Gregg Bissonette performing and recording credits include working with Ringo Starr, David Lee Roth, James Taylor, Santana (on his Grammy-award winning Supernatural), Don Henley, Joe Satriani, Andrea Bocelli, ELO, Maynard Ferguson, Spinal Tap, and countless others.  He has recorded for many films—including The Bucket List, Finding Nemo, Best in Show, For Your Consideration, The Bourne Supremacy, The Mighty Wind, The Polar Express, The Devil Wears Prada, Waiting for Guffman, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The 40-Year-Old Virgin as well as TV shows, including the hit NBC series Friends. Gregg exclusively uses Zildjian Cymbals, Dixon Drums, DW Drum Pedals, Remo Drum Heads, Vic Firth Drum Sticks, Samson Audio, Audix Mics, the Gregg Bissonette Signature Stick Bag by Kaces, XL Specialty road cases, Beato Drum Bags, LT Lug Locks, and LP Percussion products. Kennan Wylie is in his 22nd year as the Director of Percussion Studies at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX. Kennan is a free-lance performer in the Dallas-Forth Worth area and a member of the Dallas based jazz group Fingerprints. His previous publications include the book “Simple Steps to Successful Beginning Percussion”, through K. Wylie Publications (www.kwylie.com). With a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas, Kennan is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southwest, as well as serving as the President of the Texas PAS Chapter. Kennan endorses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Innovative Percussion, and Evans drumheads In this episode, Gregg and Kennan talk about:  * Gregg and Kennan’s presentation at PASIC 2018 * Describing the book – Hal Leonard Drumset Method book 1 and 2 & it’s many features  * Unique challenges teachers have these days / private lessons vs YouTube * The importance of performing with other people * The “Flow Sticking System” * The growing popularity of open handed technique * Setting goals and a rough plan for teaching so students reach the goals you’ve set for them  * Things that educators can offer that can go beyond just teaching drums? 

Jeff Mellott has spent his entire life in Ohio and become a fixture on the Cincinnati scene. His trio, Us Today, recently release its fourth album, Computant. After starting at a community college, he transferred to Ohio Univeristy and went on to earn a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the College Conservatory of Music at The University of Cincinnati. In addition to Us Today, Jeff performs with guitarist Brandon Coleman and many other Cincinnati-based jazz artists, and has diversified his working life between performing and being a Music Educators Rep for Willis Music. In this podcast, Jeff talks about: * The evolution of Us Today * Getting featured on NPR * The band’s composition process * His upbringing and musical background in Ohio * Starting out at a community college, transferring to Ohio University, and going on to grad school at University of Cincinnati * His other job with Willis Music, outfitting music educators with everything they need from instruments to sheet music to tech * His advice on endorsements * What keeps him in Cincinnati, and the city’s musical legacy * Appreciating the different pockets and regions of American music * The possibility and feasibility of someday moving away from Cincinnati Jeff Mellott endorses Canopus drums, Bosphorus cymbals, and Vic Firth drumsticks

Growing up in Watertown, NY, Sean Paddock started playing the drums at the age of four, and within a year was sitting in, performing live with his musician parents, Don Paddock (bassist) and Claudia Paddock (singer, guitarist) at local nightclubs. By the time he was 9-years-old, Sean had begun formal drum lessons and participated in the school band program. At fourteen, Sean and his family moved to Arizona where he continued his involvement in variety of high school music groups, including marching band, orchestra and stage band. It was during his high school years that he started his music career as a semi-pro, playing paid gigs with his father. After high school, Sean was working as a full-time musician, playing the local music seen both in Phoenix and northern New York. In 1996, Sean traveled to Nashville to check out the music scene, heard that Kenny Chesney needed a drummer, auditioned and landed the gig which he’s been playing ever since. Besides Kenny Chesney, Sean has worked with such rock and country icons as Vince Gill, Sammy Hagar, John Mellencamp, Steve Miller, George Strait, and numerous others. His televised appearances with Chesney include The Grammy’s, Austin City Limits, Sound Stage, the ACM, CMA, AMA award shows, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with Letterman, Good Morning America, and Today Show. Sean can also be seen in many of Kenny Chesney’s music videos, as well as the Summer In 3D Movie. When not on the road, Sean is back in Nashville — doing recording sessions with an A-list team of musicians or tracking drums at his home studio. In this episode, Sean talks about: * The importance of mic placement, creating phase coherence, kit placement, etc when recording at home  * Tracking and producing full tracks with all instruments * Touring with Kenny Chesney  * The realities of touring with a major label act  * How he got the gig with Kenny * Being authentic on the gig * Recounting the flood of 2010 and how it affected tour production * Final words of advice in maintaining sanity on the road  Sean endorses: Tama Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Evans Drumheads, Audio Technica, Puresound Snare Wires

Bill Stewart has been one of the most unique voices in jazz drumming for decades. He is especially known for his work with jazz guitar greats Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, Peter Bernstein, and most consistently and profoundly, John Scofield. His resume is rounded out with other iconic artists such as Michael Brecker, Maceo Parker, Joe Lovano, and Nicholas Payton. He has released several recording as a leader including Think Before You Think, Snide Remarks, and his latest, Band Menu. Stewart grew up in Iowa but made the move to New York for college and never left, and has remained one of the most sought-after drummers in jazz. In this podcast, Bill talks about: * The dynamic of his new record, and playing and composing for a “chord-less” trio * Growing up in Iowa and playing with family members and in Top 40 bands in high school * His simultaneous development as a drummer and composer * How other genres such as roots/blues and classical have influenced him * His transition from Iowa to the East Coast, and from college to the New York scene * Studying with Elliot Zigman * The importance of playing with clarity – in rhythmic content, orchestration, and tone * How he first hooked up with John Scofield, and the musical adventures they’ve had since * His long-standing trio with Larry Goldings and Peter Bernstein, and his thoughts on playing with organ The challenges and opportunities presented by trio drumming Bill Stewart endorses Gretsch drums, Remo drumheads, and Zildjian cymbals and sticks.

Bart Robley is a perfect example of a full time musician that stays busy by diversifying his work load through teaching, performing live, recording as well as publishing educational material. Through his many projects, Bart learned the nuances of rock, country, jazz, fusion, hard rock and heavy metal. As his thirst for musical adventures grew, so did his need for larger projects. So he bid goodbye to his small town life in Colorado and in 1989, relocated to Southern California. Bart networked the L.A. music scene, replete with a host of metal, punk and industrial bands. Bart returned to studio work and live performances as a ‘hired gun’ in many diverse projects from country to hard rock. It was one of these situations that led to Bart being hired full time by Southern Rock mainstays The Sam Morrison Band. To date the Sam Morrison Band has recorded 8 CD’s with legendary producer Michael Vail Blum whose credits include work with Madonna and Pink Floyd. The band has sold over 700,000 downloads on I-Tunes and have been streamed over 10 million times on Spotify. Bart has been involved in music education, teaching private and semi-private drum lessons, as well as hosting master classes and drum clinics for 20 years. Bart’s extensive knowledge of drumming and rhythm has come together in three popular instructional books, as well as three instructional DVDs. Bart’s efforts were recognized in 2009, when he won a Telly Award for his instructional DVD, “The School Of Hard Rocks”. In this episode, Bart talks about:  * Bart’s teaching practice * The importance of teaching students to read music  * How to stay organized as a teacher * How to start and maintain a successful teaching practice  * “What you’re doing not How you’re doing” * Teaching business side of the music business to students * His full time band The Sam Morrison Band  * Working with legendary producer Michael Vail Blum * Being the best you you can be  * Playing for the song * Bart’s instructional books and DVD’s  * The responsibility of drumming educators  * 3 instructional books, & 3 instructional DVDs Bart endorses: Gretsch Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Aquarian Drumheads, Symphonic Percussion, Trick Drums, Clamp-It, Kickport, Gorilla Snot, The Kelly Shu, Humes & Berg, Audix Microphones

Prior to forming his own jazz orchestra, The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel, Bernie backed Maynard Ferguson, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Bernie served 15 years for both Setzer and Goodwin. He has been the drummer on numerous Brian Setzer Grammy Award®-winning recordings and more recently on every recording that Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band has released, including the Grammy Award-winners. You can see Bernie on the silver screen and hear him in Jersey Boys. He also played on Jurassic World, Inside Out, Tomorrowland, Minions, American Sniper, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Mission Impossible 3, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Superman: Man Of Steel, Up, The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie, Cars 2, Super 8, Transformers 3, Get On Up, Star Trek Generations, Star Trek 2009, Speed Racer, The Bourne Supremacy, Payback, The Hulk, Ratatouille, Elf, Me Myself And Irene, The Santa Clause, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Stuart Little, Jingle All The Way, The Mask, Analyze This, The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas, An Extremely Goofy Movie, The Aristocats, Liberace: Behind The Candelabra, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Hairspray, The Bucket List, Walk Hard, Enchanted, and many more. Bernie has played on sessions for TV including Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, The Simpsons, King Of The Hill, Pinky And The Brain, Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, Lost, The Sopranos, Jag, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Enterprise, Baywatch, The Young And The Restless, American Music Awards, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Emmy Awards, American Comedy Awards, Dawson’s Creek, Dallas, Knots Landing, Simon And Simon, Murder She Wrote, Cheers, Frasier, News Radio, Beverly Hills 90210, Christmas At Rockefeller Center, Tom And Jerry, Ugly Betty, and many more. He also performed as the drummer for Jerry Lewis’s MDA Labor Day Telethons. In this podcast, Bernie talks about: * His philosophy on leading and recording a big band * Joe’s Great American Bar & Grille, and the place it holds on the LA music scene * Growing up in rural Pennsylvania * How parts of the new record “Bern Bern Bern” tell the story of his early musical experiences * His experience at Eastman School of Music * Working his way onto the LA scene, and how he distinguished himself from guys like Vinnie, rather than trying to emulate or compete with them * Playing with bassist John “Spazz” Hatton * How the LA scene has changed over the years, and how it can turn musicians into specialists * The groove aspects of jazz and big band drumming * The importance of putting on a visibly energetic performance Bernie Dresel endorses Craviotto drums, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth sticks, and Sabian cymbals

Sandy Gennaro was born and raised in NYC and currently resides in Nashville TN. Sandy has toured and/or recorded with: Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, The Monkees, Joe Lynn Turner, Michael Bolton, Benny Mardones, Craaft, The Mamas and Papas and Jon Paris. He has recorded several Top 10 singles and has performed for for over a billion fans spanning his 50 year career. Sandy has also made numerous TV appearances including The Tonight Show, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The MTV New Years Ball, and The Late Show with David Letterman among others. He is also a favored councelor at the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps. He is currently recording and gigging with various artists in Nashville. Before his move to Nashville in early ‘14, Sandy gave lessons, master classes and inaugurated the Music Business program at the Collective in NYC where he started in 1987. Gennaro is also a corporate/academic inspirational speaker. He has brought his “B.E.A.T.S.” presentation to FedEx, Belmont University, Pacific Hotel Management LLC, Sam Ash Corp. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center, The Collective NYC and The School of Rock with extraordinary results. Participants in his “B.E.A.T.S.”program return to work or school with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm, increased passion, tenacity and a renewed engagement in their work. They will be inspired by new behaviors that increase productivity and drive business, sales and leadership performance. “B.E.A.T.S.”in an acronym for Belief, Enthusiasm, Attitude, Tenacity and Service. In this episode, Sandy talks about:  * Appreciating the journey over any destination * The acronym “B.E.A.T.S.” that he uses for his speaking engagements  * Sandy’s early career highlights during the 1970’s and 80’s  * Positive interaction with others that lead to monumental change in Sandy’s life  * What lead to his long time gig with The Monkees (1987 – 2012) * Teaching at The Collective in New York City for 27 years * His tour with Cyndi Lauper in 1984/85 and his hybrid electronic/acoustic kit * Opening up for Queen in 1986 on four month tour with German band Craaft * Info about “Breast Cancer Can Stick It” Sandy endorses DW drums, pedals and hardware, Zildjian cymbals, Hot Sticks, Remo drumheads, Rhythm Tech percussion

Cody Rahn and Ben O’Brien Smith are the creators of Sounds Like A Drum, “an ongoing video series for drummers, audio engineers, and anyone who is responsible for achieving great drum sounds at the source. Sounds Like a Drum offers in-depth tutorials on tuning in ways most have never learned, tips and tricks for a memorable sound, and hacks that you might never have thought of.” Cody’s background as a working drummer in New York and Ben’s background in product development give them a unique and insightful approach to achieving great drum tone, whether that means finding creative new sounds or just troubleshooting the old ones. In this podcast, Ben and Cody talk about: * The philosophy behind the aesthetic and presentation of Sounds Like a Drum * SLAD’s origin story * How to associate certain drum tones with certain genres * Going beyond the “what” and “how” of tone, and getting into the “why” * Developing your ear and taste to inform your tone choices, rather than buying gear * Making confidence part of you sound * Balancing tone with feel * Cody’s approaches for mic’d vs. un-mic’d situations * How they handle comments and feedback on their channel * Their advice for anyone who wants to start a social media or digital enterprise Cody Rahn endorses Promark sticks and Evans heads.

Since the early 1990’s, Rodney Edmondson has been the drummer for award winning singer and piano player Ronnie Milsap. Ronnie Milsap is credited with six Grammy Awards and forty No. 1 country hits. He was selected for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.  Growing up in Virginia, Rodney developed his feel and approach to drumming throughout the 1970’s with local groups that included many styles that prepared him for his eventual move to Nashville. Rodney quickly established himself as a solid musician that could cover many different styles from heavy rock to traditional country. Just before landing the Milsap gig, Rodney was the full time drummer for the traditional country group, The Whites.  Rodney balances his touring with Ronnie with his work at Spectrum Sound Inc. building and designing road cases.   In this episode, Rodney talks about:  * Ronnie Milsap and his history including the time he meet Ray Charles * How Rodney got the gig with Ronnie * Evolving with the gig  * Recordings that Rodney did with Ronnie  * Growing up in Virginia and playing music locally in the 70’s  * Significant changes In the music scene in Nashville

Los Angeles native Elmo Lovano built a successful career as a touring and studio drummer with Juliette Lewis, Miley Cyrus, Christina Perri, James Fauntleroy, Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold and many more. He began to see the need for a legitimate networking platform for professional musicians because, “as creatives, we don’t use Linkedin, and as professionals, we don’t use Craigslist.” After a couple years of beta testing among friends and colleagues he launched the Jammcard app in 2017. After a successful rollout amongst L.A.-based musicians, Jammcard then launched in Atlanta, followed by Nashville. In this podcast, Elmo talks about: * How networking for musicians is pretty much the same at any level * Fully completing your product (album, app, whatever) before you market it and release it * The team he assembled to help him create, maintain, and grow Jammcard * Best practices for Jammers * Why Atlanta was chosen as the second launch city * How to build a professional portfolio that will get you accepted to Jammcard Elmo Lovano endorses Pearl drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Remo heads.

MeetHook Founder & CEO Anthony Citrinite is an established pro musician with a number of career highlights including playing on live TV with the classic rock band Boston at the Fiesta Bowl in 2002, Katy Perry and Joe Perry in 2009 at Radio City Music Hall on the MTV Video Music awards, and playing percussion for Coheed and Cambria to a sold out show later that year. He can be heard on a number of notable major label releases & movie soundtracks with his band The SmashUp. Anthony has been a part of The Collective School of Music executive staff and board for 23 years. Anthony is a visionary who is constantly coming up with new ways to help all people follow their passions while sustaining a career in music. In this episode, Anthony talks about: * What the MeetHook app is and how it’s used * * The personal experience that the app MeetHook offers * * How to tackle a daunting task  * * Anthony’s journey * * The great teachers at The Collective  * * Spreading the word about MeetHook * * The importance of making connections in the music business Anthony endorses: MRP Custom Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vater Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads

Jake Wood has been touring with Hamilton since early 2017, playing percussion, keyboards, electronics, and running Ableton. With no prior experience in musicals, he landed the gig through a San Francisco acquaintance, and proved himself by taking a month away from pretty much everything else in his life to spend ten hours a day practicing and learning the show. In addition to Hamilton, Jake plays with Bay Area groups including Diego’s Umbrella and March Fourth, and has been running his own teaching studio for nearly a decade. In this podcast, Jake talks about: * How he landed the Hamilton gig with no prior experience in musicals * Creating drum cover videos using songs with no drums * How his social media content became a useful resume booster * The month-long process of learning the show * The intricacies of his part and learning to follow a conductor * The mix of acoustic drums and samples in the pit set-up * Playing continuous grooves vs. isolated single notes * The Bay Area scene, and his musical life there outside Hamilton * His strategy for building his teaching studio

Ben Hans is a musician and music instructor who keeps a busy performance schedule performing many genres of music. Ben performs as a freelance artist, who cut his teeth performing under the tutelage of Jazz Guitarist Jack Grassel and the late Swing Clarinetist Chuck Hedges. Ben has shared the stage with a diverse list of artists such as singer/songwriter/composer and Grammy nominated C. F. Kip Winger. Legendary Rudimentalists John S. Pratt, Mitch Markovich, the great Jazz Pianist Barry Harris, celebrated Saxophonists Eric Morones, Johnny Padilla and Jesse Lee Montijo, Jazz Guitarists Scott DuBois, Jeff Schroedl and Steve Peplin. Guitar virtuosos Reb Beach, John Roth, Jorge Salan and Donnie Wayne Smith as well as rock vocalist Fiona Flanagan. Ben has also performed alongside many great regional jazz artists such as Rick Embach, Berkeley Fudge, Tom McGirr, Pete Billman, Aaron Gardner, John Babbitt, Michael Arnold, Kirk Tatnall, Mark Solveson, Jeannine Rivers, Swing Nouveau, and many more. As an educator, Ben is currently teaching Music Business at SAE Institute in Nashville, TN. Past teaching positions include Milwaukee Area Technical College as well as the Wisconsin Lutheran College. Ben is also an author, proofreader, freelance editor and session performer for Hal Leonard Publishing, with published works including: “Workin’ Drums – 50 Solos for Drumset,” “40 Intermediate Snare Drum Solos,” “Rudimental Solos for the Marching Snare Drummer,” “Modern School for Mallet Keyboard Instruments,” “HalLeonard School for Snare Drum,” and transcriptions of Ray Luzier’s “Double Bass Drum Techniques”, as well as performing on and writing for the Hal Leonard DVD “Traditional Rudimental Drumming”by John S. Pratt. In this episode, Ben talks about: * Building and developing his private teaching practice  * * The importance of being able to read music * * Changes in the recording industry  * * Diversifying your work load  * * Successfully working through drum books – a strategy  * * The history of John S. Pratt * * Ben’s gig with Kip Winger Ben endorses Yamaha Drums, Aquarian Drumheads, Mike Balter Mallets, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Tycoon Percussion

Quinton Robinson moved to Atlanta from Miami in 2010, and has established himself as a busy touring and session drummer for acts including Kenny Lattimore, Avery Sunshine, Algebra Blessett, and the newly released New-York-based musical “Born For This.” Jonathan Joseph served as his primary mentor on the drums, and Q has also made himself valuable as an expert Ableton practitioner and STEM producer. In addition to many roles as drummer, Quinton is also the musical director for Anthony David. In this podcast, Q talks about: The different type of fulfillment he gets from playing in musical theatre How trust between a musical’s M.D. and drummer drives (and sometimes saves) the show. What it means to be more than your job title Navigating the culture clash that happens among people from different backgrounds on a musical The enormous potential in musicals for drumming to contribute to emotional content Honing your gift vs. honing the “vessel” that carries and delivers the gift Being a good player vs. “living in musical excellence” How being willing to do a little extra thing for free can lead to an income source Using social media to make authentic connections and create genuine community Quinton Robinson endorses Pearl drums, Vater sticks, Sabian cymbals, Humes & Berg cases, Reunion Blues gigbags, Audix microphones, Empire ears, Pighog cables, Ableton, Kickport, Drumdots, and Big Fat Snare Drum.

Christian Matthew Cullen started his professional career as a session musician and sideman for Jim Peterik (Ides Of March, Survivor) in his Wold Stage band where he gained the opportunity to play with notable rock artists such as Alan Parsons, Don Barnes (.38 Special), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Kip Winger, Joe Lynn Turner ( Deep Purple, Rainbow), Mickey Thomas (Starship), and Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger). Christian took over the keyboard chair in Night Ranger in early 2007. Joining up with original members Jack Blades and Brad Gillis, Reb Beach (Winger) and later, Joel Hoekstra (TSO, Rock Of Ages) , he toured the world supporting rock giants Journey, Styx, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Peter Frampton, Heart, Alice Cooper, Steve Miller and Eddie Money. Christian launched a sample company called Sound Famous. It’s for Apple MainStage and features iconic synth sounds from classic records like Prince’s 1999 using analog and virtual synths captured through analog gear and processed to sound exactly like the records they came from. Currently, he composes music and creates sound design for video games, animation and advertising. He has produced music for acclaimed clients such as Smirnoff, Party City, Hollywood Casino, The Kentucky Derby, Jeep, and the Florida Gators and award winning music for children’s media and toys for Tomy, Alex, Infantino, Fisher-Price, Radio Flyer, and Learning Curve.  In the episode, Christian talks about: Recording with Abe Laboriel Jr Being open to ideas in when recording  The benefits of “live tracking” Defining the difference between composing and sound design  Finding out what your truly passionate about  Transitioning from live work to sessions and “in town” work  The influence of technology in the way we work and produce  The power of a peer to peer network to create work Discovering new opportunities when you reach outside your comfort zone

Quinton Robinson moved to Atlanta from Miami in 2010, and has established himself as a busy touring and session drummer for acts including Kenny Lattimore, Avery Sunshine, Algebra Blessett, and the newly released New-York-based musical “Born For This.” Jonathan Joseph served as his primary mentor on the drums, and Q has also made himself valuable as an expert Ableton practitioner and STEM producer. In addition to many roles as drummer, Quinton is also the musical director for Anthony David. In this podcast, Q talks about: The advent of JammCard in LA, Atlanta, and Nashville The mentorship of Jonathan Joseph and Will Kennedy Making the jump from his gospel upbringing to the broader music world The mixed reputation of the term “gospel drummer” How church drumming makes you “road ready” Why at least some Ableton literacy is almost necessary How programming can be used as an enhancement or a crutch. Quinton Robinson endorses Pearl drums, Vater sticks, Sabian cymbals, Humes & Berg cases, Reunion Blues gigbags, Audix microphones, Empire ears, Pighog cables, Ableton, Kickport, Drumdots, and Big Fat Snare Drum.

Billy Thomas moved to Nashville from Los Angeles in 1987 and immediately began working with award winning singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Vince Gill. He has been a member of Gill’s touring band ever since and regularly sings and plays on Gill’s records. Billy is also a member of the multi Grammy nominated western swing band, The Time Jumpers.  Billy has recorded and/or toured with Patty Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Steve Wariner, Marty Stuart, Ricky Nelson, Don Williams, Earl Scruggs and Dolly Parton. During the early ‘90s, Thomas was a founding member of the MCA Records trio, McBride & The Ride. The band’s Top 10 singles included “Sacred Ground,” “Going Out Of My Mind,” “Just One Night” and “Love On The Loose, Heart On The Run.” Thomas’ songs have been recorded by McBride & The Ride, Gill, Dottie West, Little River Band, Ricochet, the Oak Ridge Boys and Andy Griggs, among others. In this episode, Billy talks about:  * The current changes Nashville is experiencing  * The important role of the drummer  * Using technique as a vehicle for achieving a great feel  * Continuing to find joy in music after many years and experiences * The importance of good health * The willingness to be part of a team * Touring and recording with Vince Gill for the better part of thirty years * The Time Jumpers * Singing and drumming Billy endorses: Ludwig Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Pro-Mark Sticks, Evans Drumheads

Dylan Wissing has been quietly amassing a resume of A-list recording credits including Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, and John Legend. He grew up in Bloomington, IN, studied with Kenny Aronoff and Shawn Pelton, and toured for 13 years with the band Johnny Socko. When the band had run its course, Dylan ended up in the New York area in 2003 and began touring and recording with a huge variety of artists. He had worked with producer Ken Lewis on Johnny Socko’s last record, and Lewis began hiring him for new projects. This relationship has been central to Dylan’s career and continues to this day. In 2008, Dylan opened Triple Colossal Studios in Hoboken, NJ where he has been a go-to for just about any drum groove or sound anyone can think of. In this podcast, Dylan talks about * The early influence of Shawn Pelton and Kenny Aronoff * The 13 years he spent on the road with Johnny Socko * Making the transition from touring to doing more session work * How studio carpentry and selling drums on Ebay put him in the drum and music world, and how he developed skills that he uses as a session drummer and studio owner * Listening to drums with your ears, not your eyes * The three pillars of his business: An arsenal of drums, a huge set of technological skills, and a lifetime of listening to and absorbing music * A few of the essential drum breaks in the hip hop lexicon * The importance of knowing how to achieve a wide variety of snare sounds * Trends in tone * “Gear with a vibe” * His marketing strategy – delegating to experts when it comes to graphic design, mixing, etc. Dylan Wissing endorses GMS Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Promark Sticks, Aquarian Drumheads, and TnR Products.

Jake Gammon is the touring drummer for accomplished singer/songwriter Phil Vassar. When not on the road with Phil, Jake keeps a full schedule performing many shows a week on Nashville’s legendary lower Broadway music scene. Originally from Lexington Kentucky, Jake was learning the business side of music at an early age and by fourteen, he was a drummer for hire. His high school years were spent drumming for many Lexington based bands. In October 2009, Jake made the long anticipated move to Nashville to continue his pursuit of a career in music. Jake has worked for Chase Bryant, Josh Gracin, Josh Adams, Lyndsey Highlander just to name a few. In the Summer of 2011 Jake completed an 11 city tour of Japan as the drummer for “Far from Idol”, that featured former American Idol finalists. The tour was part of an effort to support our Nations men and women serving in the military abroad. In this episode, Jake talks about:  * Working with Phil Vassar * Unique experience gained from working on lower Broadway in Nashville * Recognizing the contributions of iconic Nashville drummers  * Balancing work and life * Meeting Chad Cromwell as a 12 year old kid * Spotify playlist: The Golden Age of Nashville * Playing with confidence as an asset to those who employ you * Finding inspiration in other players Jake endorses Vater Sticks

Isabelle De Leon grew up in the Washington, DC area in a musical family. Her father instilled a love of music in all his daughters and for awhile, Isabelle and her siblings comprised the band Ivy Rose, which made an appearance on America’s Got Talent. She attended The University of Maryland where she delved into jazz for the first time, gravitating to the playing and energy of Tony Williams and his most famous protege, Cindy Blackman. Although she began her freshman year with no jazz training or knowledge whatsoever, she quickly rose through the ranks of the jazz department, and earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies. Her main gigs currently are with two synth-pop bands, Prinze George and Paperwhite, and with the DC-base funk/soul band Lionize. She also hosts a Sunday jam session at Pearl Street Warehouse in the popular District Wharf area of Washington. In this podcast, Isabelle talks about: * Her recent performance with an all-female drumline for “A Capitol Fourth“ * Ivy Rose’s appearance on America’s Got Talent, and the difficult criticisms that came from it * DC’s music scene, “a working musician’s city,” and its musical identity and history from punk to go-go * The central part music played in her family and Filipino culture * Being the only female in a college jazz department, and the only one with no jazz training * Finding her passion for jazz through passion for specific players * The male-derived climate that women in music must negotiate, regardless of whether or not they are explicitly victimized * Different musical circles’ attitudes towards women and competition

Joe Crabtree played his first professional gig at 14 and was teaching by age 15. After studying Physics at Durham University (where he spent the majority of his time playing with function bands, small jazz bands and the university big band) he returned to teaching and playing in the North of England for a few years before moving to London to embark on a career as a professional musician. He played and recorded with a number of original bands before joining the David Cross (King Crimson) band in 2004. He played shows with David Cross in Japan, Italy, and the UK before leaving to join Pendragon. After a couple of European tours with Pendragon including 2 DVD releases he joined classic rock legends Wishbone Ash in 2007 and remains their drummer to the present day. His sense of rhythm and melody led to production and and co-writing credits with Elena, the David Cross Band, and Wishbone Ash. Joe co-wrote songs on Wishbone Ash’s “Elegant Stealth” and “Blue Horizon”which he also co-produced. In his down time from touring Joe created an online music school – JoeCrabtree.com, as well as an extremely versatile and useful metronome app called the PolyNome.  He has also helped to redefine how we learn and understand complex odd time signatures with a revolutionary method called the Key Counting Method.  Discounts available for WDP listeners for Joe’s website and the Key Counting Method To receive 10% off, enter the affiliate/discount code for KeyCounting.com : http://keycounting.com/workingdrummer At http://www.JoeCrabtree.com/join, you can get 20% off an annual Gold Pass, or the lifetime Platinum Pass with the coupon code WORKINGDRUMMER In this podcast, Joe talks about:  * Learning how to write code and developing the PolyNome app * Facing and overcoming your fears  * The many useful features of the PolyNome * Drumming for Wishbone Ash * Creating content that you enjoy  * The “Key Counting Method” as a tool to understanding odd time signatures * Drumming “vocabulary” as key * Cultivating other interests outside of drumming Joe endorses: Sonor Drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals and Evans Drumheads 

Will Groth is the drummer for Electric Avenue among other Atlanta-based projects. Electric Avenue bills itself as “The 80s MTV Experience and plays theatres, clubs, and private events nationwide. Will grew up and got his start in Minneapolis, MN, and moved to Atlanta in 2005. He quickly secured himself on the scene working steadily with Mike Geier (a.k.a. Puddles The Clown) for five years, after which he has stayed busy with a variety of rock, blues, and cover projects. In this podcast, Will talks about: Keeping cover songs at their original tempos The surprises and challenges in the drumming of 80s pop How he and the band approach getting their sounds and tones right Playing in an organ trio with Ike Stubblefield and Grant Green Jr. How working his way into the Atlanta scene changed his perspective on music Why he always has and always will play traditional grip, and the curiosities of drumming ergonomics Finding ways of playing that will be physically sustainable as you age

Arjuna Contreras is a drummer/ percussionist based out of Dallas, TX with plans to relocate to Nashville, TN in the fall of 2018. He possesses the uncanny ability to sound equally at home in a wide variety of musical styles including Jazz, Country, R&B, Latin, Rock, and even “Nuclear Polka”! Arjuna is often noted for the energy, soul, and excitement he brings to music both as a performer and an educator. As a performer, Arjuna’s experience is vast. He currently records and tours with the Reverend Horton Heat. He has toured nationally with the popular Texas Country band, Eleven Hundred Springs as well as Grammy Award-winners Brave Combo, Donna Summer, and Howard Scott (original lead singer and guitarist for WAR).  As an educator, Arjuna has taught at Colleyville Heritage High School and its surrounding middle schools since 1996. His duties have included teaching the high school drum line, coaching percussion ensembles, daily teaching of 6th grade percussion classes, as well as giving private lessons to students in 6th through 12th grades. Over the years, his students have garnered top honors at drum line competitions, solo and ensemble contests, and band competitions.  Arjuna’s drumming can be heard on Eleven Hundred Springs’ recording, Eight the Hard Way. Their song, This Ain’t the First Time, is currently in rotation on many Country music stations in Texas and beyond. He also appears on the song, Belgium Polka, off of RCA/Jive Recording Artists, Bowling for Soup’s latest album, Sorry for Partyin’. Other recent recordings of Arjuna’s include Brave Combo’s album, The Exotic Rocking Life, and Fingerprints’ latest release, Dream Life. Arjuna is also currently working on innovative instructional multimedia materials for drummers. In this episode, Arjuna talks about: Drumming for The Reverend Horton Heat The styes covered and influences of psychobilly  Subconsciously preparing for future gigs and opportunities Leaving a band on good terms  Redefining the term “chops” to include touch and feel Creating a drum solo that entertains the audience Keeping a solid feel and groove while performing at fast tempos The importance of an online presents And, WDP documenting his journey for his first year in Nashville Arjuna endorses: Ludwig Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Vic Firth Sticks This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

Atlanta-based drummer and studio musician Brian Hudson has performed, toured and recorded a diverse mix of music for various artists for the past 20 years. Hudson grew up in Clearwater, Florida. After high school, he attended The University of South Florida School of Music and later transferred to the University of Georgia and the music town of Athens, Georgia, which provided him with a rich diversity of music opportunities. In 2000 Hudson moved to Atlanta, Georgia and immediately started playing and touring with various acts covering a variety of styles from jazz to blues to rock to country. In 2001, he was invited to audition for Capricorn Recording Artist Memory Dean who had gained national success with the release of 6 studio albums. Hudson landed the gig and has performed with Memory Dean as a member of the band ever since. In addition to Memory Dean, Hudson has performed with a variety of other acts including soul/funk/blues band SOULHOUND, The Dave Mathews Cover Band (The DMCB), power pop singer Steve Baskin, smooth jazz artist MADOCA, country artist Thomas Tillman, R&B/Smooth Jazz band Momentum, Johnson Ferry Worship and many others. In August 2017, Hudson released his debut jazz/fusion album, NEXT LEVEL, worldwide. The songs blend jazz, jazz/fusion, funk, and Latin with a contemporary jazz underpinning and feature some of the most talented musicians in the southeast. Since its release, NEXT LEVEL has gained attention from radio stations and listeners from all over the world. Brian currently leads his jazz/fusion band Next Level, is a member of former Capricorn Record Artist Memory Dean and performs with various other artists covering a diverse mix of music. In addition, he is an active studio musician in Atlanta and also tracks drums remotely for artists around the world. Brian is on the Advisory Board for Georgia Music Partners and is a voting member of The Recording Academy. In this podcast, Brian talks about: Wearing all the hats necessary to make a record: Drummer, composer/arranger, engineer, producer, etc. Partnering with pianist and composer Randy Hoexter The necessity of using promoters and bookers to get a project out into the world Playing with Memory Dean Setting up profiles on Airgigs and Soundbetter His church gig His political involvement with state and local government to build music business infrastructure in Georgia Brian endorses Sakae Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Regal Tip Drumsticks and Headhunters Creations. This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

Harry Miree is a drummer currently based in Nashville, TN and is the drummer for Ryan Follese of Hot Chelle Rae. Harry will touring the summer of 2018 with Warner Brothers artist Troy Cartwright and indie rock band, Sons Of Bill. Harry has built a very entertaining YouTube channel where he covers many topics like The True Life of a Side Musician, Open Handed Techniques, alternatives to playing a Cajon and many other useful videos. Currently, Harry has close to 60,000 subscribers. Harry was a founding member of the rock band Boom City, which used the internet as a platform for music and videos. Boom City signed with a major rock label, toured arenas with Panic! at the Disco, and then disbanded. Miree graduated Berklee College of Music and moved to Nashville, securing the spot as touring drummer for recording artist Whitney Wolanin. In 2015 he toured with then-Capitol Records artist Joey Hyde, and in 2016 toured with Big Machine artist Levi Hummon. In 2017, Miree toured with LoCash (known for hit songs I Love This Lifeand I Know Somebody), and Clare Bowen, singer/actress known for her role as Scarlett O’Connor on the television show Nashville. In this episode, Harry talks about: What goes into making YouTube videos that resonate  Finding your own creative outlet Building an audience on your YouTube channel Speaking your truth Making lifestyle choices to afford a life in music Early influences Coming through the other side of an attempted suicide  Trying to separate ones sense of self worth from the gig that you have  The lessons and strength gained from failures  Finding the joy and inspiration in music by listening to music! Harry endorses: Vic Firth Sticks, Meinle Cymbals, Pearl Drums This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

Drummer/percussionist Adam Bowman has been a mainstay in both the Canadian and international music scenes for nearly two decades. As a touring musician, Adam has been heard on stages across five continents with artists such as Juno-award winners Kellylee Evans and Carlos Morgan, Canadian independent music trail blazer Ember Swift, improvising guru VINX and country-folk songstress Dawn Langstroth, among many others. In the studio, Adam has become the drummer of choice for producers and songwriters on dozens of recordings. 2015 saw Juno-nominations for Eccodek’s Singing in Tongues and Alysha Brilla’s Womyn albums. In 2018 Alysha’s Rooted album received another nod. Currently, Adam can be heard playing with Elise LeGrow, Alysha Brilla, Jeff Eager and Jason Raso as well as providing accompaniment for modern and contemporary dance classes with IMAGEO artworks, Dancetheatre David Earle and Guelph Dance. In this podcast, Adam talks about: How saying yes to a seemingly insignificant offer determined the course of his professional and personal life Dance concepts that translate to other art forms, and how modern dance principles have made him rethink his drumming approach Cultivating long musical relationships with the same people and the same songs, and going deeper into each Using the feeling of making music you believe in with people you love as a reference to recreate that emotion in situations where everything is less familiar Accessing emotions in music, and letting them inform your musical decisions The Toronto scene, and why he lives just outside the city How easy it is to get “too comfortable” on a scene Adam Bowman endorses Headhunters sticks and Murat Diril cymbals. This episode is sponsored by Session Ace.

Billy Ward is a Grammy awarded drummer, music educator, recording engineer and producer. Just a few of the people Billy’s Recorded and/or toured with include B. B. King, Robbie Robertson, Carly Simon, Richard Marx, The Knack, Yoko Ono, Joan Osborne, Ace Frehley, Glen Cambell, Art Garfunkel, David Crosby & Jimmy Webb just to name a few.                                                                                 Billy has recorded on more than 50 sound tracks for feature films including a musician’s favorite – That Thing You Do! , where Billy taught actor Tom Everett Scott to play the drums and was on the set as a consultant. Two records have been released under Billy’s name. Two Hands Clapping, and The Billy Ward Trio – Out The Door. Billy has been engineering in his private studio, DrumPike, since 1990. Billy has produced numerous drum tracks for famous and not yet famous artists out of DrumPike. As an educator, his two instructional DVDs, Big Time ( a Modern Drummers Readers Poll Award winner) and Voices In My Head have won raves from critics as well as fellow drummers. Billy occasionally travels anywhere in the world to play but he LOVES the close contact with students when performing Drum Clinics and Master Classes.                                                                                                             His book, “Inside Out – The Mental Aspects of Drumming”, further demonstrates Billy’s ability to clearly explain the difficult challenges that working musicians face.  In this episode, Billy talks about:  Money, the arts, and the divide  The state of the music industry  His short time and experience in Nashville  Creating and nurturing your own voice  Billy’s book: Inside Out His lesson with Elvin Jones at 17 Being concerned with how you are at your worst  “Practice Playing” Giving back to the drumming community  His DVD’s: Big Time, Voices in My Head & Modern Drummer fest – 2000 & 2008 Learning to judge yourself harshly  Recording drums for movie sound tracks Billy endorses: Zildjian Cymbals, DW Drums, ProMark sticks, Gator cases This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

Brandon Goodwin has lived and worked in Montreal for 12 years. His group, B’s Bees, for which he serves triple duty as drummer, bandleader, and composer, recently released two albums: Dear Charlie, a tribute to the great jazz bassist Charlie Haden, and Kanata, a musical exploration of the history and identity of their home country of Canada. The group is currently touring Canada and the U.S. on the back of these releases. Brandon grew up in Armstrong, CA, and chose Montreal as the base of operations for his music career because of its vibrant, art-loving culture, and because its cost of living is actually lower than Vancouver, Toronto, and many comparable American cities. From early in his career, he had a drive to write, perform, and record original music. Drumming is just one aspect of his musical life, as he is usually spending as much if not more time developing himself as a composer and doing the administrative legwork it takes to get an original jazz group in the studio and on the road. In this podcast, Brandon talks about: What Charlie Haden means to him and the jazz world in general The drummers Haden was most associated with, especially Paul Motian, and the influence they had on Brandon The subject matter of Kanata Traveling to New Orleans to meet with Delfeayo Marsalis and workshop the compositions and recording/producing techniques for the record Montreal culture His early drumming influences, from Grohl to Bonham to Blakey His experience at Concordia University in Montreal His thoughts on accessibility vs. expression, as a drummer and composer This episode is sponsored by Session Ace.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Aaron Comess is an extremely versatile drummer with a wide range of influences and playing experiences including his ongoing work as a founding member of the Grammy-nominated funk-rock band Spin Doctors with a total of 10 million albums sold and over 1500 live shows under their belt and all four original members intact. 2018 marked their 30th year. Aaron has also spent a decade-plus in the touring band of Joan Osborne. In 2017, Aaron appeared on new releases by Joan Osborne, Rachael Yamagata, James Maddock, Willie Nile, Garland Jeffreys, Chris Bergson and German platinum-selling artist Marius Westerhagen to name a few. He has also worked with Bilal, Edie Bickell, Chris Whitley, Mark Cohen, Roswell Rudd, Ivan Nevil and a host of others. Aaron has been active as a band leader since his 2006 debut recording “Catskills Cry”. This was followed up with “Beautiful Mistake”, “Blues for Use”, “Aaron Comess Quintet”, “Live 2016” and most recently “Sculptures”. In this episode, Aaron talks about:  The current nature of touring and recording The power of positive attitudes  Curating a career that fits your vision Drumming for Joan Osborne Learning through experience how to create a sonic landscape in the studio His solo projects as well as his new record, “Sculptures”  The Spin Doctors Learning to say “no” to some gigs What to practice  Staying relaxed  Aaron endorses: Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Remo Drumheads  This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

From Santa Clara, Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene, nationally and internationally. He is the leader of several groups including the Dafnis Prieto Sextet, The Proverb Trio, Si O Si Quartet, and the Dafnis Prieto Big Band, which just released an album of Prieto’s compositions entitled Back to the Sunset. He is also the author of the book A World of Rhythmic Possibilities. Various awards include a 2011 MacArthur Fellowship, Up & Coming Musician of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association in 2006, a GRAMMY nomination for Absolute Quintet as Best Latin Jazz Album, and a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist in 2007. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted master classes, clinics, and workshops throughout the world. He was a faculty member of Jazz Studies at NYU from 2005 to 2014, and in 2015 became a faculty member at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. In this podcast, Dafnis talks about: The courses he teaches at The University of Miami Frost School of Music Letting rhyhmic content and interpretation dictate pulse, not the other way around like we usually do Fully exploring and exploiting your existing skills and knowledge to develop musical vocabulary His upbringing and early musical education in Cuba His experience working his way into the New York scene as a 25-year-old in the 1999 The gradual switch from gigs he had to play to gigs he wanted to play Figuring out your “why” Dafnis Prieto endorses Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Evans Drumheads, and Vic Firth Sticks. This episode is sponsored by Session Ace.

Christian Paschall is a drummer, producer, engineer and mixer originally from Atlanta, GA, now based in Nashville, TN. With over 14 years of professional experience Christian has shared the stage and studio with such artists as Maren Morris, Kristian Bush (of Sugarland), Kelsea Ballerini, Alicia Keys, Amos Lee and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chris Tomlin, and David Crowder among many others. Today Christian tours full time with Maren Morris as her drummer and musical director in addition to playing on sessions both locally and remotely. Be it on stage in front of thousands of people, television, or an intimate recording session, Christian strives to bring fresh creativity and feel into everything he does. In this episode, Christian talks about:  His shared studio Playing what fits the song and not just doing what’s trendy  Moving from Crowder to Maren Morris Honoring the original tracks of the artist your working for  Playing a one off with Amos Lee Following your own path Christian’s history with drums Breaking down the wall between your creativity and your hands Christian’s other skill of mixing  Taking calculated risks  Christian endorses Tama Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, and Vater Drumsticks This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

Bob Knight lives in London where he commands somewhat of a dual career, both as an in-demand drummer and a music agent or “fixer,” matching musicians with bands or artists who need backing. He graduated from the jazz program at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and has gone on to work with some of the biggest names in pop music including Sting, Cee-Lo Green, Charlotte Church, and Jennifer Hudson. His company, BEK Music, has provided musicians for a huge variety of acts from Andrea Bocelli to Eminem. In this podcast, Bob talks about: How to tailor your sound to different types of performance spaces using instrumentation and amplification. The difference between a beat and a groove What he’s practicing, now that he has the time and space His experience at the Royal Academy of Music, and its unique audition process What jazz training taught him that translates to any other genre, and the one skill it all comes down to How his early ambition was based on simply being able to support himself Why he started his own booking agency What he values in musicians as a fixer Bob Knight endorses Yamaha drums, Vic Firth sticks, Remo heads, Zildjian cymbals, Protection Racket cases, and Porter & Davies thrones. This episode is sponsored by Session Ace.

Born in South Louisiana, Tracy was influenced by a musical “jambalaya” of Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Funk and Country. His whole family played music and at an early age, Tracy was sneaking into his brothers’ rehearsals and gigs. At the age of ten, he was sitting in with local bands. Tracy was a member of the marching, symphonic and concert bands at Acadiana High School in Scott, Louisiana, and was also a District Honor Band member. In his sophomore year at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, he joined a local band, City Limits. He earned his Liberal Arts degree in Public Relations and began touring regionally. The band was a national finalist in the True Value/Jimmy Dean Country Showdown in 1994. The finals took place at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and that’s when Tracy realized Nashville was the place to be. After a European tour with Grammy-nominated band Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and a brief tour with the late Amie Comeaux, he took the next step in his career and moved to Nashville in August 1996. He was a member of the R&B Funk Dance band, The Groove Addiction, which was the house band for the Nashville Predators’ inaugural season in 1998-99. Since then, Tracy has toured with Mila Mason, Shane Minor (opening for Shania Twain), Craig Morgan, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Doug Stone. His first Tonight Show appearance was with Cyndi Thomson in October 2001, and within four months, appeared again with Grammy-nominated artist, Jamie O’Neal. Tracy toured the rest of 2002 with Jamie O’Neal. That year also included a USO tour of Europe and the Mediterranean. Another highlight was a CMT appearance with Jamie O’Neal and Michael McDonald, performing a song from the Mel Gibson movie, “We Were Soldiers”. Since 2003, Tracy has been touring with reigning CMA and ACM Male Vocalist of the year, Blake Shelton. Tracy’s television appearances with Blake include the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, “Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight” DVD and GAC Special, Dancing with The Stars, CMT’s Invitation Only Special, DirecTV’s The 101 Concert Special, CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Fox and Friends, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Grand Ole Opry Live. One of Tracy’s side-projects is Trypta-Phunk, a funk/fusion group that blends odd-time signatures with funky grooves. When not backing up Shelton, he is performing and recording with the group. Tracy manages RoadDawg Online, a website all about touring drummers. RoadDawg Online is your all-access pass with interviews, roundtable discussions, product reviews, set-ups and columns from the pros. In 2009, Tracy placed fifth in Modern Drummers’ Readers Poll in the Country category. In his episode, Tracy talks about: His website “Road Dawg Online” How his role and responsibilities as drummer for Blake Shelton evolved or changed over time  Revelations in striking the family/work balance Learning to keep a cool head on the road Making yourself indispensable  How Tracy builds tracks for Blake’s show Reading the artist  Being consistent from night to night  Not allowing one mistake to ruin your whole gig Tracy’s original projet “Trypta-Funk” Experiences performing on TV compared to a normal live shows Tracy endorses: Aquarian drumheads, Pearl drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Promark sticks, Sennheiser, 

Kevin Winard has toured and recorded with singer Steve Tyrell for 12 years. Over his career, he’s gained a wealth of experience with a wide variety of gigs including Debbie Boone, Paul Anka, and Doc Severinsen. When he was just twenty years old he began backing up one of the most successful pop duos in musical history—The Captain & Tennille, touring and recording with them for over ten years. In the summer of 1988, Kevin traveled the United States with the pop group Times Two opening for Debbie Gibson on her Out Of The Blue tour. In 1991 Kevin was requested by French rock star David Hallyday for his European tour and live album. That same year he traveled the world playing with pop icon Paul Anka. His latest endeavor is a project that features him singing jazz standards and is aptly named Kevin Winard Sings, produced by pianist, composer and arranger Peter Clark. In this podcast, Kevin talks about: Playing a “pop jazz” gig vs. hard-core bop Playing drumset with a symphony orchestra Lyman Medeiros, the bassist in the Tyrell band His thoughts on singing and singers Simplicity in big band drumming What Steve Gadd had to say after seeing Kevin perform How intent and joy on the bandstand translate to the audience How to physically and mentally relax while playing Why being in the music business is like being in a marriage Kevin Winard endorses products by DW, LP, Zildjian, Remo, and Innovative Percussion. This episode is sponsored by Session Ace.

Richard Scott approaches drumming with intentionality; always conscious of how his sound fits into the big picture and filling space in ways that help make every song the fullest realization of itself. He has spent over a decade on the Nashville scene touring and recording with Matt Maher, Francesca Battistelli, Brandon Heath, Mac Powell, and many others. Richard has recorded in many of Nashville’s most well known rooms, and has more recently been tracking in his own home studio. For countless happy clients, Richard has used his unique curation of gear and techniques to build out the character of a song, add sometimes unexpected but always interesting components to the musical design, and help bring songwriters’ visions to life.  Richard graduated in 2008 from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee with bachelor in commercial music percussion with emphasis in music technology. While at Belmont, Richard Studied with Chester Thompson. In this episode, Richard talks about:  Starting drums later in life and the lessons he’s learned Working with CCM artist Matt Maher  The evolution of his set up – gong drums to samplers From industrial design to drums Working in the CCM industry Chester Thompson teaching him to use your ear and your heart instead of your brain What to play and what not to play The importance of great communication when tracking drums online  Tracking at home and building up your set up over time  Creative ways to learn new grooves and parts with other players  Richard endorses: A&F Drums and Aquarian Drumheads This episode is sponsored by Session Ace

Peter Erskine is – well, you know who the hell Peter Erskine is. We were thrilled to have Matthew Crouse interview him for the first time on WDP in the summer of 2016, and even more thrilled when Peter graciously suggested doing a “volume 2” with co-host Zack Albetta. Peter’s latest endeavors include a new live record with The Dr. Um Band (releasing April 6th) and a new book, The Drummer’s Lifeline, a compilation of tips and tricks for the working drummer. In this episode, Peter talks about: Why the average level of his incoming students is higher than ever The importance of interacting with people in daily life, not just staying in the bubble of screens and headphones What it means to “read the air,” as they say in Japan Adjusting to differences in touch from bassist to bassist Raising your performance baseline Acceptance and forgiveness in music The recently departed and much beloved Ndugu Chancler Peter Erskine endorses Tama drums, Remo heads, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Meinl percussion, Roland V-Drums, Shure microphones, and the Zoom Q2HD recorder.

At the age of 7, Rob Mount started studying percussion at The Hochstein School of Music in his hometown of Rochester, NY. During his high school years Rob studied percussion at The Eastman School of Music, and continued his music education at Nazareth College. Through all of these years, Rob participated in various concert bands and percussion ensembles. While Rob is schooled in percussion, he is entirely self taught on the drumset. Throughout the ‘90’s and 2000’s Rob was in high demand recording and performing live with various artists like Court Jester, Ramrod, Thick as Thieves and Metal Blade recording artist Lieglord. Also during this time, Rob played 3 tracks on fellow Lou Gramm bandmate Michael Staertow’s CD, “Oxygen” – currently available on iTunes and Amazon. Prior to joining Lou Gramm’s band officially, Rob had performed many drum duties for him, including recording drum tracks for several Foreigner songs to be used for promotional purposes, as well as filling for shows and practice when needed by Lou. These days Rob has been touring North America for some time now as Lou’s permanent drummer. In this episode, Rob talks about: How he got the gig with Lou Gramm Replacing a drum machine on a recording Creating drum parts in heavy rock The fact that we never stop learning New things from which to draw inspiration Creating and maintaining a strong on-line presence Playing for the song Balancing your career and family Maintaining chops during time off Staying healthy Rob endorses: KBrakes, Drumtacs, Regal Tip sticks, JH Audio This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Brian Stephens is a drummer, audio engineer, producer, and studio owner who has spent most of his career in Atlanta. He has had most of the jobs a person can have in the music business and recently added “product developer” to the list. He’s always looking for gaps in the market and in the musical conversations being had, and thinking of ways to constructively fill them. What began as a project to design a pair of good-sounding but affordable in-ear monitors for himself turned into his new business, Session Ace. Boasting two types of hybrid driver IEM’s and a variety of other tools and accessories for working musicians, Brian launched the Session Ace brand in early 2018. In this podcast, Brian Talks about: Quality over quantity in social media interactions How being hired by someone is a continuation of previous interactions you’ve had “The currency of trust” – making your social media presence reflect your musical values, judgement, and trustworthiness Keeping your taste more elevated than your status Developing his own line of in-ear monitors and the other products under the Session Ace brand Creating intersections in your drumming community What networking really is Brian endorses Paiste cymbals, Promark drumsticks, Planet Waves cables, and Waves plug-ins. This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Terence Clark is a Memphis based drummer, producer and overall creative. Known for his impeccable and soulful performances, his professionalism and discipline of craft, Terence has traveled the world building relationships with and through music. As Terence finds inspiration in his travels and engaging other cultures, he always lends inspiration with his unique brand of performance, solid groove and musical knowledge and excellence. It’s always been more than “just about the music”, to Terence; it’s about creating the very best and discovering a community of artists with which to learn from and create with along the way. Terence began to dream about making music at the age of two. His father, Marc Clark, an organist and pianist and grandfather Loyce F. Clark, a guitarist and legendary quartet vocalist, became his early mentors along with music producers, Kevin Paige and Niko Lyras. Terence developed the gritty elements of his style while playing with local bands on Beale Street. Those experiences stirred up his love for the city’s music legacy and heartbeat of all musical forms. His professional career has spanned from touring nationally and internationally as well as recording with an eclectic array of artists of many genres. He currently tours with the legendary, Robert Cray Band. A musical education and real-life experiences have refined his talents. Terence is also a Producer and Co-Founder of The Undertone Collective, a production company that enables artists by providing a vast range of media and production services. He’s passionate about furthering the legendary music that Memphis has always heralded, while creating a support and resource system for new and experiences artists. Terence is currently mentored by David Porter, Tommy Sims, James Waddell, and Steve Jordan. His musical inspiration stems from the likes of Steve Jordan, Al Jackson Jr., Howard Grimes, Steve Gadd, Tony Williams, Dennis Chambers, William Kennedy, Dan Needham, Dave Weckl, Marvin McQuitty, and Austin Bradley. Working with Terence means working with an artist whose creativity and versatility are only matched by his personal warmth and dedication to the project. His passion is not only for the art, but for the artist. In this episode, Terence talks about: Working with and creating music with Robert Cray Playing with conviction Playing for the purpose of the artist Connecting with other players and the audience Creating “sounds” like a foley artist Having Steve Jordan as a mentor Networking sincerely Being selective about the work that you take How he discovers music The evolution of the drum set Loving and being thankful for the “right now” Terence endorses: Istanbul Agop CymbalsVic FirthMono CreatorsRoberts Drum CoShy Baffles This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Johnny Rabb became a household name in the drumming community as a product developer and clinician. For years, he worked the clinic and convention circuit to great success, but he missed actually being in a band and playing shows. In 2012, a chance meeting at NAMM with Collective Soul‘s Will Turpin led to Johnny becoming the band’s new drummer, and he still tours and records with them today. In this podcast, Johnny talks about: Being a hired gun vs. being “the new guy” in a band vs. being a full-fledged member How commitment to a group and prioritization of it result in job security Diversifying income streams, musical and otherwise Why he lives in Indianapolis How excitement can sometimes blind you to potential red flags Maintaining perspective and gratitude Johnny Rabb endorses ProLogix, Remo heads, Meinl Cymbals and Percussion, Cympad, Audix Microphones, and of course, Johnny Rabb drumsticks. This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

South Louisiana native Doug Belote grew up in Cajun country, immersed in the sounds of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, Cajun, zydeco, Dixieland, gospel, Latin and New Orleans second line rhythms. He began playing the drums at age 12 and worked in clubs and at recording sessions while still in high school. After just a semester at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he sold everything he owned including his drums and hit the road for The Drummers Collective in New York City, where he studied with Ricky Sebastian and Kim Plainfield and broadened his musical palette. In his early 20s, Belote began touring Europe, Japan and the Caribbean with a variety of New Orleans-based jazz, blues and funk artists. He has recorded on more than 100 albums and his resume includes work with Mike Gordon, Jeff Coffin, George Porter Jr., Willie Nelson, Sonny Landreth, Henry Butler, Delfeayo Marsalis, Anders Osborne, Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Allen Toussaint, Fred Wesley, Steve Masakowski, Charlie Hunter, John Oats Shane Theriot, Derek Trucks, Susen Tedeschi as well as a 2010 performance with Eric Clapton at the Crossroads festival. Doug currently lives in New Orleans and tours with 12-time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas. In this episode, Doug talks about: Recording in New Orleans for T.V. shows and commercials Working with Jerry Douglas and the funny story of his “audition” for Jerry His understanding of recording in Nashville His documentary: Street Beat – Drumming Below Sea Level Studying with Kim Plainfield at Drummers Collective Playing with Sonny Landreth and Eric Clapton on the 2010 Crossroads concert Living in flood prone New Orleans Doug endorses: Yamaha drums,Zildjian cymbals, Shure in-ear monitors and Pro-Mark drumsticks We’d like to recognize and thank listener James Osborne and his support of this podcast through Patreon. See and hear more about James at: jamesosborne.com.au This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

Lemuel Hayes is the drummer for B52s founding member Cindy Wilson’s solo project. Originally from Gainesville, GA, he didn’t set his sights on a music career until age 22, after a few years as a mechanical engineering major at Georgia Tech. After playing and teaching around Gainesville, Atlanta, and Athens for a couple years, he decided to move to Nashville. But he then began to think LA would be a better fit and made plans to relocate. Weeks before he was supposed to move, a broken arm not only kept him in Nashville but put him on the sidelines of music for months. While working at Guitar Center and rehabbing his arm, Cindy Wilson’s project got going and he also caught on with some artists under Jack White’s Third Man Records. In this podcast, Lemuel talks about: Hosting a jazz radio show in college What made him quit engineering school to focus on music Flying out to LA to spend a day with Josh Freese What first brought him to Nashville, and the freak accident that kept him there The physical and psychological challenges of rehabbing his arm Working at Guitar Center to stay afloat The random gig in Athens, GA that connected him with Cindy Wilson Teching for Sterling Campbell How Cindy’s band is a band, not a solo artist with hired guns This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

In this episode, Nick Ruffini, host and creator of The Drummers Resource sit down with Zack Albetta and Matt Crouse, the hosts of Working Drummer to catch up from last year’s episode. The idea behind this round table came from the fact that all three of us were going through major life changes that effected our music careers in one way or another. We decided to check back in close to a year later and discuss some of the many things that have transpired over that time. In this episode Nick, Zack, and Matt talk about: * Catching up from last year’s roundtable * Opportunities in the music business outside of performing * The “Gig Triangle” – the money, the music, the hang * Allowing other things outside music to be a part of your identity * How and what we practice * Handling failures * Time management and finding ways to be productive throughout each day * Ageism in the music business * Upcoming guests for Drummers Resource and WDP * This weeks episode is sponsored by Crush Drums 

Rodd Bland was born and raised in Memphis, the son of Bobby “Blue” Bland and the godson of B.B. King. He began playing drums at age 3, and learning at the feet of legendary drummers like Tony Coleman, and Jabo Starks. The time soon came for Rodd to move into the drum chair for his dad’s band, and he remained for much of his career, until Bobby Bland’s death in 2013. Since then, Rodd has remained active with Memphis-based artists such as Rev. Shawn Amos, Brimstone Jones, and Otis Clay. In this podcast, Rodd talks about: Starting on percussion in his dad’s band as a high school student The variety of sub-genres that culminated in his dad’s music and in the Memphis sound Howard Grimes, Tony Coleman, and other Memphis drummers that have influenced him His (and my) favorite Bobby Bland song Jabo’s advice about cultivating your own sound How to take different types of cues from singers and figure out what they need without asking The history of Beale St. Having to reintroduce himself to the Memphis scene as more than Bobby Bland’s son/drummer His love of 90’s rock and grunge, and his relationships with Chad Smith and Matt Cameron This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

Elton Charles is a Guyanese drummer/engineer based in Nashville. Originally from New Jersey, he started playing drums at the early age of five. Elton worked on learning the instrument over the years and, combined with a natural tenacity for playing, was accepted to study at Berklee college of music. After moving to Nashville in 2012, Elton’s experience has been a blur of touring, recording, and building his musical relationships within the music community. When not supporting up and coming artists and writers in music city, Elton is building upon studio clientele offering his talents as a drummer and producer. Elton is currently on the road with multi-award winning country duo Thompson Square. In this episode, Elton talks about: The challenges of running a home studio Studying at Berklee and creating a learning experience for himself Great drum sounds coming from the player Working with a click when performing live Translating programed drum parts to acoustic when performing live Snare tuning and playing style A better understanding of drum sounds from recording experiences Attracting new business in creative ways Elton endorses: Anchor Drums, Evans Drumheads, Promark Sticks, Puresound, Drumtacs, Paiste Cymbals, Porter and Davies, Sensaphonics in-ear monitors and Smokin Ace Cymbal Shields This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

For almost 20 years, Seth Hendershot has lived in the college town of Athens, GA. He has played in a variety of original and cover bands and for eight years has owned and operated Hendershot’s. What started as a simple coffee house has since become a beloved bar, restaurant, and live music venue. For a city its size, Athens boasts a vibrant and influential music scene, with a place in the origin stories of many bands including R.E.M., The B-52’s, and Drive-By Truckers. Seth’s current playing activity is centered around two touring acts, multi-instrumentalist and singer Randall Bramblett and violinist Kishi Bashi. In addition to playing and running one of the city’s best and busiest venues, Seth is involved with The Athens Music Project in partnership with The University of Georgia to document and highlight the past, present and future of the city’s music, and is on the faculty for Camp Amped, a yearly rock camp for kids. In this podcast, Seth talks about: What brought him to Athens in the late 90’s The pros and cons of Athens’ “bubble” nature How he’s working to strengthen the ties between the Athens scene and the University of Georgia Balancing his playing career with life as a business owner Why he opened Hendershot’s, and what it has become since then His current gigs with Randall Bramblett and Kishi Bashi His involvement in Camp Amped and Nuci’s Space This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.

Matt Johnson has played on some of the most critically acclaimed records in almost everyone’s collections. He’s also performed on some of the more memorable tours from the early 90s on. From recording the seminal cult-creating album Grace with Jeff Buckley in 1993 at age 22, he’s worked with a wide spectrum of artists over the past two decades including Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Elysian Fields, Australia’s Angus and Julia Stone, Beth Orton, Keren Ann, Duncan Sheik, and the beloved St. Vincent, the avant-garde guitarist, songwriter and performer who continues to astonish listeners and concertgoers everywhere with her ever-evolving musical statements. In this episode, Matt talks about: Learning how to adapt for a live performance based on a programed or highly produced rhythm track Creating grooves that have more complexity with less density Teaching yourself to feel the space between quarter notes in unique ways Getting your brain to think differently by using a “role reversal” method with your limbs Distilling down your groove to to it’s most basic place in order to build it into a solid performance Failure seen as an experience on the way to some type of success that you could never have planned on The value of “grit” and the power of will and dedication Learning to utilize a double kick pedal Incorporating electronics to an acoustic set up Working with Rufus Wainwright Matt endorses: Tama Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vater Sticks This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums

With the exception of a few high school years, Justin Boyd has spent his entire life in Chicago. From the beginning of his career, he thought it important to be open to all of Chicago’s musical scenes instead of choosing one and staying in it. As a result, his experience there has been incredibly diverse. He disregarded the invisible barrier between North Side and South Side, and has managed to float smoothly between the many different genres and circles the city has to offer. He also put himself through two different educations – one in the professional world and one in academia, capped off recently by earning his master’s degree in composition from DePaul University. In this podcast, Justin talks about: Spending his high school years in South Carolina, and the influence it had on him as a musician Returning to school to get his master’s degree Racial dynamics in Chicago Other Chicago drummers who have influenced him How going back to school for his master’s filled some gaps in his “real world” education The city’s jazz and blues scenes, and why he prefers not to go all in on either His role as an educator in the Chicago Public Schools “All City” music program His current projects, both as a leader and sideman Justin Boyd endorses Humes & Berg Cases and Evans Drumheads. This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums.