Drum Tips, Part I: Developing a Groove/Power Solos: Drum DVD

You're in a masterclass where the teachers don't slow down or oversimplify. The energy is immediate: real players discussing real techniques with the confidence of people who've performed these ideas in front of thousands. There's permission here to develop your own sound rather than conform to a single method.

Drummers serious about expanding their vocabulary in both solos and grooves will find eight distinct role models here, each successful at the highest levels of their respective styles. This works best for intermediate to advanced players who can learn through observation and adaptation rather than step-by-step instruction. It's equally valuable in private lessons and ensemble settings where a drummer needs to understand how to sit in different musical contexts.

• Study one drummer's approach to soloing for a full week before moving to the next. This prevents surface-level imitation and lets the style settle into muscle memory.
• Isolate the grooves shown and play them alongside your own music, not just the demonstrations. Your band will reveal whether you're truly locking in or just watching passively.
• Pause and transcribe specific fills or pocket ideas before moving forward. Writing them down forces you to hear precisely what your hands are doing.
• Play the same groove at different tempos and feels to understand the underlying principle rather than memorizing a single version.

Assign specific drummers to students based on their musical direction: Omar Hakim and Kenny Aronoff for pop and R&B foundation, Steve Smith and Dennis Chambers for fusion chops, Simon Phillips for rock power. The making-of Burning for Buddy content also works as supplementary material when teaching about drumming history and collaboration at the pro level.

• Solo construction and phrasing across multiple contexts
• Pocket development and groove lock
• Dynamics and texture control in solos
• Style-specific approaches to time feel and swing
• Listening skills through comparison of different master techniques
• Mental approach to soloing under pressure