My insight into cymbal care has always come from trial and error or hearsay. While I feel like I have found my groove in the maintenance department, there begs the question, what might a cymbal manufacturer say about our home remedies and trade secrets when it comes to cymbal cleaning and care?  While we may…

Although Warren “Baby” Dodds is often credited with being the first trap kit drummer, a version of the kick pedal made its first appearance in the 1800s, sixty years before Dodds stepped behind any drumkit. Nineteenth century woodwind maker Cornelius Ward patented a foot pedal for use on a Lithophone around 1850. The pedal was…

“It is all about being open and paying attention to the music in your head. I think most people have original music playing in their heads from time to time.” ~Tommy Shaw (Styx) We are all too familiar with the phrase “I can’t.” So sweet to the tongue, it lingers just beneath the surface of our…

For those of us who know the rigors of touring, many will attest to the importance of traveling light. After all, who really wants to have a one-bedroom apartment to pack away when lobby call is 7am? After all is said and done, after the hours of practice and the years of paying your dues,…

THE APPROACH Don’t call up a company thinking you’re going to get an endorsement before you’ve had any real exposure or experience. You have to be with a band, proven with high visibility, done a lot of playing, and so you have real credentials. Then you shouldn’t try to endorse a product unless you really…