chris-fryar-of-the-zac-brown-band You can visit Chris’ web site at: www.chrisfryar.com Joel Rosenblatt: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-29-interview-joel-rosenblatt You can visit Joel’s web site at: http://joelrosenblatt.com/ Ted Mackenzie: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-103-the-adler-technique-with-ted-mackenzie You can also visit Ted’s web site at: www.tedmackenize.com If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from access to all of our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. We try to personally answer all emails and questions. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 113 - Interview - Jason Bittner Nov 26, 2018

Jason Bittner is one of the premiere heavy metal drummers. His resume includes the bands, Shadows Fall, Flotsam and Jetsam, Burning Human, Stigmata, Anthrax, and currently he is a member of the legendary east coast band, Overkill. Not a bad way to welcome our first, straight-up, metal drummer to the Groovecast. He sat down with us from his home in upstate New York. I was introduced to Jason through our mutual friend, and previous show guest, Ted Mackenzie. A few days before Thanksgiving we found a time to chat. Aside from being a tremendous player Jason is a fantastic storyteller. He starts the interview with details about a clinic he recently conducted near his hometown. That story leads to other accounts from past tours including an unforgettable night in the UK where his clinic was held in a pub. We spend a good amount of time discussing his education (early teachers and methods) and how it led to him reading Modern Drummer, noticing ads, and ultimately attending the Berklee College of Music. He talks about his time in Boston and his teachers, Ed Uribe, Arvin Scott and Skip Hadden. We then discuss the early metal bands he was in and the perseverance it took until the formation and success of Shadows Fall. We then talk about his current gig with the band, Overkill. Jason takes us through a typical day of being on the road including his pre-show routines. We finish up talking about his daily practice schedule before he runs through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach test. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 112 - Season Two Q & A Nov 19, 2018

Here at the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of the year. It gives us the perfect opportunity to give thanks to our art form and for us, Phil and Jon, to give thanks for our listeners. In this episode we dedicate the entire time to answering listener questions. We begin the show with a short segment of listener comments directed at the last two shows, JM Van Eaton and Roger Hawkins. We often say it but never say it enough. Thank you very much for your loyal support of the show! Your comments and reviews mean the world to us! We then get to the main part of the show which is a full session of Q & A. Over the last several months we’ve received quite a few emails. We always respond personally but most of the time we don’t discuss them on the show. We decided this time around to publicly answer our most frequently asked questions. Topics we cover include: practice, injury, gear repair, recording tips and technology, music theory, ear training, and more. We finish the show with a segment on underrated drummers. Phil and Jon each share their picks along with representative tracks and videos. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 111 - Artist Feature - Roger Hawkins Nov 12, 2018

“Now, Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers. And they’ve been known to pick a song or two.” Literally millions of people have heard this famous line from Lynyrd Skynyrd but how many actually know what it means? The Swampers were the famous rhythm section from Muscle Shoals’ FAME recording studio and they are responsible for hundreds of popular hits and thousands of great feeling tracks. This week we’ll christen the midway point of the second season and listen to the Swampers’ incredible drummer, Roger Hawkins, for our artist feature. Knowing that this topic would be dead center of Jon’s strike zone he details a short biography of Hawkins and discusses the many influences, sometimes unknowingly, on the drumming populace. Hawkins is sometimes mistaken for RnB studio greats, typically Al Jackson or Bernard Purdie, so we take time to explain the reasons for that. We then listen to several tracks featuring Roger and analyze what’s happening in each track. Below are the song choices from each host. Phil’s tracks: 1) Land of a 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett 2) Get Ready – King Curtis version 3) Respect Yourself – Staples Singers 4) Katmandu – Bob Seger Jon’s tracks: 1) Never Loved a Man – Aretha Franklin 2) I’ll Take You There – Staples Singers 3) I’d Rather Go Blind – Etta James 4) Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are a subscriber on any Apple platform please go by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. Not only does it help the show rank higher it also allows new listeners to find us more easily when their looking for shows with our content. Lastly, please take a moment at visit our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast There you can listen to the show, watch our videos, manage your social media accounts, and interact with the show through our email form.

Episode 110 - Interview - J.M. Van Eaton Nov 05, 2018

It’s not an exaggeration to say that JM (Jimmy) Van Eaton was at rock and roll ground zero. It certainly didn’t hurt that he was unknowingly living in one of the great hot beds for American music, 1950s Memphis, TN. Although it’s no longer in the top echelon of music cities, being significantly overshadowed by its eastern neighbor a mere 200 miles away, Memphis paved the way for future generations of rock, RnB, country, and jazz musicians. After a long stretch of living in rural West Tennessee JM recently retired from his long-time occupation in financial services. I caught up with JM at his new residence is Memphis. From there we discussed his upbringing and how it led to his initial musical training on trumpet. He soon moved to percussion in his school’s concert band and subsequently cobbled together a complete drum set using different pieces from their percussion cabinet. Van Eaton transitioned to professional gigs ultimately landing him at the world-famous Sun Recording Studios. JM quickly moved from demo sessions to master tracks. The rhythm section on one of the sessions included a young, hungry up and coming pianist named, Jerry Lee Lewis. JM continued playing sessions and live gigs with Jerry Lee and ended up on several of Lewis’ iconic hits including, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. Aside from his long-standing relationship with Lewis, JM played on over 200 records and has worked with legendary musicians, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins to name but a few. We finish up hearing about his recent playing endeavors and then we run him through the gauntlet that is the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast, Rorschach Test. Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud and everywhere you listen to your favorite show. Also, please visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. Aside from accessing all our shows you can also view our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and email us using our contact form. Please share our podcast with your friends and leave us a review if you subscribe using Itunes.

Episode 109 - Jazz Vs Rock Mindset featuring Marlon Patton Oct 29, 2018

“Yeah he’s a great drummer, but he’s a jazz player.” I’d be willing to bet that sometime during a conversation you’ve heard a similar comment. What does that even mean? And more importantly what’s the rationale for saying that? It’s obviously a reference to the musical approach of the jazz player and how he’d be inappropriate for a particular job. It’s certainly no secret that many musicians devote the majority of their time to one particular musical style. That devotion however can lead to neglect and the superimposition of the preferred style while playing another genre. That’s not good. However, instead of a sweeping generalization what particular aspects of his approach make him suitable for jazz but not for rock? In this episode we welcome Marlon Patton to the show as we dissect and examine the differences between the jazz and rock mindset. What makes up the mentality of a great jazz or rock musician? We take the topics of touch, gear, independence, feel, groove construction, song structure, and gig preparation to dig deep into what makes the approach different between the two styles. We also spend a few minutes talking about the start of the new season while reviewing a few listener emails. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 108 - Interview - Daniel de los Reyes Oct 22, 2018

Daniel de los Reyes is one of the premiere percussionists in the world. Even if he wasn’t a member of one of today’s most popular bands, the Zac Brown Band, his resume is as impressive as anyone’s in the music business. He’s recorded or toured with: Earth, Wind, and Fire, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Sting, Chicago, Ben Vereen, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Steve Winwood, Sheryl Crow, and Peter Frampton to name a few. All that being said he’s an even better human being. In our time together, we certainly talked drumming and music. However, we spent significantly more time discussing life, family, priorities, mistakes, ambitions, and giving back. Daniel has seen it all and has walls full of awards to prove it. Right now, one of his priorities is furthering his philanthropic endeavor, Day Glow Music. Danny blends culture, art, and music together to educate and enlighten kids with the hopes that they can share their passion with others. He’s also working to bring relief to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. We also speak in detail about his current gig, percussionist with the Zac Brown Band. He tells how his relationship with the band started, including his first gig with them at Red Rocks, becoming a member and how each person in ZBB builds a group concept that is integral to the success of the band. We finish off with a sprint through the obstacle course that is the DWG Rorschach test! If you’d like to donate or read more about Day Glow Music please visit Daniel at: www.dayglowmusic.org If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 107 - Season Two Premiere - Performance Panic Oct 15, 2018

Welcome back to the start of a new season of the Drummer’s Weekly Groovecast. We greatly appreciate your patience and support during our hiatus. We look forward to bringing you the best in topical conversation, interviews, and recommendation segments. After our cold open we debut our new show theme and discuss what we’ve been doing during our break. Our topic for the week is “Performance Panic/Neurosis”. In past episodes we’ve covered several subjects that deal with problems arising from outside sources: stage bullies, outdoor events, unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances, etc. Today we discuss how to manage problems that are self-manifested. We often sabotage ourselves when we get the chance to perform with or for a great musician or personal hero. We get inside our heads and let the voice of negativity and doubt ruin our experience. We discuss our personal understanding and the different ways it has affected us during gigs and sessions. Sometimes we respond by over playing. Sometimes we play it too safe. Then are times we completely panic and send ourselves off the rails. After addressing each scenario, we talk about proven ways to rationalize and overcome these stressful situations. We then finish up the show with must-have gear recommendations. If you haven’t been to our website recently please go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and see what new content we have to offer. Aside from our episodes we’ve posted ‘Host Spotlight 3” on our video page. Feel free to send us a message through our email form or manage your social media accounts from our site. New shows are available every Monday. You can subscribe through Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you are an Apple Itunes user please click 5 stars and leave us a short review. We greatly appreciate your support!

Episode 106 - Managing Social Media Jul 23, 2018

Keeping tabs on social media use is now something all responsible people must do. Naturally we think that most of the problems generated by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, come from the original poster. Sometimes that is correct. However with the omnipotence of technology and its accompanying social media, savvy users have to be equally careful simply being onlookers. In this episode Phil and Jon discuss the proliferation of several social media platforms and the benefits they offer. Likewise we dive into the worm hole of exactly what can go wrong when social media use goes awry. We cover issues like: bad posting etiquette, problems arising from overconsumption, loss of productivity, addiction, and anxiety resulting from social media overexposure. We then discuss proven, practical ways to loosen the grip of social media and get you back on the road to productivity. We also talk about our recent inclusion in Drum Magazine's top drumming podcast's list. We are humbled and honored to be listed with such wonderful people and podcasts. If you would like to see what was said about us click this link: http://drummagazine.com/streaming-the-beat-top-drumming-podcasts-right-now/ We also discuss a recent article written by listener Kyle Edmonston. His paper is about 'Time' and he cites episode 37 of the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast as one of his primary sources. Thanks Kyle and tremendous work! You can read Kyle's article by clicking this link: https://kyleedmonster.wordpress.com/2018/07/17/time/ Finally, we get another tip from Jon during our visit to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Garage. If you have broken or partially operational snare stands this segment is for you. Special thanks once again goes to everyone who has ever listened to the show. It means more to us than you'll ever know. If you haven't left a review for the show please swing by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. We'll never ask you for money so if you have a few minutes to leave us a five star review we'd be very grateful. It helps us reach a bigger audience for people who are looking for our type of show. If you'd like to listen to any back episodes, view our videos, visit our social media, or get in touch with us go to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com

Episode 105 - Stage Bullies Rebroadcast Jul 16, 2018

Two years ago we ventured into the podcast arena with a topic that resonated with thousands of musicians. This week we revisit the original episode that started it all. Stage bullies come in all shapes, sizes, and volumes! Some musician bullies like to exercise their control when in leadership positions. Others are micro managers and like to dictate everything you play and do. Some leaders are nervous, snippy yellers who don't know how to deal with high pressure situations. You may also run into the ego maniac who likes to demean others and force his will onto the music and everyone at the gig. Conversely you may run into the brooding, passive aggressive player who sneers and gives condescending looks or comments. Those types of 'stage bullies' are only the most common! There are a myriad of others. Let us help you deal with them. If you haven't heard this original broadcast give it a listen. If you have heard it, check it out again. In this inaugural episode Phil and Jon sit down and discuss this negative aspect of performing by relating their own experiences and how they got past the problems. If you listen to our show on your Iphone or directly in Itunes please leave us a review! Simply click a 5 star review on our Itunes homepage. It helps us tremendously and allow people looking for shows of our type find us that much easier. Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 104 - The Two Year Anniversary Show Jul 09, 2018

This week's show is dedicated to our listeners! Episode 104 officially marks the two year anniversary of the podcast and we celebrate with news, listener questions, two year statistics, favorite guests, favorite show moments, and more. We start the episode with Phil and Jon discussing the benefits of hosting the show by recently being invited to two major concert events. We then tackle a few listener questions. If you've ever experienced what you believe is carpal tunnel symptoms make sure you listen closely. We also cover the nebulous topic of shuffle differentiation. In particular we answer the question: "What is the difference between the Texas Shuffle and the Chicago Shuffle"? We then give our appreciation to the listeners who've supported the show for the past two years. We talk about the continual growth of the show and then play a 'stats game'. We go over podcast stats for several topics including: the most listened to show, top countries who listen, top non-English speaking countries, top US states, top US cities, top referring web sites, and much more. During the past two years we've experienced some memorable shows and guests. Phil and Jon reflect back to the creation of the show and ultimately how it led to their first episode, "Stage Bullies". They discuss how that initial topic resonated with many people and ultimately established their listener base from the beginning. The topic of favorite guests is then addressed. We go over our first interview, road trips, our first remote interview, the creation of the advisory board, and ultimately the lasting friendships that have resulted from this podcast. Special thanks once again goes to everyone who has ever listened to the show. It means more to us than you'll ever know. If you haven't left a review for the show please swing by our page in Itunes and leave us a short review. It helps us tremendously. If you'd like to listen to any back episodes, view our videos, visit our social media, or get in touch with us go to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com

Episode 103 - The Adler Technique with Ted Mackenzie Jul 02, 2018

For this episode we welcome back to the show author/educator/performer, Ted Mackenzie. In a previous show Ted spoke about his relationship with master teacher, Henry Adler, and how his knowledge of Adler's method led to him to be chosen to revise the popular book, "Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments". In that show we discussed how he revised the book, his lessons with Adler, the publication process, and his companion methods that followed. Listener response to that particular show was tremendous. However there were several listeners who wished that we had discussed the actual Adler method and how it is applied to the book. We do just that in this show. Ted takes the time to discuss Adler's thoughts on grip (both matched and traditional), stroke motion, stroke heights, accepting the rebound, accents, non-bounce vs bounce strokes, wagging the brush, and more. Here you'll get the 'flyover' concept of Henry Adler's famous method. We also touch on how the Adler technique relates to other popular methods such as Moeller and Gladstone. We also discuss why the Adler method is not quite as prevalent as other techniques due to its perceived difficulty and depth of study. He also mentions a few teachers that he knows are qualified to teach the Adler method. Aside from Buddy here are few of Adler's higher profile students: Ed Shaughnessy, Louide Bellson, Charlie Perry, Sonny Igoe, Sonny Payne, Kenny Clare, Jack Sperling, Bobby Morris, Alvin Stoller, and Doug Allen. To see Ted explain and demonstrate some of the Adler concepts click on the links below. There you'll be taken to Ted's web site, his Amazon store, and video links for visual demonstration. Ted's website: www.tedmackenzie.com Resistance training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZHThqTbp4g&feature=youtu.be Development of Hands and Wrists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awZq8jgRRMw&feature=youtu.be Traditional Grip (Bounce): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWDdjBHRoM&feature=youtu.be Ted's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00J3333UO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true Ted is also aware of three instructors that are qualified to teach the Adler Method. These teachers are: Nat Oliveri in North Carolina, Walt Heitner in Long Island, NY, and Christopher in Shaw in England. Contact Ted via his website for direct contact information to these teachers. The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast needs some help! We're calling upon our loyal listening audience to help us find an intern. We need someone who is well versed in website creation, search engine optimization, social media promotion, and research. If you or someone you know would like to be a part of our show please reach out to us. Send us a message on social media or an email from our website: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You do not have to live in Atlanta to be our intern. If you have skills and a reliable internet connection you will certainly be given full consideration. Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 102 - Surviving Outdoor Gig Season Jun 25, 2018

Every year professional musicians brace themselves from April to October. That six to seven month span encompasses outdoor gig season. In this episode we welcome David Freeman, saxophonist/keyboardist of the Yacht Rock Revue, to the show. He's a long time, power listener and part time drummer. In his decades of performance experience Dave has had hundreds of performances during shed season. Aside from giving our personal stories about perfect outdoor gigs versus nightmare outdoor gigs Phil and Dave give a host of practical tips that will prepare you for anything that comes your way. We spend some time talking about listing and packing specialized equipment that will protect your gear and survive the rigors of the elements. In particular we talk about several different ways to protect your electronics from rain, humidity, and moisture. We give tips about self-preservation including different items to bring for personal comfort (insect repellent, sun block, cooling towels, etc.). We then cover the best and lightest ways to load and transport gear to keep you as fresh as possible during times of oppressive heat. If you have ever considered contracting outdoor events there are many aspects that differ from traditional, indoor gigs. Dave and Phil run through a list of requests that are mandatory when considering an outdoor gig. We cover everything from staging, to food and beverage needs, to case storage and miscellaneous rider inclusions. Finally we give you practical, on-the-job tips that can make a potentially bad situation tolerable if not enjoyable! Don't forget that the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast is looking for an intern. We need someone who is well versed in web site design, SEO, social media, promotion and creative writing. If you are interested or if you know someone who might be interested please go to our website: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and drop us a line. We can help you achieve college credit if you need it. Thanks to all of our listeners who have continually supported the show. We appreciate you very much. If you subscribe to the show using Itunes please stop by our page and leave us a short Itunes review. It helps our show grow organically by making us show up higher in searches where musicians are looking for our type of podcast.

Mini-Episode 12 - Flip-It Jun 21, 2018

For this mini-episode of 'Accountability Thursday' we'll take a look at the companion piece to last week's show solo "Trip-It". "Flip-It" authored by Herman Wiegman is a traditional solo written in two-four with a couple interesting twists. At the start of the solo we roll off with a traditional, ternary seven stroke roll. However when we get to the first ending and prepare for the repeat we notice there's no seven stroke roll! This can be interpreted literally where upon repeat we'd play a single stroke on the downbeat of the first bar. However I took the liberty to 'correct' what could be a misprint and played the traditional seven stroke roll that would finish the first ending and lead back to the top (like the introductory roll off). Ultimately do whatever feels best for yourself but always remember that certain interpretation liberties can be used on these old solos. The next interesting twist is found at the beginning of the second half of the solo. The author writes the Lesson 25 rudiment three times in a row but forces us to alternate the rhythm when it is traditionally played all on one hand. Again practice these stickings exactly as written since they affect everything that is played afterward. Finally in the last two measures the author writes two separate sets of sixteenth note triplets that are connected with binary sixteenth notes. Play the binary sixteenth notes as a right handed paradiddle so that it will 'flip' the second set of sixteenth note triplets to lead with the left hand. Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Flip-It". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

Episode 101 - The Picks Show with author Jake Brown Jun 18, 2018

We begin our show this week asking our audience for a little help. No, it's not for money! Rather we are in the market for an intern! That's right. We need some help in the I.T. department and feel sure that there's a student or professional musician out there that would love to help us. If you are familiar with social media promotion, web site design, SEO, and don't mind helping answer and send a few emails than you might have yourself a gig (or some college credit). Head on over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and drop us a line. Before we get to our main topic of the day Phil breaks the news that he's had an article published in the July issue of Percussive Notes magazine. We also discuss the passing of drumming legend, DJ Fontana. We also talk about his contributions to rock and roll and his lesser known role as a Nashville studio drummer. This week Phil and Jon step outside the lines and do a show recommending some of their favorite things. We intentionally stay away from genres that we've picked in our recurring segments and choose things that inspire us when we're away from the drums. Phil's picks: 1) www.trello.com 2) http://vetrafitness.com 3) Karl Ove Knausgaard Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Karl-Ove-Knausgaard/e/B00NS0C37C Jon's picks: 1) http://www.kentvilledrums.com.au/ 2) http://thedrummershort.com/ We finish up by visiting with author, Jake Brown. Jake is the author of the book, "Beyond the Beats". His book is a collection of print interviews from 1980s arena rock drummers. He talks about how he started writing, the process of this book, and his future books highlighting different types of drummers. Join us every week for brand new shows. Head over to our website at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll be able to interact with our social media, view our videos, listen to all our shows, and contact us through our email form. You can also subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 100 - Interview - Rod Morgenstein Jun 11, 2018

Rod Morgenstein is one of the preeminent musicians of our time. He is known for being in one of the most important fusion bands (Dixie Dregs) in history, one of the most popular hard rock bands (Winger, also known for their individual musical virtuosity as well) of the 80s, and a legendary educator (author of several popular method books, hundreds of pedagogical articles, and a twenty year stint at the Berklee College of Music). Fresh from an extensive North American tour with the Dixie Dregs, Rod was kind enough to join us from his home in New York to chat about drums, his education, performing, the music business, and his passion for writing and teaching. We discovered during our chat that Rod has connections with DWG guest and advisory board member, Tom Brechtlein. Both drummers studied under Ronnie Gould while attending Nassau Community College. Rod then transferred to the University of Miami where he befriended Danny Gottlieb, graduated with his music degree and ultimately formed the Dixie Dregs with Steve Morse, Andy West, Allen Sloan, and T Lavitz. We then discussed the music business and what it means to be a full member of a working band. Rod details the pros and cons along with how it sometimes pays to be a side man in certain situations. Winger happened just at the right time after the Dixie Dregs went on hiatus and Rod relocated to New York to find work. Rod tells us how a chance meeting turned into his lifelong dream of playing in a successful arena rock band. We finish up with Rod detailing how he was hired on a temporary appointment to teach at the Berklee College of Music. Ultimately it turned into a twenty year association with the school having Rod commute 240 miles (one way) each week during his tenure there. Finally we put Rod to the test with the DWG Rorschach test! You can visit Rod at his website: www.rodmorgenstein.com You can visit Rod's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/rod.morgenstein Rod's books are available here: https://online.berklee.edu/store/product?product_id=11333&usca_p=t&offer_code=5610 Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud and everywhere you listen to your favorite show. Also please visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. Aside from accessing all our shows you can also view our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and email us using our contact form. Please share our podcast with your friends and leave us a review if you subscribe using Itunes.

Mini-Episode 11 - Trip-It Jun 07, 2018

As we move into the month June and close in our 100th feature episode we continue pushing forward in the NARD book. This Thursday we'll be looking at the solo, "Trip-It". It'll be our second solo composed in six-eight hence the solo's name. Like most of our traditional rudimental solos this piece is felt in two but with a triplet undercurrent. Another facet of this solo that lends to its name is the author's use of triplets in the second half. One thing to watch out for is his use of triplets leading into paradiddles at the end of the third and fourth lines. In both cases he uses the triplet to turnaround the stickings forcing us to play three notes on one hand. That sticking is crucial to the feel and execution of the rudiments that follow those measures. Also pay particularly close attention to the crescendos that occur in the second half. They add texture and excitement to the solo since there are no other dynamic markings written aside from accents. Lastly, play the accented triplet rhythms (at the start of the fifth line and in the penultimate measure) with alternating stickings. Don't drag! Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/dk47ewHgonU You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Trip-It". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

Episode 99 - Interview - Sam Fogarino Of Interpol Jun 04, 2018

The North Georgia country side doesn't normally evoke the thought of rock stars. However Interpol drummer, Sam Fogarino, doesn't particularly care to live up to stereotypes. He's experienced the city life and finds himself quite comfortable living miles away from the rat race. Recently Sam invited me to his home and we set up shop in his guest house turned studio. We discussed the local music scene and his recent move just before the mics were turned on. Once we began our conversation flowed freely and easily. Sam discussed growing up in west Philadelphia and how he started playing drums. He navigates through his learning process and how his curiosity and spirit of investigation led him during his formative years. After several relocations Sam took a chance and moved to New York City with the hopes of finding like minded musicians to form a new band. While working in a clothing store (which sold vinyl as well) and contemplating the woes of the music business he was invited to watch a friend's band play. Ultimately it was the start of his relationship with Daniel Kessler and Paul Banks from Interpol. During a first for the DWG Phil and Sam listen to the Interpol song, "Obstacle 1" while Sam analyzes the song in real time! Listen closely to really get inside the creation and recording of this Interpol favorite. From there Sam tells us about a day in the life of an Interpol tour, his gear, the upcoming album release and tour, and the band's appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Friday, June 8th). Finally we finish the show with a run through the gauntlet that is the DWG Rorschach Test. You can visit Sam and Interpol at their website: www.interpolnyc.com Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. You can subscribe to the show in Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Please visit our website at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll find every episode, all our videos, manage your subscription, access our social media, and contact us through our email form. Please share our show with your friend and co-performers! Also, if you subscribe in Itunes please take a moment and review our show with five stars. We'd greatly appreciate it!

Episode 98 - Signature Grooves Part 2 May 28, 2018

This week we are back with another installment of signature grooves. Back in episode 48 we presented a baker's dozen of definitive beats that were so uniquely crafted that they would need to be learned and played exactly in order to stay authentic to the song. In some cases these proprietary grooves may require a totally new playing or technical approach. In this episode we are presenting 'level two' of these signature grooves. This batch of beats embody common traits or patterns found in many other beats. However a twist or specific aspect of the groove makes it unique for the song in which it's played. We'll traverse many different genres: pop, rock, hard rock, fusion, funk, and RnB. We'll also address many decades: 60s, 70s, 80s and more. The drummers we'll discuss cover several different aspects of the drumming spectrum: pop icon (Ringo), rock god (Bonham), funk legend (Stubblefield and Starks), linear pioneer (Garibaldi), drumming virtuoso (Hakim) and much more. As we move through the list we'll analyze the importance of the groove and how it became a signature beat for the song. We then break down why it's important to us as drummers and how it may have spawned a new technique, independence or style. We'll also discuss how the drummer, band, and song connected with the era in which it was recorded and how it affected future music. The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today! If you are an Itunes subscriber please leave us a short review on our Itunes DWG home page. It really helps us relate to other similar shows and allows people looking for our content find us a bit easier. Lastly, please share the show on your social media and with your friends!

Episode 97 - Artist Feature - Roy Haynes May 21, 2018

This week we honor one of the greatest drummers in the history of music, Roy Haynes. Originally from Boston, Haynes is one of the last living musicians who performed with all of the following jazz giants: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughn. If you include other past and current jazz greats it's not a stretch to say that Roy has literally played with everybody. A partial list would include: Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, Gary Burton, and Pat Metheny. Known for his signature sound, Phil and Jon discuss his cymbals, drums, and tuning and how that became an integral part of the jazz lexicon. They also talk about the first time they heard Roy and how he's been a legitimate influence on virtually every drummer in existence. Before the guys give their favorite Haynes picks they discuss the passing of the great John "Jabo" Starks and their remembrances of his tenure at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Florida. Phil picks are: "Sneakin' Around" from Roy Haynes' CD, "We Three" "Snap, Crackle" from Roy Haynes' CD, "Out of the Afternoon" "Satan's Mysterious Feeling" from Roy Haynes' CD, "Hip Ensemble" "Solar" from Pat Metheny's CD, "Question and Answer" Jon's picks are: "My Favorite Things" from John Coltrane's CD, "Live at Newport '63" "Rhythm-a-Ning" from Chick Corea's CD, "Trio Music" "Elucidation" from Gary Burton's CD, "Like Minds" "Now's the Time" from Roy Haynes' CD, "Birds of a Feather" Join us every Monday for brand new, feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes. You can find us everywhere you listen to your favorite music and podcasts. You can also listen to every episode, manage your subscription, watch all our videos, interact with us on social media, and directly email us at our web site www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com Subscribe today!

Mini-Episode 10 - Old Drum May 17, 2018

Welcome back for another edition of Accountability Thursday, mini-episode number ten. This time we'll be working on another solo from the NARD book entitled, Old Drum. This is a longer piece than many of the traditional solos found in this book so aside from working your chops it will also be a challenge to your concentration as well. The first things to notice when preparing this solo are the 'X's' above certain notes along with the author's performance instructions. Whenever you see the 'X' you will strike your left stick with the right stick. Both sticks should be off the drum when doing this. This is not a 'stick shot' where the left stick would be pressed into the drum head. Rather both sticks will be off the drum with this technique being a device of showmanship as much as a musical technique. This solo has two distinct parts. The first half is divided into two sections that focus on duple metered flam rudiments. Be sure to have your flamacues and flam taps in good shape while working on this. The second half is also divided into two sections. These two sections concentrate on ternary rhythms and drag rudiments. Ratamacues are featured in this second half. Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Y_Wn1Dq4HEE You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Old Drum". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

Episode 96 - Revising Buddy Rich Featuring Ted Mackenzie May 14, 2018

This week we begin by paying our respects to Roy Burns. Roy was best known as the founder of Aquarian Drumheads. We take time to discuss his contributions to our profession regarding his groundbreaking educational concepts (clinics, lessons, and writings) as well as his performance career (Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, and more). Roy passed away in Anaheim, CA on Saturday, May 5th at the age of 82. We also welcome to the show performer, author, and educator, Ted Mackenzie. Ted recently relocated to the Atlanta area from upstate New York. By a chance meeting Ted was chosen to revise Henry Adler's seminal book, "Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments". Mackenzie, one of Adler's previous students, knew the book and recognized there were a few things that could be revised or added. We get to hear about the full process, the blessing from Adler, the follow up book ("Buddy Rich's Rudiments Around the Kit"), the recording of supplemental DVDs, the creation of the "The Ultimate Drummer's Workout", and much more. You can contact Ted as well as purchase his books and DVDs at the following places: Ted's personal site: https://www.tedmackenzie.com/ Ted's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00J3333UO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 Ted's publisher, Hal Leonard's page: https://www.halleonard.com/ Join us every Monday for brand new feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for our 'practice along' mini-episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription. Lastly, if you listen to the show on Itunes, or even if you just have an Itunes account, please a take a moment and leave us a short, written review. It really helps the show grow and allows other people looking for podcasts of our genre to find us.

Episode 95 - Performing With Vocalists featuring Dave Johnstone May 07, 2018

"What tempo would you like for this song? Too fast or too slow?" - drummer to singer Musicians like to analyze and complain about the tenuous relationships that they have with other players in the band. However none of those associations compare with the relationships between the vocalist(s) and the rest of the band. There are copious tales and jokes that solidify that point. In this episode we discuss working with singers and welcome back, power listener and previous guest, Dave Johnstone. Dave stopped in Atlanta on his way to Augusta to play with the dynamic vocalists (and trombonist) Aubrey Logan. After catching up for a bit we tackle this topic by acknowledging that not only do we occasionally have to learn 'singer speak' but sometimes have to depend on our instincts and musical depth to allow us read into what singers are telling us. We also discuss the importance of compromise, supporting a vocalist, count-ins, volume level, setting up phrases, knowing when to correct a singer's tempo, and much more. Make sure you visit Dave Johnstone at his personal web site. You can find him at: www.davejohnstone.com Also follow Dave at his instagram account. He's @johnstonedrums Join us every Monday for brand new feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for our 'practice along' mini-episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription. Subscribe to us today. Lastly, if you listen to the show on Itunes, or even if you just have an Itunes account, please a take a moment and leave us a short, written review. It really helps the show grow and allows other people looking for podcasts of our genre to find us.

Mini - Episode 9 - Assault And Battery May 03, 2018

With the coming of May also comes another installation of Accountability Thursday! In this mini-episode we are working on a solo dedicated to the legendary, William F. Ludwig. "Assault and Battery' by Tommy Bloomingdale from the NARD book is the subject of this week's practice. Unlike most of the NARD book (yet similar to the Wilcoxon books) this solo utilizes very specific stickings and rudiments. The first place where we need to use our traditional interpretation skills is the dotted quarter note roll in the first measure of the second half of the solo. Perform this roll as a 15 stroke roll over the dotted quarter note value. Try to play the roll evenly and smoothly while landing on the downbeat of the following measure. Also take note of the alternating drags three measures from the end. You may find that upon initial run through that you may want to use the opposite stickings that the author has dictated. Make sure you resist that temptation and play his intended stickings! Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/yaT2TQ9KoJs You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Assault and Battery". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows. The next time you log into your Itunes account please take a moment to go by our page and leave us a short, written review. It helps us out tremendously and allows other people searching for podcasts of similar content find us more easily.

Episode 94 - Trust The Process And Take Your Time Apr 30, 2018

There are aspects of life and music that simply take patience and time. Many times we're blinded by the plethora of helpful videos and internet information available to us. Yet the subtle message we receive is that with the surplus of details and opinions at our fingertips we should learn this sought after information quickly and easily since everyone can already do it. Not so fast. Even with the best instructional examples obtainable you'll discover it's doubtful that the original poster/author divulges how long it took them to master this lesson. The art of patient persistence is something that should be included in all of these online instructional videos. In this episode Phil and Jon talk about taking your time while embracing and trusting the process of learning. Some of the topics they cover are: learning the basics at an early age, partial learning of material and lack of musical depth, trying to learn advanced concepts and techniques without mastery of earlier foundational material, and simultaneously working on too many methods at once. We also broach the topic of rushing and forcing personal relationships in order to gain higher social, educational, and work status. We finish off the show with each host picking a great underrated drum track. Jon picked: "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright with Jim Keltner on drums. Phil picked: "Boulevard" by Jackson Browne with Rick Marotta on drums. One last note. We misspoke regarding John Beck. Mr. Beck is the long time percussionist of the Rochester Philharmonic and legendary instructor at the Eastman School of Music. Don't forget to join us every week for a brand new show. We publish feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every first and third Thursday of the month. Go to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to access everything DWG. On our site you can listen to all our shows, watch our videos, manage your podcast subscription, interact with our social media, and contact us through email. Subscribe today!

Episode 93 - The Vegas Show Featuring Joseph Patrick Moore Apr 23, 2018

In the music business we generally point to three industry hot spots in the US: New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. There are a host of the next tier cities that include Boston, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, etc. However many forget that at one time Las Vegas was a major destination for many working musicians. What happened? Was it the introduction of electronics? Was it the replacing of musicians with tracks? What about the general decline in live and recorded music? Many have said that since Las Vegas reinvented itself as a family vacation destination that it ruined the music scene. Or is all of that wrong? In this episode Phil sits down with his long time friend Joseph Patrick Moore for an up to date look at the Las Vegas music scene. Phil and Joseph have traveled together and played thousands of gigs in their thirty year relationship. However last year Moore relocated to Las Vegas and has established himself inside the Vegas music community. Before we tackle the gig scene we catch up and discuss a few stories from back in the day (trust me, no one suffered long term effects from that first tale). We then talk about the quality of life, the affordability of Vegas, other choices of relocation areas, and how Las Vegas compares to other large cities. When it comes to work we discuss the current state of big Las Vegas resident shows (Celine Dion, Bette Midler, etc) and how it affects the local musicians. Moore also gives details about his interactions, auditions, and ultimate hiring by Cirque Du Soleil as a resident artist for the show, KA. He also gives us his insights on everything from corporate gigs, hotel, lounge, and casino work. Visit Joseph at his website: http://www.josephpatrickmoore.com/ Visit Joseph's record label: https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/ The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today! Lastly, please share our show with all your friends, students, and co-workers! We greatly appreciate your support and truly enjoy bringing you new content every week.

Mini-Episode 8 - Omaha Apr 19, 2018

We are back once again with another mini-episode of Accountability Thursday. They say that you should dance with the date that brought so we're once again pulling from the NARD book. This week we are working on the solo 'Omaha' which is also our first 6/8 piece. Aside from the time signature one thing that you might notice is that the author has designated a specific tempo for this solo. In previous, duple meter, solos we've normally interpreted their respective speed by using the commonly accepted range of 90 to 100 beats per minute. For this piece we need to aim for our finished performance tempo at dotted quarter note equaling 128 beats per minute. The next thing to be aware of is the copious use of specific dynamic markings. From our experience we are aware that many ancient rudimental solos have no dynamic markings. In those cases common practice tells us to play the entire solo at the forte dynamic level with accents at double forte. However in "Omaha' take care to perform crisp and articulate dynamic changes where notated. Finally 'Omaha' is rather plain in contrast to previous NARD solos. It's very repetitive and not particularly rhythmically interesting. With those factors in mind it's imperative that the dynamics and accents are performed flawlessly. The author relies on those devices to bring musicality and intrigue to this etude. Upon practicing make sure you use a slow enough tempo to execute the dynamics correctly! It's pointless to practice without the dynamics. Not only will you learn to hear the solo incorrectly but you'll also have to learn it twice! Make sure you visit this link to see the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/9buCgZCOdgI You'll be able to view the sheet music as well as see a performance of "Omaha". We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

Episode 92 - Stories Of Imposter Syndrome Apr 16, 2018

As creative individuals many of us are sensitive, sentient people. That very trait gives us an ability to speak on our instrument in a way that our voice sometimes lacks. The negative side to that sensitivity can sometimes lead to a lack of confidence, lack of competitive drive, or inability to recognize our own accomplishments. If you then factor in the anxiety of being exposed as a fraud or musical dilettante you then have the archetypal recipe for Imposter Syndrome (sometimes referred to as Charlatan's Syndrome). In this show Phil and Jon tell their own personal accounts of imposter syndrome and the ways they overcame those scenarios. We discuss studio sessions, live performances, and academic situations where we both encountered this issue. Also on the docket is the rehash of the Steve Gadd tribute. We go over the show itself and ultimate hang that it has become. We give shout outs to the folks and companies who participated as well as the new friends that we met. We finish up the show with another installment of the DWG Garage. This time around Jon has major advice for people working on or refurbishing Gretsch drums. One of the major problems with disassembling Gretsch drums is the finicky nature of their self tapping lugs. If you don't know what you're doing you're setting yourself up for a costly and time consuming repair. Give this segment an attentive listen before you start removing Gretsch lugs! We always appreciate your listenership and support of this podcast. To help our show reach others who are looking for this type of program please take a moment and share our show with a friend. Our podcast can be shared via social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) or by giving them our website: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com We publish new episodes every Monday and can be found everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 91 - May You Live In Odd Times featuring Ryan Brown Of The Dweezil Zappa Band Apr 09, 2018

"May you live in interesting times." - purported Chinese curse Ryan Brown, drummer for Dweezil Zappa, found himself in Atlanta recently. And with a healthy dose of deja vu we found ourselves cordoned away in the tiny office of the local theatre where we first met about a year and half ago. Long time listeners will recall his interview (episodes 18 & 19) and subsequent mentions on other episodes. Plus, he's a member of the much vaunted 'advisory board' of this very show. Needless to say he and I have become pretty good friends and when the opportunity presented itself to do a topic based show we jumped on it. When musicians talk about bands that commonly write and perform in odd times a litany of jazz, fusion, and progressive rock bands come to the forefront. But for my money the Zappa family holds the patent on odd times. So, who better to discuss the topic than a guy who has had to play the Zappa catalog 339 times? But before we get to the nuts and bolts of drum geekdom there was plenty to catch up on. These nuggets of brilliance include: BBQ (KC vs. Texas vs. Memphis vs. NC), the ghosts of theatres past, Los Angeles, custom snare drums (built by first time drum makers), dogs and drums named Harvey, road life (replete with 4am tacos), the median height of the Dweezil Zappa Band, Vinnie Colaiuta 'phobia', a Bobby Rock sighting, setting up Bozzio's drums, and a chance encounter at Joe Rogan's podcast location. Of course we talk learning, counting, memorizing and practicing odd time signatures. We even discuss our favorite bands that specialize in this genre. Plus for you folks that want get the skinny on how to play/count/learn "Keep It Greasy" you'd better listen closely because Brown is telling you how it's done right here. Then like Paulie on Goodfellas he's turning his back on you. From now on when someone asks him how to play "Keep It Greasy" he's simply says, "91". You can follow Ryan at his webisite: https://ryanbrowndrums.wordpress.com/ The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast publishes feature episodes every Monday with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Plus, visit our web site at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access every episode, view our videos, interact with our social media, and stay in touch with us via our contact form. Subscribe today!

Mini - Episode 7 - The Nutmeg Two-Four Apr 05, 2018

For this episode of Accountability Thursday we are back in the NARD solos book. This time we're working on "The Nutmeg Two-Four". This solo is mostly straight forward however I've chosen it for one particular reason. The first thing to be aware of is that there is a performance note included at the bottom of the sheet music. The author is very specific to let us know that regardless of omitted stickings we are to play this solo with alternating stickings (hand to hand). With this in mind we need to concentrate on alternating the strokes even in places where we'd normally play paradiddles such as the second line, third measure. Also take note of the dotted quarter rolls at the beginning of the second half of the solo. We'll interpret these as alternating 13 stroke rolls - not the 15 strokes as in previous solos. Thus we'll be able to alternate those rolls as well. To finish up, as with our other solos in this series we'll interpret all the 8th note rolls as ternary seven stroke rolls. Always interpret rudimental 8th note rolls as ternary sevens unless the stickings are notated otherwise or the tempo is prohibitive. Make sure to practice and post your videos of this solo on our social media. When you do that make sure you tag the show in your description. To view the sheet music of "The Nutmeg Two-Four" and see a performance of the solo click here to be taken to our YouTube video. https://youtu.be/cT9LC03AfAI Finally go by our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our episodes, view our videos, manage your subscription, connect via social media, and view our contact information. New feature shows are published every Monday along with mini-episode "Accountability Thursdays" on the first and third Thursday of each month. Subscribe today!

Episode 90 - Interview - Chris Fryar Of The Zac Brown Band Apr 02, 2018

Chris Fryar is a member of one of the most popular music groups in the world, the Zac Brown Band. We were fortunate to have him join us for an exclusive interview from his Birmingham area home. In this episode Chris tells us about his start in drumming and how it lead to him attending the University of North Texas. After a quick tenure there he found himself at the Mississippi University for Women where he basically created his own course path in the music department. After a successful time at MUW Chris was 'fired' from school by one of his professors who urged him to move forward with his professional career. At that time Chris relocated to Birmingham and we go over his thought process for why that plan worked for him. We then discuss how he established himself as one of the area's busiest drummers and how it lead to his role with Oteil Burbridge and the Peacemakers. Through the grapevine of working musicians he was recommended to Zac Brown when the band needed a new drummer. From there we discuss life on the road and do a full run down of his gear. We finish off the show with the requisite DWG Rorschach Test. Follow Chris at his personal web site as well the Zac Brown Band web site at the following links: http://www.chrisfryar.com/ http://www.zacbrownband.com If you are in the Atlanta area on April 9th please come by the Vista Room to hear Chris perform along with a host of Atlanta's finest musicians for a special tribute to Steve Gadd. New feature shows are available every Monday along with "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes the first and third Thursdays of each month. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you listen to your favorite music or podcasts. Subscribe today. Make sure you visit our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can access all of our episodes, videos, social media, and contact information.

Episode 89 - In The Orchestra Pit Featuring John Lawless Mar 26, 2018

The world of orchestra pit performance can take on a host of different identities. You can find yourself below the stage during Broadway theatre performances, awards shows, and a variety of different musical settings. This week we welcome a veteran of 'pit performance' (and a great guy in general), John Lawless. John and myself have been on 'team percussion' (percussionist and drummer respectively) in various settings. In this show we discuss what it takes to be a great percussion team and how we manage the demands of every show or session that we've been a part of. The first part of the show is dedicated to the art of preparation. We discuss the crucial nature of communicating what instruments will be needed, who will play what (if not already dictated) and the preliminary set-up configurations. We also talk about the essential aspect of ergonomics and logistics. Rehearsals are an absolutely vital time for percussionists. We talk about the relatively short amount of time allotted and how communication and cooperation during this time is paramount. The discussion of conductor tendencies and extra performance notes and annotations can help with difficult instrument and musical transitions. We close out the show discussing mental preparation and (respectful, quiet) warming up before performances. The topic of avoiding self-inflicted trouble (irresponsibility) is also covered. We finish out by talking about the importance of being flexible with unexpected logistic and performance issues. Join us every Monday for brand new feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for our 'practice along' mini-episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription. Subscribe to us today. Lastly, if you listen to the show on Itunes, or even if you just have an Itunes account, please a take a moment and leave us a short, written review. It really helps the show grow and allows other people looking for podcasts of our genre to find us.

Episode 88 - Artist Feature - Steve Jordan Mar 19, 2018

This week we present our latest artist feature highlighting the career of Steve Jordan. Steve got his major studio break due to a massive snow storm that paralyzed New York City in 1977. Most of the first call drummers lived outside of Manhattan and when travel became impossible Steve was able to make several sessions over a week long period. That act of nature and the ability to take advantage of his opportunities allowed Steve to cement his status as an A-list session musician. Aside from his prodigious studio resume Steve also has a tremendous live playing career. He was the first drummer for Saturday Night Live. His relationship with Paul Shaffer continued past Saturday night's and ultimately landed him a five year stint as the house drummer for Late Night with David Letterman. Since that time he's toured with likes of: Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, David Sanborn, John Mayer, and his own band, The Verbs. In this show we highlight our favorite Steve Jordan tracks and dissect what makes them great. With Steve's diverse career we'll be listening to numerous songs that span such varied genres as: disco, fusion, and Americana rock and roll. Phil's picks are: 1. 'Who's Who' from the John Scofield album, Who's Who 2. 'Squish' from the Brecker Brothers album, Detente 3. 'No Particular Place to Go" from the movie soundtrack, Hail, Hail Rock and Roll 4. 'Waiting on the World to Change' from the John Mayer album, Continuum Jon's picks are: 1. 'Snakes' from the David Sanborn album, Upfront 2. 'Messin with the Kid' from the Blues Brothers album, Briefcase Full of Blues 3. 'Steve McQueen' from the Sheryl Crow album, C'mon, C'mon 4. 'Vultures' from the John Mayer album, Continuum Honorable Mentions: 1. With Sound Reason, album by Sonny Fortune 2. Electric Outlet, album by John Scofield (used as this show's outro music) 3. 'Don't Get Me Wrong' song by The Pretenders 4. 'Possible Straight' song by Lyle Mays from the album, Street Dreams Join us every Monday for brand new feature episodes and every first and third Thursday for our 'practice along' mini-episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription. Subscribe to us today. Lastly, if you listen to the show on Itunes, or even if you just have an Itunes account, please a take a moment and leave us a short, written review. It really helps the show grow and allows other people looking for podcasts of our genre to find us.

Mini-Episode 6 - Wilcoxon Solo #9 Mar 15, 2018

Once again we are back with "Accountability Thursday". This is our first episode using the Wilcoxon "All American Drummer 150 Rudimental Solos". We've worked from the Swing Solos book previously but this is our first time working in the 150. I chose solo #9 because it uses several proprietary Wilcoxon notations that are not commonly found in other rudimental methods. One thing that helps with his interpretation is that Wilcoxon specifies the required stickings on every single note of the solo. This allows him to highlight specific rudiments that he wants to use in each solo. The first thing to notice is the different notations for the seven stroke roll. The introductory roll-off is a seven stroke ternary roll. That style of seven is the preferred and most common way to interpret 8th note rolls in most rudimental literature. We've seen it numerous times in previous NARD solos and you'll use this particular roll three times in the first line alone. The ternary seven stroke is used a total of five times throughout the entire piece. Wilcoxon also uses a binary seven stroke roll. It appears first in the third line, last measure. You'll notice that he notates that roll with two grace notes prior to the 8th note on the '& of 2'. You'll start that roll on the 'e of 2' and roll 32nd notes ending on count one of the following measure. You'll see this same grace note style notation on the 15 stroke roll in the third line, third measure. Again, start that roll on the 'e of 1' and roll 32nd notes over to count one of the next measure. Another tricky place that may need some clarification is the third line, second measure. Pay attention to the stickings because the drags do not start on the expected hands! The measure begins with a single stroke, accented R, immediately afterward the notated left handed drag forces you to play grace notes on the right when you might expect a L. Also notice the fourth line, first measure. Wilcoxon notates the 8th note rolls as five stroke rolls (not seven stroke rolls). However with the two alternating accents that follow the doubles they actually become six stroke rolls. For further clarification visit the Youtube video to view the sheet music and see a performance of Wilcoxon Solo #9. https://youtu.be/nqX1NamJiJ4 We want you to practice this solo and post your videos on our social media. Make sure you tag the show in your description. Also head over to our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can subscribe to the show, listen to all our episodes, see our performance videos, interact with our social media, and get in touch with us there as well. We'll see you in a couple of weeks with our next mini-episode and every Monday with our full length feature shows.

Episode 87 - Studio Clean Featuring Scott Meeder Mar 11, 2018

In this episode we once again welcome the wonderful, Scott Meeder, to Groovecast studios. Phil and Jon talk with one of their favorite musicians about the intangibles that make a great studio drummer a rare commodity. We forgo traditional studio questions (gear, tuning, etc.) in lieu of discussion regarding the subtleties and intuitive aspects that all great studio musicians possess. The groundwork for the conversation begins with studio generalities. With the advance of technology there are innumerable ways to record. We talk about recording with a rhythm section, laying individual tracks, looping, and editing. Scott then talks about his preferences and how it allows him to use his studio wisdom to create and record great parts. We then discuss what occurs during the first playback of a take. Does a great studio player already know what it's going to sound like? Or is the first take experimentation? Do you use tried and true methods or do you take some liberties hoping to catch magic? The topic of ending phrases with common drum fills is then addressed. We then talk about building songs progressively without relying on the same phrases and fills. The concept of personal tendencies when recording is then addressed. If you already know that you have issues with a certain style or feel do you automatically compensate (without overcompensating)? How do you do that and still stay present and true to yourself? The topic of recording with click tracks and sequences is then addressed. We discuss preferred tones, subdivisions, and headphone mixes. Finally we go through general studio preferences and performance practices such as: consistency of tones, articulations of fills, rimshots on backbeats, and preferences of sound characteristics of rooms. If you haven't heard our interview with Scott (from back in the Fall of 2016) you can check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/phil-smith-592966725/episode-15-interview-scott-meeder Join us every Monday for brand new episodes. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, make sure you visit our web site. We can be found at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com At our site you can listen to all of our shows, interact with social media, view our videos, and manage your subscription.

Episode 86 - The Pedal Show Mar 05, 2018

Aside from bringing you the best in topical musical discussion and interviews we also like to give you our ideas on our favorite gear. Once again we work our way around the kit and land on another piece of very personal equipment - the bass drum pedal. In this episode Phil and Jon talk about their personal favorites, their shortcomings, preferred beaters, and pedal setup. Before we do that though we cover the night that was the Jeff Porcaro Tribute at the Vista Room in Atlanta, GA. The Drummer's Weekly Groovecast was fortunate to help sponsor the inaugural tribute along with the help of our friends at Regal Tip sticks and brushes. Phil and Jon discuss the incredible attendance especially considering it was a Monday night. We also talked about the electricity of the event and its overwhelming feel of brotherhood. Scroll to the bottom of the show notes for video links to check out parts of the show. The topic of the day is our favorite kick pedals. Phil and Jon give their thoughts on what makes a pedal their choice along with the pedal's different adjustments and attachments. As with everything there are naturally a few drawbacks to each pedal and the guys talk about those as well. We discuss our favorite accessory bass drum beaters as well. We go over wood, wool, plastic, and dual beater heads. We finish up our discussion with setting up pedals for feel and ergonomic stability. Finally we finish up with a gear recommendation segment. In this episode Phil recommends a recording plug-in and Jon a drummer's swiss army knife. Phils gear recommendation: https://www.waves.com/plugins/jjp-drums Jon's gear recommednation: http://www.tama.com/eu/products/accessories/TMT9.html Links to view the Porcaro tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVHjl5WgPaM&feature=youtu.be https://youtu.be/ylTVv3R0AnI https://youtu.be/xnvuVfY4GhE Go by our web site at: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com There you can listen to all of our episodes, view our videos, manage your subscription, and view our contact information. New feature shows are published every Monday along with mini-episode "Accountability Thursdays" on the first and third Thursday of each month. Subscribe today!

Mini-Episode 5 - Two Four Hooker Mar 01, 2018

Ok, you're two months in with "Accountability Thursday". Your hands should be fully awake by now, right? In the past four mini-episodes we've mixed things up a good bit with short solos, long solos and memorized solos. This time we're going back into the NARD book once again for something with a different feel and twist. We'll work on the Fred Miller solo, "Two Four Hooker". It's a short, catchy solo but has a few elements that we've not encountered before. We'll work toward a very deliberate, medium 'strut' tempo where we'll accentuate the difference between the dotted eighth, sixteenth rhythms and the eighth note triplets written next to them. Take special care not to round out the dotted eighth, sixteenths! We want a duple, strict interpretation of that rhythm so that it has a nice contrast against the rolling, rounded out triplets. Don't be afraid to splay out the triplets and let them roll off your sticks. Another thing that will make a nice differentiation is interpreting all the eighth note rolls as seven stroke ternary rolls. You'll notice that every time they are played they lead into a duple rhythm which makes for nice contrast. Also, the medium tempo allows for an articulate, open sound even for the quick ternary seven stroke motion. Finally since there are no dynamic markings interpret the entire solo at the forte level. Written accents will be played at the double forte level. Don't forget to check out the sheet music and performance of "Two Four Hooker". Click on this link to view. Our web site can be found at www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll find all of our episodes, videos, social media, contact information and more. You can also find subscription buttons for Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and Soundcloud. We publish new feature episodes every Monday and Accountability Thursday mini episodes on the first and third Thursdays of every month. Subscribe today!

Episode 85 - Interview - Dave Johnstone Feb 26, 2018

Occasionally we get lucky. The lords of travel reveal themselves favorable and a guest we've been wanting to speak with drops into our lap. This week we welcome long time listener, friend of the show, and incredibly talented drummer, Dave Johnstone. Dave was recently in town during a string of dates with Post Modern Jukebox sensation, Aubrey Logan. We were able to sit down with him at his hotel for a discussion about everything music. After Dave and Jon reminisce about their time in St. Louis we find out about his formative years and studies with Midwest teaching legend, Kevin Gianino. He talks about the defining moment of his lessons along with the different methods and concepts that Gianino used. We then move into his time in Boston at the Berklee College of Music. After talking about the enrollment process, audition recordings, and scholarships he received Dave discusses his private studies with Kenwood Dennard and Jon Hazilla. Dave also talks about the value of his music academic classes and performing in the many different ensembles in Berklee's catalog. During his time at Berklee Dave had the chance to attend the International Association of jazz Educators conference (now JEN) in Southern California which ultimately led him to relocating to where he now lives. Johnstone has firmly established himself as one of the first call players in the competitive LA scene. Aside from maintaining his regular gigs Dave also keeps a vibrant teaching schedule. We finish up by talking about his touring schedule with Aubrey Logan. We go through a typical day on the road and what his plans for the future entail. Then, quite expectedly, Dave runs through the gauntlet with the DWG Rorschach Test! Make sure you visit Dave at his website: www. davejohnstone.com Also follow him on the road with Aubrey Logan: https://www.aubreylogan.com/ Also, keep up with all the doings of DWG at our web site. Here you can find all of our shows, videos, subscription options, and contact information. Point your browser to: www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to check it out!

Episode 84 - The Mystique Of Feel Featuring Lee Falco Feb 19, 2018

This week we welcome one of our favorite guests, Lee Falco, back to the show as third mic. Lee was in Atlanta for a performance with guitarist, Doyle Bramhall II and was gracious enough to sit down with us before he hit the road. Make sure you say hello to Lee if you see him at a show in your city. To learn more about Lee and see where he'll be appearing please visit his web site: https://leefalco.com/ In this episode we take on the ultra subjective topic of feel. What does it mean to you? What do you listen for to determine what feels right? We start the show discussing what makes our favorite drummers playing feel so good. We also discuss that sometimes drummers that play on top of the beat to create energy and recklessness create a certain type of vibe that just as cool as their laid back counterparts. When discussing feel the subject of playing behind, center, or ahead of the beat is good place to start. The relationship of the snare to the bass drum is crucial as well as the response of the other musicians that you're playing with. The topic of ghost notes comes up and how they affect feel as a timing and dynamic device. We then talk about how you can practice manipulating the beat by recording yourself and viewing the transients on your digital audio workstation. Tuning can also affect feel. We talk about how the sound and response from loosely tuned, highly muffled drums have a tendency to feel more laid back than a snare or bass drum with a sharp, highly pitched crack. Touch is also debated. We talk about how great feel is present in all types of drummers. Heavy hitters like John Bonham and Stewart Copeland are contrasted with lighter players such as James Gadson and Bernard Purdie. Finally we finish up with practice tips and recommendations for listening and study. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you access your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! Also, go by our web site www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com. There you'll find all our episodes, videos, social media, and contact information.

Mini - Episode 4 - Old Tin Can Feb 15, 2018

Happy Thursday to all! This time around we are working on a great rudimental solo by the legendary author, George Lawrence Stone. The solo we'll be practicing is once again found in the NARD book and is titled, "Old Tin Can". This is another short, catchy, traditional solo. However there are a few twists and turns in this compact little ditty that will keep your concentration on point! As with many rudimental solos the introductory roll off should be interpreted as a seven stroke ternary roll. However at faster tempos it may make more sense to play it as a five stroke roll. Moving forward there are numerous times where alternating 8th notes flams are switched to flam taps. Likewise he tricks us by writing flamacues subsequently leaving off the flams (while retaining the accent structure) the next time around. Also be aware of dynamic changes and accents throughout the solo. They are paramount to achieving a great feeling, funky solo. After you get this solo under your hands don't forget to post your own video on the social media platform of your choice. Please tag the show in your video's description! Now head over to YouTube to get a look at the sheet music and see a performance of "Old Tin Can". Here's the YouTube link to see "Old Tin Can" sheet music and performance video: https://youtu.be/vd2Jik_c7Iw Here is another video of "Old Tin Can" performed by NARD president, Mark Beecher: https://youtu.be/55-liS-AhZk Don't forget to swing by our web site www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com! You can find all our episodes, videos, social media and contact information in one convenient place. You can also subscribe to the show by clicking the Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, or Stitcher buttons so that you'll never miss an episode! New feature episodes are published every Monday with Accountability Thursday mini-episodes available the first and third Thursdays of every month. Subscribe today!

Episode 83 - The Shuffle Show Feb 12, 2018

The shuffle is one of the most elusive grooves for any musician to master. It certainly complicates matters when there are numerous regional and genre interpretations to consider. In this show Phil and Jon spend some time discussing their experiences and listening to some of their favorite recorded shuffles. But first we take a moment to discuss the lean winter months and answer listener questions. We tackle an inquiry regarding the perceived importance and differentiation between the various types of wood used to construct drum shells. If all other tuning and equipment variables are equal are different woods discernable to our audience? What about fellow musicians? We then discuss the recent deaths of drumming greats, Leon Ndugu Chancler and Pat Torpey. We talk about their drumming careers, great recordings they appear on, and Ndugu's educational legacy. Finally the main topic of the day is addressed with each host mentioning how they first learned to play various shuffles. We also remember which shuffle songs made the biggest initial impression on us. We then go through the many different genres and eras of music that popularized the various shuffles that all drummers must be familiar with. Great drummers such as: Art Blakey, Mel Lewis, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Porcaro, Jabo Starks, Chris Layton, Billy Cobham, and more are discussed. Furthermore we listen to some of our favorite recorded shuffles and talk through what makes them great. If you haven't taken the time visit our new web site now is the time to do so! Navigate over to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com and check it out! There you can find every episode of our show along with videos, social media, contact information and more. We are available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! New shows are published every Monday. Also practice along with us on our "accountability Thursday" mini-episodes (videos available) every first and third Thursday!

Episode 82 - The Business Side - Contracting Gigs Feb 05, 2018

The phone rings. Someone is asking you about booking your band. Do you gracefully pass that task to someone else or start conducting business? In this episode we encourage you to put on your business suit and go to work. Unless you have an exclusive booking agent contracting work is something we should all be comfortable with. However, if you've never done it before the contracts, riders, communication, timeliness, and incredible amounts of detail are daunting! In this show we discuss what we've learned over the years of doing good and bad gigs. There are many positive things to booking your own band. Working with your friends, getting the treatment you like, and simply making a bit of extra money are just a few of the benefits. In addition we talk about what to include in your contract, money negotiations, overtime, deposits, balances, insurance, and much more. Then we discuss the ever important rider. If you don't ask. You won't receive! Make sure your rider is detailed so that it can be properly fulfilled. Ask for specific food, drinks, dressing rooms, and other special requirements. Tune in and get hip to the business aspect of booking gigs. Finally, we finish up with another edition of the DWG Garage! Jon talks about the problem of restoring rusty hardware. Put on your work gloves and let's get to it! Also new for 2018 is the unveiling of our web site! Navigate over to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to check it out! There you can find every episode of our show along with videos, social media, contact information and more. We are available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! New shows are published every Monday. Also practice along with us on our "accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every first and third Thursday!

Mini-Episode 3 - Three Camps Feb 01, 2018

We're back with a new edition of "Accountability Thursday". This time around we'll be doing something a tad different. We're going to balance this week's exercise by giving you something easy and fun to play but we want you to memorize it! It may sound difficult but it's really a peach to play. We'll tackle the super traditional solo, "Three Camps" and break it down into bite sized chunks. Threes are wild this week so inside of this solo we're only using three primary rudiments: five stroke roll, ten stroke roll, and eleven stroke roll. On top of that there are only three main phrases that make up the entire solo! So let's get busy by brushing up on your rolls and putting that steel trap memory to work. Aside from the audio description of what we're doing there's a corresponding video where you can see and hear the solo at performance tempo. Here's the YouTube link to see "Three Camps" sheet music and performance video: https://youtu.be/qf-gy3kLZGo Don't forget to swing by our web site www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can find all our episodes, videos, social media and contact information in one convenient place. You can also subscribe to the show by clicking the Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, or Stitcher buttons so that you'll never miss an episode!

Episode 81 - Punching Bag Syndrome Jan 29, 2018

As drummers we've grown accustomed to taking our share of the blame for everything from count-in's to endings. In this show Phil and Jon talk about their experiences in the hot seat and discuss diplomatic ways to address and get past the 'Punching Bag Syndrome". Don't be the scapegoat if you're not guilty! It's time to realize that everyone in the band is responsible for their own tempo, feel, volume, phrasing, and song form. We finish the show by each host picking a great drum track. Also new for 2018 is the unveiling of our web site! Navigate over to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to check it out! There you can find every episode of our show along with videos, social media, contact information and more. We are available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! New shows are published every Monday. Also practice along with us on our "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every first and third Thursday!

Episode 80 - Natural Talent Vs Hard Work Featuring The DWG Advisory Board Jan 22, 2018

This week we conduct our first ever show with the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Advisory Board. Joining us in studio is prior guest and legendary performer/educator, Jack Bell. Joining us remotely are past guests: Joel Rosenblatt, Tom Brechtlein, and Ryan Brown. The topic we tackle this episode is the teacher's inclination on whether you prefer a student with lots of natural talent (and below average work ethic) versus a student with below average talent and a high work ethic. We also give our self evaluations of how we perceived ourselves as students. If you haven't heard the past episodes that feature Tom, Joel, Ryan and Jack please go back and give them a listen. You can also visit their respective web sites. Jack Bell: www.melodiousmerchant.com Joel Rosenblatt: www.joelrosenblatt.com Tom Brechtlein: www.tombrechtlein.com Ryan Brown: https://ryanbrowndrums.wordpress.com Also new for 2018 is the unveiling of our web site! Navigate over to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to check it out! There you can find every episode of our show along with videos, social media, contact information and more. We are available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! New shows are published every Monday. Also practice along with us on our "Accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every first and third Thursday!

Mini-Episode 2 - The Texan Jan 18, 2018

For episode 2 of "Accountability Thursday" we doff our cap to Austin resident Tom Brechtlein and work on the NARD solo, "The Texan". Tom recently relocated to Austin and has worked out of the NARD book (he talked about it during our chat from episode 65) so we thought it was only logical to make this solo a part of our new show! This solo is a bit longer and has a few more twists and turns than our last solo. The highlights feature eighth note, ternary style, seven stroke rolls along with dotted quarter note fifteen stroke rolls. You can put a little 'breath' in each of these rolls to make them full and funky. By laying those two rolls on the back side of the beat it makes this solo feel great and stay true to the proper interpretation. Here's the YouTube link to see "The Texan" sheet music and performance video: https://youtu.be/HGv-lOXAn4A Don't forget to swing by our web site www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com You can find all our episodes, videos, social media and contact information in one convenient place. You can also subscribe to the show by clicking the Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, or Stitcher buttons so that you'll never miss an episode!

Episode 79 - Interview - Inside Regal Tip with CW Dunbar Jan 15, 2018

This week we conduct our first interview of 2018. We welcome artist relations manager of Regal Tip, CW Dunbar. In this episode we cover the history of Regal Tip and discuss the company's upcoming 60th anniversary. After that we go through the product catalog and discuss the manufacturing process of your favorite Regal Tip instruments. He also talks about the daily operations at the company and what it's like to work in the factory. We finish up with education, clinics, endorsement and artist talk. CW encourages customer feedback so feel free to reach out to him at his email address: charles@directmusicsupply.com Also go by the company's web site and check out their latest offerings: www.regaltip.com Also new for 2018 is the unveiling of our web site! Navigate over to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to check it out! We are available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! New shows are published every Monday. Also practice along with us on our "accountability Thursday" mini-episodes every first and third Thursday!

Episode 78 - Artist Feature - Lewis Nash Jan 08, 2018

We are back with fresh, new episodes for 2018! We start off the new year with an artist feature with one of our favorite musicians, Lewis Nash. Originally from Phoenix, Nash relocated to New York City over 30 years ago. He skyrocketed to the top of the jazz world and became first call for luminaries such as: Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, and many more. Recently he moved back to Phoenix where he established "The Nash", a non-profit performance and education venue. He is also a recent faculty addition at Arizona State University where he teaches applied lessons, small group classes, and jazz repertoire. For the rest of the show we pick our favorite tracks that feature Lewis and then listen to short clips of each. Also new for 2018 is the unveiling of our web site! Navigate over to www.drummersweeklygroovecast.com to check it out! We are available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! New shows are published every Monday along with mini-episodes every first and third Thursday!

Mini - Episode 1 - Smitty's Delight Jan 04, 2018

Welcome to "Accountability Thursday" Mini-Episode 1! On the first and third Thursday's of every month we'll practice together using a classic rudimental solo. We're going to ease into the new year with something short and sweet. For our inaugural edition we'll work on "Smitty's Delight" from the NARD drum solo book. There's nothing terribly difficult or unique about this solo however be careful with the 15 stroke rolls at the start of the second half of the solo! Make sure you practice playing this 15 stroke roll correctly by subdividing it over the dotted quarter note (resist the temptation to play a 13)! Remember to play cleanly and observe dynamics. For traditional, rudimental solos the default dynamic level is forte with accents played double forte if no dynamic markings are given (which is the case with this solo). Past that this solo is very traditional and feels great to play! Have fun and swing by YouTube to see me play this solo. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/XawBjXYR3vg Lastly, we're working on these as a group and we'd love to see your progress. Feel free to post your own videos playing these solos on social media and make sure you tag us in it!

Episode 77 - The Segments - Best Of 2017 Dec 31, 2017

We finish out 2017 (and wipe the slate clean for 2018) with a final nod toward our favorite segments of the year. Tune in to hear Phil and Jon's favorite gear recommendations, great drum track picks, favorite underrated drummers, helpful repair tips from the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Garage and much more. Join us for one last hurrah before next week's first, new show of 2018. Subscribe today! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Episode 76 - The Interviews - Best Of 2017 Dec 25, 2017

Join us this week as we take a look back at highlights from our favorite interviews of 2017! We were fortunate all year long to have been given time with some of Groovecast Nation's favorite drummers, educators, musicians, and industry insiders. In this show we highlight the best of the best along with every single "DWG Rorschach Test"! New shows are available every Monday and can be found in Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Accountability Thursday Official Announcement Dec 21, 2017

This week we announce that new for 2018 we'll be bringing you even more exclusive content and interactive participation! Starting on January 4th (and continuing on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month) we're introducing a new educational campaign entitled, "Accountability Thursday". We'll ring in the new year with a resolution to practice and we'll do it together as one big listening family! Listen to this mini-episode/official announcement for details!

Episode 75 - Interview - Dr. Howard Schubiner MD- Curing Chronic Pain Dec 17, 2017

Many musicians suffer from some type of chronic pain. Unfortunately this pain normally threatens the comfort (if not the viability) of your performance. And we haven't even begun to include your basic quality of life! If you or someone you know is affected by chronic pain then this episode is an absolute must-listen. Dr. Howard Schubiner is one of the foremost authorities on chronic pain and his techniques are not only groundbreaking but also drug free. In this special episode he spoke to us from his home to outline how he diagnoses and treats chronic pain and how musicians make up a large part of his client base. I sincerely hope that everyone finds value in the episode. If you are currently dealing with pain I implore you to listen and do your research into Dr. Schubiner's techniques. His treatment plans and success rates are turning heads throughout the world of medicine. I used to suffer from chronic neck, shoulder, and arm pain. Dr. Schubiner was instrumental in educating me and ultimately freeing me from nearly three years of debilitating pain. To get more information about Dr. Schubiner please visit his web site at www.unlearnyourpain.com At this site you can read more about his practice, buy his books, and communicate directly with him.

Episode 74 - Alternative Sounds Dec 10, 2017

Alternative sounds, contraptions, traps, accoutrement! They're all the rage and have been for a very long time. However the current preference of alternative sounds on the drum set span the realm of new, acoustic inventions as well as electronic pads and controllers. In this episode we give you some historical context for the implementation of alternative sounds and then run down the list of our favorite, current acoustic and electronic alternative sounds. We finish off the show with our picks for two of our favorite, underrated drummers. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! It's giveaway time once again! Our friend, Chris Brady, at Aquarian Drumheads in conjunction with Drummer's Weekly Groovecast is giving away two great prizes! Register today to win a complete set of your choice of Aquarian batter heads! Second prize will be a entire set of Aquarian Drum Kit Tools. Visit Aquarian today to check out all of their great products. To win simply go to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast's homepage inside of Itunes and leave a short, written review. That's it! In December we'll draw the two winners on Facebook Live. Listen to the Mike Johnston podcasts (Episode 70) for full details. Eligibility is limited to the United States and Canada.

Episode 73 - The Politics Of Drumming Dec 04, 2017

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." - Plato Politics can be a messy subject. However in this episode we want to view that subject in a different light. No matter what profession you choose somewhere down the line you'll have to engage in some sort of political negotiation. We share our stories and then help with the topics of: networking, backbiting, negativity, who you know vs. what you know, rumors, and much more. But before we do that we discuss winding down another calendar year and Jon's strange gig. We finish the show with out second installment of Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Garage. 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! It's giveaway time once again! Our friend, Chris Brady, at Aquarian Drumheads in conjunction with Drummer's Weekly Groovecast is giving away two great prizes! Register today to win a complete set of your choice of Aquarian batter heads! Second prize will be a entire set of Aquarian Drum Kit Tools. Visit Aquarian today to check out all of their great products. To win simply go to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast's homepage inside of Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/drummers-weekly-groovecast/id1140363227?mt=2) and leave a short, written review. That's it! In December we'll draw the two winners on Facebook Live. Listen to the Mike Johnston podcasts (Episode 70) for full details. Eligibility is limited to the United States and Canada.

Episode 72 - Artist Feature - Jim Gordon Nov 27, 2017

This week we start a new show format! Periodically we'll be highlighting one drummer's career and discography and for this inaugural edition we're featuring drumming legend, Jim Gordon. Jim's career is truly a Hollywood film noir. Aside from playing on some of music's greatest hits Jim also played live with some of rock and rolls greatest artists such as: Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, George Harrison, Steely Dan, and Frank Zappa. However alcohol and drug abuse took its toll on his career and health. Gordon also suffered from debilitating mental issues which were finally diagnosed as depression and paranoid schizophrenia. Since 1984 Gordon has been incarcerated in California after being convicted of killing his mother in her Southern California home. During his time in prison he has performed occasionally with other prisoners. Details of these performances have been published by his band mates and are available through the link below. Gordon is eligible for parole in 2018. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and every where you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today! link to prison band article: https://fresnoalliance.com/james-beck-gordon-the-drum-czar/ Also, don't forget to go by Itunes and leave a short, written review to be entered into our latest giveaway sponsored by Aquarian Drum Heads. Two lucky winners will win a full set of the batter heads of their choice or a full set of Aquarian Drum Kit Tools. Full details can be found in the show. Register today!

Episode 71 - Stuff Drummers Do Nov 20, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving from Phil and Jon! This week we thank you, the listeners, for your continued support and for the success of this show. We take some time for good natured ribbing of our drumming brethren by discussing all the things that we do better (and sometimes worse) than anyone else in the music community. Practice shortcuts, speed for speed's sake, gear trends, and drum hangs are the punching bags for the week. We also give our picks for a great underrated drum track. Lastly, we have birthed our first podcast baby! We welcome to the show Dan Radin host of The Drum Showroom podcast. He took inspiration from our show and created his very own, unique podcast. We introduce him to Groovecast nation and he tells us about his personal journey to being a full time drummer and how his new podcast is a part of the process. You can find The Drum Showroom on Soundcloud and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. You can listen to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud, and everywhere you access your favorite music. New shows are published every Monday. Subscribe today! Also, don't forget to go by Itunes and leave a short, written review to be entered into our latest giveaway sponsored by Aquarian Drum Heads. Two lucky winners will win a full set of the batter heads of their choice or a full set of Aquarian Drum Kit Tools. Full details can be found in the show. Register today!

Episode 70 - Interview - Mike Johnston Nov 13, 2017

Mike Johnston (of mikeslessons.com) is a person of many talents. He's a tremendous communicator, a great player, a wonderful businessman, a superb teacher, and a heck of a nice guy. When you put all that together you have one of the most successful and busy music entrepreneurs of our time. He was kind enough to sit down with us for a chat about his web site, his teaching, and his business methods. We get deep into education with discussions about philosophies and techniques as well as concepts. We also talk about his new performance outlet entitled, "Man on the Moon". As usual, before we finish we run Mike through the gauntlet that is the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast Rorschach test! Finally, our good friend Chris Brady at Aquarian drum heads has provided a host of prizes for our latest contest! Go into Itunes today and leave a short written review on the DWG home page to be registered! Prizes include a set of drum heads of your choice and complete set of Drumkit Tools. Listen to the show for details. New episodes are available every Monday. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and everywhere you listen to your favorite shows. Subscribe today!

Episode 69 - Interview - Ra Kalam Bob Moses Nov 06, 2017

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 his own record label and has produced many highly acclaimed recordings. You can find this music on Itunes and Emusic as well as at www.nativepulse.com. Lastly, we experienced significant technical audio issues on this show but with the wizardry of my friend Ryan Almario he made an unlistenable podcast very listenable. Please pardon the extant ground hum on Bob's channel. You can find the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast at Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 68 - You're Fired! Oct 30, 2017

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!

Episode 67 - Balancing Career And Personal Life Oct 23, 2017

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, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 66 - The Hi Hat Show Oct 16, 2017

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!

Episode 65 - Interview - Tom Brechtlein Oct 09, 2017

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 if you are in the Austin area. New shows are posted every Monday and are available at Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe today!

Episode 64 - The Zen Of Accommodation Oct 02, 2017

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!

Episode 63 - Interview - Chris Brady (Aquarian Drum Heads Artist Relations & Marketing) Sep 25, 2017

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!

Episode 62 - Generational Icons Sep 18, 2017

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 your favorite podcasts. New shows are available every Monday. Subscribe today!

Episode 61 - Professional Musician - What's Not To Love? Sep 11, 2017

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!

Episode 60 - Interview - Jack Bell Part 2 Sep 04, 2017

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 performance. Please check out his rudimental video demonstration: Rudiment video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj4XnbPcoQY Subscribe to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you get your favorite podcasts.

Episode 59 - Interview - Jack Bell Part 1 Aug 28, 2017

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 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 performance. Please check out his rudimental video demonstration: Rudiment video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj4XnbPcoQY Subscribe to the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and everywhere you get your favorite podcasts.

Episode 58 - Interview - Lee Falco (Donald Fagen And The Nightflyers) Aug 20, 2017

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. Subscribe today!

Episode 57 - Dealing With Burnout Aug 14, 2017

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!

Episode 56 - Interview - Drummers Of Oasis Of The Seas Aug 07, 2017

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!

Episode 55 - Compliments And Criticism Jul 31, 2017

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!

Episode 54 - The Stick Show (aka What's In Your Bag, Man) Jul 23, 2017

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!

Episode 53 - Interview - John DeChristopher (former VP Of Zildjian) Part 2 Jul 17, 2017

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!

Episode 52 - Interview - John DeChristopher (former VP Of Zildjian) Part 1 Jul 10, 2017

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 information. To register simply log into Itunes and leave us a short, written review. Your Itunes nickname will be used for the drawing. 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!

Episode 51 - Subbing In, Subbing Out Jul 03, 2017

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 all you need to do is go to Itunes and leave us a short, written review and you'll be entered to win! We'll be drawing the winners on Facebook Live during the week of our 52nd episode. Stay tuned for exact date and time!

Episode 50 - Psychological Techniques of Drumming Jun 26, 2017

"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.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 all you need to do is go to Itunes and leave us a short, written review and you'll be entered to win! We'll be drawing the winners on Facebook Live during the week of our 52nd episode. Stay tuned for exact date and time!

Episode 49 - Travel Etiquette Jun 19, 2017

If you intend on making a living playing music for live audiences it's a virtual certainty that you'll be spending some time traveling. As we've discussed in prior episodes flexibility and a positive attitude will take you a long way. However if you combine that with common 'road' sense you can make the best out of any bad situation. In this show we pass along first hand information that can help you navigate and prevent potentially embarrassing situations. We discuss travel do's and don'ts for: airports, vans, cars, buses, hotels, and dealing with copious amounts of down time. We finish the show with each of us discussing a great underrated drum track. Don't forget to enter our contest! In conjunction with monkdrums.com we're giving away two prizes during our one year anniversary. Our grand prize winner receives an original 10" Monk Drum. Our second place winner receives a set of Monk Drums bongos. To register simply visit the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast page inside of Itunes. Leave a written review (so that we can see your name) and you're eligible to win! We'll be drawing the winners on Facebook Live during the week of our 52nd episode. Stay tuned for exact date and time! Subscribe today! New shows are available every Monday. You can find us on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 48 - Signature And Definitive Grooves Jun 12, 2017

This week we draw up a play from the pedagogical handbook. There are drum grooves that are exclusive to many songs. If you don't perform that 'signature groove' authentically then the music is just not right! In this episode we give you a baker's dozen of these aforementioned songs. Get out your notebook and see how many of these you already know. If you're not familiar with this list now's the time to do some drumming anthropology. Part two of your assignment involves interacting with the show. If you feel there are other songs that fit the definitive groove criteria send us an email at: drummersweeklygroovecast @gmail.com and we'll put together a part two of the show. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. 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.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 all you need to do is go to Itunes and leave us a short, written review and you'll be entered to win! We'll be drawing the winners on Facebook Live during the week of our 52nd episode. Stay tuned for exact date and time!

Episode 47 - Church Music Environment with Mike O'Brien Jun 05, 2017

Rampant thoughts and misnomers abound when it comes to performing in churches. In this episode our guest, Mike O'Brien, crushes preconceived notions and tells it like it is regarding the musician's role in today's church. Mike is a professional worship leader, producer, guitarist, and worship team coach. He details what is expected from drummers that he hires and likewise tells us what we should ask for and how to ask for it when approached by worship leaders. He also compares and contrasts the secular world of gigging to the church world of serving. There's so much in this one episode that if you've ever wondered what it was like inside the world of church musicianship then you need to hear the straight truth from someone at the highest level of the craft. Finally we are conducting a brand new giveaway! In honor of our one year anniversary we will be drawing two lucky winners on Facebook Live! First prize is a 10" original Monk Drum from the Monk Drum company. Second prize is a set of Monk Drum bongos. Please go to monkdrums.com for pictures, videos, sound samples, and further information. To register for the contest simply go into Itunes and leave a written review on the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast show page. We publish new shows every Monday so please subscribe today! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 46 - Ergonomics, Health, And The Assault On Education May 29, 2017

This week we start the show with our first major beef. The guys address recent articles found in the online newspapers, The Guardian and The Conversation. We talk about the new proliferation of romanticized illiteracy in music education and the possible agendas behind them. We then discuss the importance of drumming ergonomics and the health benefits reaped from them. We give you practical ideas and tips to help improve your load in, set up, tear down, and performance efficiency. We finish up the show with a segment on must have gear. 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!

Episode 45 - Interview - Matt Bettis cymbalsmith May 22, 2017

Matt Bettis owner/operator of Bettiscymbals.com sits down with us for an exclusive interview. Matt tells us how he traveled throughout his youth which directly influenced his "Nomad" period of cymbal making and ultimately landed him in the remote mountain region of central Idaho. We discuss his love of drumming, his music education, and how that led to modifying and making cymbals. In 2009 Matt became a full time cymbal maker and has not looked back. We talk about his creative process along with the actual crafting process from the first hammer blow all the way to shipping. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 44 - Diversity And Flexibility May 15, 2017

The phone rings. It's that contractor that you've been hoping would call. Once again his gig requires good reading skills along with proficiency of many musical styles. Incidentally you need a few instruments (to authentically perform those styles) that you don't have. What happens next? This show is about taking steps to ensure that you'll never have to turn down work. We help you understand why it's important to be stylistically diverse, instrumentally (equipment) diverse, conceptually diverse, and flexible in your musical tastes and personal demeanor. In our final segment the guys both pick an 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!

Episode 43 - More Common Problems With Instant Solutions May 07, 2017

Well, some of these may not be instant but they certainly do work! This week we take another look at very common problems that good old experience trumps every single time. We discuss creative resolutions regarding issues with setting up, tearing down, storing gear, loading gear, fixing snare drum issues, getting better hi hat sounds, and learning tuning techniques that microphones like but may differ from what our ears perceive. We also take a few minutes to talk about the great Steve Ferrone and his recent stop in Atlanta. For our final show segment both guys pick a great, underrated drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 42 - Interview - Sonny Emory May 01, 2017

The podcast format is tailor made for Sonny Emory. Aside from being a world class musician he's a wonderful story teller. In this episode Sonny holds court with epic tales from the road regarding his past associations with: Cameo, The Crusaders, David Sanborn, Earth, Wind, and Fire along with his current gigs, Bruce Hornsby and Bette Midler. Being a proponent for education he also details his learning experiences along with his own passion for teaching. We also spend a good amount of time talking about recording and his experiences with Nile Rodgers, Chic, B52s, Steely Dan, his new band, Cachet, and more. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We can be found on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 41 - Breaking Through Plateaus Apr 24, 2017

Oh the dreaded 'rut'. Anyone who says they never fall victim to this is being intellectually dishonest. In fact, the majority of students who I interact with are accomplished players who need help breaking through these plateaus. In this week's podcast we talk about the most common types of creative blocks: technical, creative/musical, and disinterest/boredom. There are many different way to break through and move forward however the universal cure for all types of ruts lies in the concept that you must push yourself out of your comfort zone in order to grow. We discuss a plethora of different techniques that will spark your creativity and interest in order to get you to new levels. At the end of the show we each pick a new piece of must-have gear. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today! If you are an Itunes subscriber please take a moment to go by our Itunes podcast home and leave us a short, written review. We'd greatly appreciate it!

Episode 40 - The Ride Cymbal Show Apr 17, 2017

With the great success of the 'Snare Drum Show" it was only logical that we'd address another great love of drummers, the ride cymbal. We humbly present our favorite rides for your perusal. We each talk about cymbals that work well in low volume situations, jazz groups, high volume situations, rock bands, and we discuss a few specialty rides too. We finish the show with each of us picking 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!

Episode 39 - The Drummer As Music Director Apr 10, 2017

Most successful drummers have leadership in their DNA. Becoming music director of a band or ensemble is a natural extension of our position if you are qualified. On top of that it can be a nice bump in your income and make your market value skyrocket. In this show we talk about all of the different duties that can be part of a music director's job. Plus we discuss the pros and cons that come with the badge. We answer some viewer mail and finish off the show with a segment where we both choose a great drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 38 - The Art Of Sitting In Apr 03, 2017

Sitting in is a time honored tradition in our business. I'm quite sure that at its inception the intention of sitting in was one of sharing and community. However it doesn't take long for a few bad apples to spoil the bunch. In this show we discuss some of our horror stories with drummers who've broken the unspoken code of honor. We then talk about tactics that can be used to discourage pushy drummers yet still remain friendly. We also speak about our own personal rules when we've been invited to sit in. In the final segment we each pick a piece of must-have gear. Don't forget to go by Itunes today and leave us a short written review to be entered into our first ever giveaway. The winner will have their choice of a Paiste Twenty Series 10" splash or a Gretsch drums tee shirt. A new show is published every Monday. Subscribe today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps.

Episode 37 - The Essence Of Time Mar 27, 2017

In this week's show we start with the Gretsch factory tour postmortem before answering listener questions. We also pay tribute to Chuck Berry and Sib Hashian due to their recent passing. Then we tackle the topic of the week, 'Time' and the perception that all musicians have of it. We discuss dealing with instrumentalists and vocalists who depend on drummers to correct their tempo mistakes while disregarding their own time feel. Other topics include: subbing with other bands and learning their time tendencies on the fly, helping rhythm section cohesiveness with click track and sequence coaching, perfecting count-ins, dealing with out of time scratch tracks during recording sessions, and solo musicians' tendency to play songs significantly faster than original recordings. During the final segment we each pick and underrated drummer. Don't forget to enter our first contest giveaway. Simply go the show's page in Itunes and leave us a short, written review to enter. 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!

Episode 36 - Inside Gretsch: The Factory Tour With Paul Cooper Mar 20, 2017

We were fortunate to receive an invitation to tour the Gretsch Drum factory in Ridgeland, SC. Who are we to decline? After a lengthy tour of the step by step process of drum making we set up shop in operation manager, Paul Cooper's office, and asked him everything we always wanted to know about Gretsch drums. Rumors are debunked! Make sure you go by our Facebook page to get a look at the pictures that were taken during the tour. Also don't forget to enter the first ever Drummer's Weekly Groovecast contest! Simply go by the show's page inside of Itunes and leave us a short, written review. That's it! You'll automatically be entered to win. Prizes and details are outlined in the show. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 35 - The Bassist's Perspective Mar 13, 2017

In every great rhythm section there is an outstanding drummer. However the rhythm section would not be great without an equally good bassist. In this show we welcome two of country's greatest bassists, Joe Reda and Ramon Pooser. We ask this duo pointed questions about what they like to hear emanating from the drum chair. If you've ever been curious to hear what 'the other side' thinks about us then this is your show. Niceties are forgone! Join us every week for a brand new show. Subscribe today! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 34 - Career Mistakes Mar 06, 2017

Mistakes are inevitable. Some are minor and others are critical. In this episode we discuss career mistakes, large and small, and how to correct or possibly avoid them. Topics covered are: bad musical and personal choices, fear, anxiety, denial, and procrastination through technology, gear obsession, and other devices. In our final segment we each pick a great underrated drum tracks. Also, the boys include a special 'Easter Egg' opinion nugget on the upcoming MLB season. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 33 - Auditions Feb 27, 2017

Somewhere down the line you'll either have to audition for a gig or audition another musician for a position in your current musical situation. In this episode we'll discuss finding, preparing, and performing at auditions. Other topics we'll cover include personal appearance, staying confident, mock auditioning, and being ready for the unexpected. Finally we'll talk about what to do if you get the gig and if you don't get the gig. In our last segment Phil and Jon each discuss a great, underrated drummer. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all your favorite podcast apps.

Episode 32- Special Edition - How to Find Great Teachers Feb 20, 2017

When I first started playing drums there were basically two ways to learn the instrument: seek a teacher or teach yourself. However today there are more options for drumming education than ever before. With modern technology we can find a plethora of videos, mp3s, articles, and even teachers with the stroke of a computer keyboard. In fact it's arguable that we have too much information instantly available which many times leads to obfuscation of the truth! It's very important to research the information that you're receiving and making sure that it's coming from a reliable source. In this special edition of the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast we give you many tips and ideas when it comes to researching and finding the right teacher (in-person teachers and online teachers). We discuss past experiences, what we got from the great teachers, and what we learned from the not so great ones. If you're a serious student or teacher there'll be something in this episode that will pique your interest! Join us every week for a brand new episode! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 31 - The Snare Drum Show Feb 13, 2017

We know you like drum talk. The emails and forums tell no lies. So, here's one for the gear heads! In today's episode we dedicate the entire show to snare drums. For most drummers the snare represents many different things. Not only is it our most played drum but it is many times a reflection of our personality. We discuss our favorite snare drums according to style (rock, jazz, etc) as well as specific sound applications. The discussion also covers topics such as: drum heads, snare wires, die cast vs. spun hoops, strainers, tuning tips, shell composition, and more. Then keeping with the 'gear theme' Phil and Jon both pick a piece of must have equipment. 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!

Episode 30 - Musicians: Artists, Businessmen, And Blended Feb 06, 2017

We start this week with news of the weird. The Todd Sucherman lawsuit is discussed and debated. After too long of an absence we address reader mail. When we get to the primary topic of the day we discuss the always delicate balance of being an artist versus being a businessman. The pros and cons of each mindset are discussed along with tips and ideas for becoming a balanced artist capable of making a living without compromising the artistic vision. Our final segment of the show has both guys picking a great drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 29 - Interview - Joel Rosenblatt Jan 30, 2017

This week the Groovecast is delighted to publish an exclusive interview with Joel Rosenblatt. Most of you know Joel from his work with Michel Camilo and later with Spyro Gyra. In this episode we discuss his early flirtations with trumpet and a chance encounter with drums. From there we get to his college studies with Ed Soph and Randy Jones which helped prepare him for his first major gigs. We then cover the gigs with: Matt Murphy, Pure Prairie League, Michel Camilo, and Spyro Gyra. We spend a good amount of time talking about Joel's early adoption of the home studio. We also discuss Joel's grip/technique change and his personal teaching practice including his own set of play along tracks. Finally he falls victim to the DWG personality test...We'd also like to send our condolences to the Allman Brothers family on the sudden loss of founding member, Butch Trucks. In the outro (under a bed of the ABB's "Hotlanta") we discuss Butch's influence and importance. Join us every Monday for a brand new podcast. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 28 - Playing With Percussionists Jan 23, 2017

A good percussionist can add that special touch that turns a regular gig into pure magic. Then again if the drummer and percussionist are not agreeing on time feel, instrumentation, or timbre the gig can turn into a big, inarticulate pile of mush. In this week's show we discuss the different types of percussionists you might encounter and their particular characteristics. We then talk about what you can do to prevent issues before they happen and ultimately work well together moving forward. In the final segment of the show we each pick an underrated drummer. Join us every Monday for a brand show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps. Subscribe today!

Episode 27 - Interview - Adam Deitch Jan 16, 2017

Adam Deitch has played with The Average White Band, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Scofield, Pretty Lights and currently leads the duo Break Science and funk jam icons, Lettuce. During Lettuce's current tour we were fortunate enough to meet up with Adam for a few hours before show time and talk about life, music, and drums. Knowing that Adam has done several other podcasts along with a host of print interviews we decided to take a slightly different direction. We delve into topics such as: drumming with parents who are drummers and the pressure associated with that, growing up with and managing ADD and how it shaped his drumming, early teachers and what he learned, getting into Berklee, the classwork, the ensembles, and the early origin of Lettuce, first big gigs, handling adversity on the gigs, his teaching and giving back to other musicians. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. Subscribe today on your favorite podcast app, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, or Itunes. And while you're in Itunes if you would please leave us a brief review we'd greatly appreciate it!

Episode 26 - Relationships Jan 09, 2017

We can't do it all by ourselves. No matter how much responsibility we have to practice and perfect our art form in private we eventually interact with other musicians, business people, clients, and the public in general. In this podcast we specifically address the incredible importance of building and maintaining positive and fulfilling relationships that last well beyond the gig. To finish up the show Phil and Jon both pick a great, underrated drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. Subscribe today! We're available on all your favorite podcast apps as well as Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and Itunes. While you're inside Itunes if you would please take a moment to leave a review we'd be forever grateful.

Episode 25 - Practice Jan 02, 2017

To kick off a new year the Groovecast, much like everyone else, is in self-improvement mode. Everyone wants to be better, right? We can safely assume that everybody would like to improve their drumming as well as all the different facets of their life. To do this we need to practice. Seems logical, doesn't it? Well, it's easy to say and a no-brainer in the 'duh' department. However, having a specific goal and then consistently acquiring the motivation and determination to get there is easier said than done. Whether you're starting out and the goals seem unattainable or you're an accomplished musician wanting to attain a new level we all have to find the passion and discipline to reach the finish line. In this podcast Phil and Jon outline the desire to get better and then talk about the concepts and psychology behind practice and the different techniques (both physical and mental) it takes to stay interested, motivated, and ultimately satiated. Join us every Monday for a new episode. Subscribe today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 24 - Best Of 2016 Dec 26, 2016

Happiest of Holidays to the Groovecast Nation! This week we take a moment to reflect on the first year of the podcast. We took the highlights from various shows along with great moments from our interviews to make our "Best of 2016". It's our little gift of retrospective all wrapped in a bow and delivered in the timeliest of fashions! We think you'll enjoy reliving some of the moments from earlier this year. Plus it's a great way to invite some of your friends to listen for the first time! We'll be back next Monday with a brand new show to start the new year. As always, thank you for listening and we wish you all the best for a wonderful 2017.

Episode 23 - The Creative Musician's Varying Streams Of Revenue Dec 19, 2016

The most commonly known ways to make a living as musician are performing, recording, and teaching. But is that all there is? Well, those might be the most glamorous. But let's face it, the music business is anything but glamorous. In this episode Phil and Jon spend some time revealing a host of other ways to make money inside the music business that may not be nearly as obvious. And no, these other ways do not involve Uber or the phrase, "You want fries with that?" The guys talk about things that others and that they've done (and continue to do) to include multiple streams of revenue to their income. For their weekly segment the guys each choose an underappreciated drummer for you to check out. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode. Subscribe today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps.

Episode 22 - Interview - Lil' John Roberts Dec 12, 2016

Lil' John Roberts is one of the most sought after drummers in the music business. His resume crosses all genre lines (Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Elton John, Quincy Jones, drummer for many TV house bands, etc.). His drumming peers may know him for his prodigious chops however Lil' John would rather allow his time feel and legendary groove to speak for themselves. In this interview John briefly discusses his early musical upbringing and how that led him to study at the Berklee College of Music. After that he spends the rest of the time detailing how his move to Atlanta jump started his professional career which ultimately led to his twenty year association with Janet Jackson. Throughout the show we touch on: studying, practicing, preparing, teaching, touring, studio work, professionalism, and how the music business has changed over the past 20 years. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps. Please leave us a review on Itunes during your next visit. We'd be forever grateful.

Episode 21 - Drumming As A Career Dec 05, 2016

"You don't choose a career in music, instead music chooses you." There are numerous quotes along those lines and today the guys discuss just that topic. Can you or should you choose drumming as a career? Each of the guys tell their own story of how they came into the music business and then talk about the benefits and drawbacks. Topics covered are: being an entrepreneur, starting your own business, personal and family sacrifices, lack of traditional job benefits, travel, willingness to do what it takes, craft and business research, and much more. Finally the end segment of the show finds the guys each unearthing a favorite, yet underappreciated drum track. Join us every Monday for a brand new episode! Subscribe to us today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 20 - Musical Mentors Nov 28, 2016

In this week's show the guys discuss the importance of and the different types of musical mentors. Phil and Jon both talk about the different mentors they've had, how they've affected their lives, and how it's lead them to become mentors of others. The various types they talk about are: teacher/educator mentors, co-working/gigging mentors, and distant/recorded mentors. Although each are different they share many of the same characteristics. For this week's ending segment the guys decide to talk about 'must have gear'. Join us every Monday for a brand new show. Subscribe today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 19 - Interview - Ryan Brown Pt. 2 - Dweezil Zappa Band Nov 21, 2016

Welcome back to part 2 of the Ryan Brown interview. In this episode Ryan gives details about his time in Los Angeles. Ryan talks about getting established, taking gigs, preparation, studio sessions, his teaching practice, family responsibilities, auditions, rehearsals, and a day in the life of touring with Dweezil Zappa. Before we finish I make Ryan play the time honored game show, "Beat the Clock". Hilarity ensues! Join us every Monday for a brand new podcast. Subscribe today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 18 - Interview - Ryan Brown Pt. 1 - Dweezil Zappa Band Nov 14, 2016

This week the show goes on the road and shifts into interview mode! We had the great fortune of being welcomed inside the Zappa family for an extensive interview with Dweezil Zappa drummer, Ryan Brown. Join us as we discuss the topics of: growing up with music, gravitating toward drums, discovering Zappa, beginning drum studies, college audition tours, majoring in music, career decisions, moving to Los Angeles, the practicalities of making a living, establishing a music career, studio work, teaching, getting the call to audition with Zappa, getting the gig, rehearsals, touring and balancing work with personal life. Subscribe today and get a brand new episode every Monday. The show is available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 17 Click Track Reliance And In Ear Monitor Usage Nov 07, 2016

Ahhhh...that click is so comforting...until it's gone! I'd bet some of you thought those words would never be uttered. But they are! Once thought to be a nemesis, the click track is now often a crutch. In this episode the guys discuss how the click track has become a safety blanket to the point of being a detriment. They also talk about how mental games regarding tempo and feel can be a major problem once the metronome is taken away. Numerous solutions are discussed such as: playing exercises with and without the metronome, body motion and mindful awareness, click manipulation, songs that should always be played without a click, and more. The guys then talk about the importance and proliferation of in ear monitors and how they can be a double edged sword. On one hand they can contribute to click track dependency. On the other they are wonderful at combating ear fatigue/hearing loss and monitoring definition. They end the show with a segment on great underrated drummers. Subscribe today and hear a brand new episode every Monday! We're available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all your favorite podcast apps!

Episode 16 Getting Established - Self Promotion Oct 31, 2016

Everybody's doing it. Well, at least everyone has done it that's had any modicum of success in the music business. What we're discussing today is getting your career established in a new city. Whether you're a young gun or a relocating veteran you'll need some ideas. Phil and Jon cover wide ranging areas of discussion such as: modes and timeliness of communication, financial responsibility, low paying gigs, personal relationships, housing considerations, and the omnipresent and venerable 'hang out'. Inside this discussion resides the shadowy topic of self-promotion. The guys discuss their feelings on effective and tasteful types of self-promotion versus inundating social media with gratuitous and self-serving posts. Finally the guys close out the show with a segment on must have gear. Join us every Monday for a brand new show! Subscribe today on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and all of your favorite podcast apps.

Episode 15 Interview - Scott Meeder Oct 24, 2016

The Groovecast has delivered on its promise of an interview and it is a gem! Our guest, Scott Meeder, is the proverbial "Jeff Porcaro" of Atlanta. Even if you're not familiar with his name it's a virtual guarantee that you've heard him on record. He has been the first call session drummer on the Atlanta recording scene for the past 30 years. His credits include: .38 Special, Toni Braxton, Sugarland, Ricky Gunn, Aaron Shust, John Waller, and countless tv, motion picture, and radio dates. We discuss his musical upbringing and education, first gigs, musical influences, early use of electronics, his studio experiences, recording gear, large scale touring, his current work, and advice for young musicians. Please subscribe to the show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Podbean, Stitcher or your favorite podcast app. A new episode is published every Monday!

Episode 14 How Good Is Your Bad? Oct 17, 2016

Even the best musician will have a bad night. However that does not necessarily mean you're doomed to a bad performance. Even Buddy Rich had bad nights. There's an infamous video of Buddy near the end of his life where he's said to have had a heart attack right in the middle of an amazing solo! Now THAT'S a bad night. So our question to you is, "How good is your bad"? In other words, as a professional musician how can you to ensure that even your worst performance is better than an amateur player's best performance? In this show Phil and Jon discuss some of the reasons that may cause you to have a bad gig. Then they talk about what some of those potential bad nights look like. After that the guys give you solutions and tips to help you avoid things that contribute to not being your best. They also discuss ways to survive bad gigs due to circumstances outside of your control. It's time to build up some musical and technical 'headroom'! Please subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app or find us on ITunes, Google Play Podcasts, Podbean, or Stitcher. A new show is available every Monday!

Episode 13 Common Problems - Instant Solutions! Oct 10, 2016

In virtually all disciplines there are very few shortcuts that deliver the desired results. In drumming that is especially true. In most situations practice and patience pays the highest yielding dividends. However, there are a few select instances where experience can provide excellent and sometimes unorthodox solutions to common problems. In this episode Phil and Jon give the listeners a few of these "magic bullets". Topics covered include: Pedal setup and adjustment, drum set ergonomics, alternative ways to carry spare drum heads, hardware solutions, reduction of set up time, and much more. In the return of "Underappreciated Drummers" segment the boys both give their respective kudos to two great players. Please subscribe to our show on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, and your favorite podcast app. A new show is published every Monday!

Episode 12 Special Edition Malleable Grip And Hand Technique Oct 03, 2016

Concepts on technique can be very polarizing. Everyone is an expert and everyone is correct. "Strict German grip with the level system is the only way to go!" "Forget that mess. Traditional grip using the Moeller technique is far superior." " Well, only if you're a gimp. Real men, like Billy Cobham, use French grip exclusively." See what I mean? In today's show I discuss grip and hand technique from a very different standpoint. I believe that adhering to one, very strict grip and hand position is actually detrimental. Rather, every musical situation that you encounter can and should modify your technique to enhance the music and your performance. Volume, velocity, tempo, instrument height, instrument angle, surface hardness, fatigue, and more will affect your grip and technique. Please subscribe and join us every Monday for a brand show available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and your favorite podcast app!

Episode 11 Special Edition Teacher And Student Vocabulary - Must Have Method Books Sep 26, 2016

In any profession there is an existing vocabulary that is either exclusive or at least pertinent to the discipline. For drummers there is a distinct lineage of definitive method books that are a major part of our musical and educational vocabulary. In this show Phil goes through a list of must-have methods, their origins, uses, and importance in our field. At the end Phil adds a few of his personal, albeit lesser known, favorites to the list. Join us every Monday for a brand show available on Itunes, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher and your favorite podcast app!

Episode 10 Embracing Strengths And Weaknesses Sep 19, 2016

This week Phil and Jon discuss the many different ways we can learn to embrace others' strengths and weaknesses. The guys talk about differences between groove players vs. technical players, jazzers vs. rockers, younger players vs. older players, original/artsy gigs vs. corporate gigs, and pressures of the drumming community and how it can breed jealousy and envy. At the end of the show the guys each pick another underrated, great drum track. Please subscribe and join us every Monday for a brand new edition of the Drummer's Weekly Groovecast.

Episode 9 Tuning Sep 12, 2016

This week we scratch the itch of all you gear heads! We've had listeners contact us about tuning so we decided to compile all the ideas and questions we've received into a show. We discuss tuning from the ground up: starting with the tools needed all the way through fine tuning in the studio or on the stage. We cover every drum on the set, different head combinations, hoop types, tuning for different musical styles, muffling, the many factors of snare tuning and much more. We also answer listener questions! Phil and Jon once again put on their white lab coats, grab a clipboard, a monocle and play shade tree psychiatrist. Finally, both guys each choose and discuss another great underrated drummer. Please subscribe, share and join us every Monday for a brand new show.

Episode 8 Ego Sep 05, 2016

This week the guys land on a touchy subject. Large personalities, self centeredness and over inflated self esteem make for an atmosphere that's just not conducive to creating good music. Phil and Jon each take turns talking about their own experiences and how they've dealt with different ego problems. They also discuss legendary drummers and their respective personality quirks. At the end of the show the guys discuss the importance of cymbal selection. They talk about how they pick cymbals, what cymbals they like to use for various genres of music, and the significance of developing an ear for good cymbals. Please subscribe, share and join us every Monday for a new episode!

Episode 7 Pathways Of Education Part 2 Aug 29, 2016

You're serious about music and you want to get better. What do you do? Go to college? Hit the road, play gigs, and slug it out? Teach yourself through a myriad of available online media? Maybe just take some lessons from your local teacher? Well, all of those are options and all of them can yield great results. Phil and Jon will tell you all about their experiences along with the benefits and pitfalls of each pathway of education. In part two of this series the guys discuss forgoing the route of higher education and getting pure, on-the-job experience. They talk about success with your own band, free-lancing with other groups, studio work, and simply teaching yourself. Finally the guys talk about a few of their favorite live albums that capture incredible drumming performances. Tune in every Monday for a new podcast and make sure you rate the show on Itunes or your favorite podcast app!

Episode 6 Pathways Of Education Part 1 Aug 22, 2016

You're serious about music and you want to get better. What do you do? Go to college? Hit the road, play gigs, and slug it out? Teach yourself through a myriad of available online media? Maybe just take some lessons from your local teacher? Well, all of those are options and all of them can yield great results. Phil and Jon will tell you all about their experiences along with the benefits and pitfalls of each pathway of education. In part one of this series the guys primarily discuss studying music formally at the college level and at music vocational schools. At the end of the show they both pick another, great underrated drum track. Tune in every Monday for a new podcast and make sure you rate the show on Itunes or your favorite podcast app!

Episode 5 Negotiating Pay Aug 15, 2016

Talking about money can create strange vibes. Even best friends will bristle at the mention. In this episode Phil and Jon talk about how they approach negotiating pay. They talk about long term gigs, short term gigs, and one off/sub gigs. Techniques of negotiation are suggested as well as reasons why you should or should not take certain gigs. They also discuss non-cash perks that can be arranged that may benefit you more than money. Recording sessions are discussed from the standpoint of day rates versus per song fees. Finally the guys each choose a great, underappreciated drum track.

Episode 4 Personal Responsibility Aug 08, 2016

Have you ever been late for or forgotten about a gig? How about forgetting your entire bag of hardware? Well, Phil and Jon have done that and more. The good news though is since they've done this for you, you don't have to! They discuss the horror stories they've had and how they prevent those things from happening again. The boys also answer listener email. Then in this week's final segment they each pick an under appreciated drummer.

Episode 3 Special Edition Concepts On Click Tracks Jul 31, 2016

This week Phil does a special educational edition of the Groovecast. In response to emails and posts on social media regarding practicing and performing to a click track or sequence (both live and in the studio)Phil talks about the concepts he's developed over the years. They include setting up your click in a variety of musical settings, developing feel instead of playing metronomically, stating time while becoming a slave to the click, over correcting when straying from the click, click manipulation, and band concepts with clicks and sequences.

Episode 2 Gig Preparation Jul 24, 2016

This week Phil and Jon discuss the importance of preparing for gigs. Yeah, it's obvious...sort of...until you have to really do it. We'll give you tips on how to prepare and why it's crucial to your professional reputation. Also we talk about our favorite/most important pieces of gear and why you should ensure that you have the best of these.

Episode 1 Stage Bullies Jul 14, 2016

"Too fast!" "Too slow!" "Too loud!" "Too Soft!" "What are you doing?!" "I need you to...." In the inaugural edition of the show Phil and Jon talk about their experience with 'stage bullies'. You know, the people that micro manage and torment you during a gig? We're not talking about the normal musician who gives musical direction. Rather we're talking about the nasty person in a power drunken frenzy who barks out orders and generally enjoys making their fellow musicians cringe and cower. Phil and Jon talk about different scenarios and how you can work with and overcome this common problem. Lastly, the guys each give their pick on a great, overlooked drummer.

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