Tag: drums

  • Need skin? Heads up to a good deal on the best skins!

    Need skin? Heads up to a good deal on the best skins!


    Ryan ‘Manito’ Wendel has been in deep research mode and now has in stock some amazing skins including cow, steer mule and even camel for your congas and bongos in a variety of thickness and sizes that are just as nice. For a limited time he is offering them at a discount for all my readers… Read More »

  • Breaking Physical Habits

    Breaking Physical Habits


    Most of us are unaware of our physical habits from our daily life that carry over when play drums.We all have ways we physically respond to everything that happens in our daily life. It’s unconscious for the most part and habitual as well. When we sit down (or stand ) to play drums we are… Read More »

  • Wearing A Djembe Drum,  Important Tips On Posture and Playing To Help You Play Easier With Out Pain

    Wearing A Djembe Drum, Important Tips On Posture and Playing To Help You Play Easier With Out Pain


    Playing the djembe drum standing up is very different then playing seated. You now have more volume but you also have a weight on your shoulders and therefore, lower back as well. Playing standing up takes time and patience to get used to and to learn and special training can help for this as well.… Read More »

  • Keep aware of your surroundings when you are playing drums

    Keep aware of your surroundings when you are playing drums


    Keeping aware of your environment. A short survival guide for drummers. When you are playing in public …which I have since the early 70’s.. you learn to keep your eyes open and be aware of who and what is around you at all times. It is not paranoia it is awareness. Knowledge will keep you… Read More »

  • Balance your studies between and east and west if you really want to learn and grow

    Balance your studies between and east and west if you really want to learn and grow


    There are several different ways to learn to play or express yourself on drums originating from the african diaspora be it afro cuban, west african or other areas. Here is a short overview. It does not matter which style of drumming you choose to play in be it traditional drumming or freestyle, if you balance… Read More »

  • Who Can Play The Drum? Everyone Is Welcome.

    Who Can Play The Drum? Everyone Is Welcome.


    Who exactly can play drums? Is everyone welcome? I say if you come to the drum with respect, yes! Music is music. The drum is a musical instrument. Drumming is music and music see’s no colors, race or age. It is as simple as that. People may see that, (race, color, sex,age) and people may… Read More »

  • Finding A Teacher

    Finding A Teacher


    I have been playing since the early 70’s and a lot of that time has been spent studying. A lot of that time was also mucking around. It took me a while to begin to get it together and realize that I did not know anything and I needed to study. I am so glad… Read More »

  • The Will To Learn or “Poop or Get Off the Can”

    The Will To Learn or “Poop or Get Off the Can”


    Get serious about your drumming! From around the world I get letters and also in my travels I see many people who are not improving in their drumming skills. They are staying at the same level of drumming they were a year or two ago and still can only play one or two rhythms. Why… Read More »

  • Overwhelmed trying to learn percussion? Simplify things!

    Overwhelmed trying to learn percussion? Simplify things!


    If you are like myself and get overwhelmed easily at a class or with a lot of information from various sources then you do need to simplify things. There is so much information out there between Youtube, the internet, informational books and CD’s that it is easily to overload your system and not learn anything!… Read More »

  • Sol Percussion by Akbar Is Back And Better Than Ever!

    Sol Percussion by Akbar Is Back And Better Than Ever!


    Sol Percussion by legendary drum artisan Akbar is finally back. He is now up and running with new and improved products including hand made bongos and cajons from a variety of local and exotic hardwoods. Congas will be following shortly. Akbar Moghaddam not only manufactured Sol in the past he also owned Valje and redesigned the… Read More »

  • Open Mic Nights: The Good And The Bad

    Open Mic Nights: The Good And The Bad


    Open Mic Nights: The Good And The Bad or “Don’t Play for Free”! Open mic nights at clubs are a perfect way for beginning musicians of all kinds to get a chance to break their cherries so to speak, to see what it’s like to play in front of people and to play with others… Read More »

  • Developing Your Deepest Creative Drumming

    Developing Your Deepest Creative Drumming


    To be “deeply creative” go into the learning mode In the hand drum world there is a lot of talk and pride about expressing your own inner rhythm. Being creative. Doing your own thing. Soloing. Freestyle. And I am all for it. I acknowledge my inner rhythm and your inner rhythm. it is a beautiful… Read More »

Michael Pluznick