Tapping on your desk will never be the same!!!!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduByOIRCd8

Remember to floss after you play.

Hello world,
Since I haven't posted in a while, I'll reintroduce the philosophy behind Drums With Friends.  I post anything I find interesting about music, specifically drumming, whether it is videos, tutorials, new releases, news about a band or my own experiences with drums.  I encourage people to give feed back, suggestions, and/or criticism (especially criticism).

Recently (2 hours ago), I gave my first drum  lesson and I was teaching a kid around six years old.  I started teaching him how to count in 4/4 time and tap his foot to the beat; the most important part of drumming is knowing how to keep a solid tempo.  So far, it's been as much of a learning experience for me as it has been for the kid I'm teaching, because I have to be able explain, in detail, every step and have a full understanding of the lesson.  It's been a bit nerve racking, because I'm responsible for setting a solid foundation for his drumming technique.

Enough about me, I'll leave you with a collaboration video made by Meytal Cohen (independent drummer) and Jordan Rudess (keyboardist for Dream Theater).  They did an awesome version of "Moves Like Jagger."

Upcoming Releases

2012 is showing promise in the music world.  March is going to be a busy month with the new release of albums from lesser known, up-and-coming bands, to the heavy weights.  

I'll start with the some bands that haven't quite reached widespread audiences.  

Children of Nova, a band from San Diego, announced the release date of their LP, Impossible Landscape, to be on March 13, 2012.  

Closure in Moscow, a progressive rock band from Australia, released a new single titled "The Impeccable Beast."  Not sure on any dates for the full length yet, but I learned that they have a new drummer, Salvatore Aidone.  Their first album, First temple, contained some fantastic drumming, so I'm interested to see what the new guy brings to the table.  

Moving on to a band that everyone is familiar with, The Mars Volta will release their new album, Noctourniquet, on March 27th, 2012!!  Once again, they have a new drummer, Deantoni Parks, who played with the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group.  The Mars Volta have a nice track record when it comes to drummers (Jon Theodore and Thomas Pridgen), so I'm sure Parks will be another fine addition.  

It's shaping up to be a historical year for music.  Mark those dates on your calender and be ready to sprint to the record store...or click "purchase" on iTunes.  

Drum news

In anticipation of Periphery's album release in March, I've revisited their first album.  While listening, I went to their Facebook page and read that their drummer, Matt Halpern, was announced to be in the Meinl Drum Festival in Germany!  I hope they video tape some of the festival, because I would love to learn some of the techniques Halpern uses and how he gets such a resonating crack sound out of his snare drum.  I also noticed that Hannes Grossmann, of the progressive metal band Obscura, is doing one of the master class instructive demonstrations on progressive metal drumming techniques. If only this Festival was in Philadelphia!

This purpose of this blog is stated in the name.  It's here for percussionists, or just musicians in general, to share any news, stories, and advice that relates to drumming.  I started this blog, because I'm always looking for new ways to improve my playing and I have found that the best way to learn is by talking to other musicians. I will share my experience drumming, but I hope to learn more from other musicians in the process.