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Hot Percussion How-Tos

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How To: Play a half stroke on the drums

Dom Famularo's infectious smile and drumming talents make him one of the most sought-after drummers and clincians in the world. In this installment from his video series dedicated to a wide variety of topics–from drum strokes to styles–, Dom demonstrates the half stroke.

How To: Play with a Moeller stroke on the drums

Don Famularo's infectious smile and drumming talents make him one of the most sought-after drummers and clinicians in the world. In this installment from his video series dedicated to a wide variety of topics–from drum strokes to styles–, Dom demonstrates the full Moeller stroke.

How To: Use Brazilian-style drum fills

World Fusion Drumming combines the energy and feel of rock, Latin, and world music with the technique and improvisational skills of jazz. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the rudiments of world fusion drumming, Berklee College of Music professor Skip Hadden will walk you through several Brazilian-style drum fills that will help you in approximating the sound of Brazilian percussion session.

How To: Push a samba rhythm by altering the hi-hat pattern

World fusion drumming combines the energy and feel of rock, Latin, and world music with the technique and improvisational skills of jazz. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the rudiments of world fusion drumming, Berklee College of Music professor Skip Hadden demonstrates how to modify the feel of a samba groove by changing up the hi-hat pattern.

How To: Play the baião bass drum rhythm

World fusion drumming combines the energy and feel of rock, Latin, and world music with the technique and improvisational skills of jazz. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the rudiments of world fusion drumming, Berklee College of Music professor Skip Hadden will demonstrate how to play the the Baião bass drum rhythm, which comes from Northern Brazil. Take a look!

How To: Play the Songo bass drum rhythm

World Fusion Drumming combines the energy and feel of rock, Latin, and world music with the technique and improvisational skills of jazz. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the rudiments of world fusion drumming, Berklee College of Music professor Skip Hadden will show you demonstrate how to play the Songo bass drum rhythm.

How To: Play with great time on the drums

The quality of the time you have when playing the drums is proportional to the quality of the time you keep. Ndugu Chancler is known not only as a world-class drummer and percussionist, but also a producer, composer, clinician and teacher. In this installment from his video lesson series covering many of the most frequently asked questions from his clinic tours across the world, Ndugu will teach how you to best develop your sense of time on the drums.

How To: Play the Ndugu cross stick beat on the drums

Ndugu Chancler is known not only as a world-class drummer and percussionist, but also a producer, composer, clinician and teacher. In this installment from his video lesson series covering many of the most frequently asked questions from his clinic tours across the world, Ndugu will demonstrate how to play the Ndugu cross stick, a rimshot played on drum with a unique, versatile sound.

How To: Play advanced ride cymbal patterns

Ndugu Chancler is known not only as a world-class drummer and percussionist, but also a producer, composer, clinician and teacher. In this installment from his video lesson series covering many of the most frequently asked questions from his clinic tours across the world, Ndugu will demonstrate advanced ride cymbal patterns.

How To: Use advanced ride cymbal techniques

Ndugu Chancler is known not only as a world-class drummer and percussionist, but also a producer, composer, clinician and teacher. In this installment from his video lesson series covering many of the most frequently asked questions from his clinic tours across the world, Ndugu will demonstrate ride cymbal techniques.

How To: Use a 4-mallet Burton or Musser grip on the vibes

Gary Burton is one of the most commercially successful mallet players in history. In this installment from his Vibraphone Masterclass video tutorial series, which covers the full gamut of common questions on the instrument from its history to his famous 4-mallet grip, Gary demonstrates said famous grip, which allows for great versatility while playing.

How To: Use damper and sustain pedals on the vibraphone

Gary Burton is one of the most commercially successful mallet players in history. In this installment from his Vibraphone Masterclass video tutorial series, which covers the full gamut of common questions on the instrument from its history to his famous 4-mallet grip, Gary demonstrates how to use the damper and sustain pedals to make your playing more dynamic and expressive.

How To: Use mallet dampening on the vibraphone

Gary Burton is one of the most commercially successful mallet players in history. In this installment from his Vibraphone Masterclass video tutorial series, which covers the full gamut of common questions on the instrument from its history to his famous 4-mallet grip, Gary demonstrates how to use mallet dampening. Take a look!

How To: Vary pitch and sound on a concert bass drum

Tom Gauger has played percussion with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras for over 35 years and has also served on the faculty at Boston University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In this installment from his series of video lessons dedicated to breaking down the basic skills necessary for playing the concert bass drum, Tom will demonstrate where to strike the drum to get a desired pitch or sound.

How To: Strike a concert bass drum properly

Tom Gauger has played percussion with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras for over 35 years and has also served on the faculty at Boston University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In this installment from his series of video lessons dedicated to breaking down the basic skills necessary for playing the concert bass drum, Tom will demonstrate the basic drum stroke.

How To: Dampen, or muffle, a concert bass drum

Tom Gauger has played percussion with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras for over 35 years and has also served on the faculty at Boston University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In this installment from his series of video lessons dedicated to breaking down the basic skills necessary for playing the concert bass drum, Tom will teach you three basic dampening techniques.

How To: Play rolls on a concert bass drum

Tom Gauger has played percussion with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras for over 35 years and has also served on the faculty at Boston University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In this installment from his series of video lessons dedicated to breaking down the basic skills necessary for playing the concert bass drum, Tom will teach you how to play a roll on your bass drum. Play "Thus Spake Zarathustra" with this how-to!

How To: Tune a concert bass drum

Tom Gauger has played percussion with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras for over 35 years and has also served on the faculty at Boston University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In this installment from his series of video lessons dedicated to breaking down the basic skills necessary for playing the concert bass drum, Tom will teach you how to tune your bass drum.

How To: Hold an inside mallet in 4-mallet percussion

Over the past 5-10 years, there has been an enormous growth in 4-mallet percussion. With the rapid increase in popularity, there comes the possibility of students moving too quickly through the learning process, or not having adequate instruction. In this installment from his video tutorial series on four-mallet percussion, Gifford Howarth covers the basics of gripping the inside mallet and gives you some common problems to watch out for.

How To: Practice the double stop mallet technique

Over the past 5-10 years, there has been an enormous growth in 4-mallet percussion. With the rapid increase in popularity, there comes the possibility of students moving too quickly through the learning process, or not having adequate instruction. In this installment from his video tutorial series on four-mallet percussion, Gifford Howarth illustrates exercises to isolate the interval changing motion of inside and outside mallets on a mallet instrument such as a vibraphone.

How To: Handle large intervals on a mallet instrument

Over the past 5-10 years, there has been an enormous growth in 4-mallet percussion. With the rapid increase in popularity, there comes the possibility of students moving too quickly through the learning process, or not having adequate instruction. In this installment from his video tutorial series on four-mallet percussion, Gifford Howarth explains how to handle larger intervals on a mallet instrument like a vibraphone or marimba without getting into bad habits.

How To: Perform the "threes" 4-mallet rotation exercise

Over the past 5-10 years, there has been an enormous growth in 4-mallet percussion. With the rapid increase in popularity, there comes the possibility of students moving too quickly through the learning process, or not having adequate instruction. In this installment from his video tutorial series on four-mallet percussion, Gifford Howarth teaches you a handy mallet rotation exercise.

How To: Warm up for 4-mallet percussion

Over the past 5-10 years, there has been an enormous growth in 4-mallet percussion. With the rapid increase in popularity, there comes the possibility of students moving too quickly through the learning process, or not having adequate instruction. In this installment from his video tutorial series on four-mallet percussion, Gifford Howarth provides suggestions for an effective warm-up routine.

How To: Select a vibraphone mallet

New to the vibes? As a professor at the Berklee College of Music, Victor Mendoza has earned an international reputation as a jazz educator, regularly conducting master classes at major music schools and universities around the world. In this video tutorial, Mendoza will explain how to go about choosing a vibraphone mallet.

How To: Establish proper vibraphone playing position

New to the vibes? As a professor at the Berklee College of Music, Victor Mendoza has earned an international reputation as a jazz educator, regularly conducting master classes at major music schools and universities around the world. In this video tutorial, Victor explains how to establish proper playing position and demonstrates the basic 2-mallet stroke.

How To: Master the basics of the timbales

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this two-part installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will demonstrate the parts of the timbale drums, grip types and playing positions. Take a look!

How To: Play basic clave patterns

The clave is the heartbeat of salsa music. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will teach you basic clave tricks and techniques.

How To: Play a cáscara pattern on the timbales

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will show you how to play a traditional cáscara pattern on your drum set.

How To: Play the clave

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will walk you through some basic tricks and techniques for playing the clave.

How To: Use cáscara with the clave on the timbales

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will demonstrate how to fit the cáscara with the clave

How To: Listen for clave patterns in salsa music

Having trouble with the claves? Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie suggests techniques for the important, if oft-overlooked, skill of listening and learning from recorded music.

How To: Practice the timbales quietly

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros y timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will walk you through some basic techniques for practicing the timbales.

How To: Play the left-hand part on cáscara of your timbales

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will demonstrate how to play the cáscara with your non-dominant hand.

How To: Play the mambo bell pattern on the timbales (tymbales)

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros y timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this two-part installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will show you not only how but when to play the mambo bell pattern. Take a look!

How To: Play a cha-cha (cha) bell pattern on the timbales

Take heart, timbaleros y timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. He has played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will walk you through how to play a cha-cha pattern on your drums.

How To: Play fills on the timbales (tymbales)

Are you an aspiring timbalero or timbalera? Eguie Castrillo is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists and has played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie demonstrates a number of common but very useful drum fills. Take a look!

How To: Solo on the timbales (tymbales)

Take heart, aspiring timbaleros and timbaleras. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will walk you through some basic techniques for soloing on the timbales.