Well, as they say, "Time flies when you're having fun..." I was contemplating what to write and share today and then realized that I've reached a bit of a milestone here: April 2024 represents the 15th anniversary of my blog Four on the Floor.   (no...not that Milestone(s) but you should still listen to that album anyways!) It's hard to believe that I started this project way back in the Spring of 2009. I was still living in Toronto at the time, preparing to write my candidacy exam for my doctoral studies at the University of Toronto and also packing ..read more

I am super excited to present a masterclass on drum set creativity for the upcoming This is Rhythm drum and rhythm symposium at Grant MacEwan University (Edmonton, AB) on Sunday, April 28th at 230pm, joining some great drummers including Efa Etorama Jr., Robert Kpongo, Dave Laing, Daniel Akira Stadnicki, Mark Segger and more!   ..read more

A wonderful interview with the great Lenny White and a couple short clips of the Master in action, demonstrating some very serious and very hip independence solo ideas ..read more

A follow-up to my blog post from last month featuring Ed Soph's wisdom Fifty Years of Random Thoughts About Practicing, Playing and Improvising on the Drum Set here's a panel discussion featuring Ed Soph and Adam Nussbaum, hosted by Michael Vosbein of Drummer Nation. As always, when the Masters speak...we listen ..read more

Please consider contributing to my friend Ted Warren's Go Fund Me campaign to help fund the release of his latest solo drumming recording project: Drum Stories  https://gofund.me/4a0373b6    Ted is a fellow Canadian jazz drumming blogger, a helluva musician and a good friend. He is also one of the most creative and hard working drummers that I know. His musical curiosity, rhythmic imagination and hard work ethic (this guy really knows how to practice!) have always impressed and inspired me, even going back to when I was just getting into jazz drums back in the early 90s ..read more

I usually make a point of sharing Quincy Davis' videos from his ongoing Q Tips series on YouTube but I ran out of space/time during my last blog post (!) Anyways, I always share Q's videos because his content is spot on and his explanations are concise, clear and well very done (and of course he plays his a*s off too!) I always learn something when I check out Quincy's newest videos. So bookmark his YouTube channel, check out his videos and get to work. Make sure to visit Quincy's website too www.quincydavisjazz.com and check out his excellent jazz drumming vocabulary e-books and excell ..read more

And...we're back. Thanks for checking in and here is the March 2024 edition of the Monday Morning Paradiddle for your perusal, my more-or-less monthly jazz drumming variety column, just in time (depending on where you are anyways) for the upcoming Spring school break. The Monday Morning Paradiddle - March 2024 1. The Drummer's Pathway podcast with Michael Scott interviews Ted Warren on the topics of creative explorations in jazz and overcoming self doubt 2. A wonderful three-part series on Max Roach from Vinnie Sperrazza in his Substack series Chronicles: Max Roach at 100: P ..read more

Carmen Intorre Jr. recently released his new book A Practical Approach to Rudimental Drumming. I recently purchased a copy soon after its release and have been working through it lately. Carmen has compiled a wonderful collection of exercises to practice that will undoubtedly improve your technique and musical approach to the snare drum if you take the time. I believe that learning the fundamentals of rudimental drumming is an essential part of any drummer and percussionists training and that this book compliments and adds to the important body of rudimental publication ..read more

A fantastic piece of percussive and rhythmic storytelling from Antonio Sanchez today, playing his Yamaha drums ..read more

A quick post today featuring Kendrick Scott playing his Yamaha drums with some very inspired, creative and musical solo drumming: (thanks to Craig VanDerSchaegen aka The Practicing Drummer for sharing this one via Instagram last week ..read more