Kenny Aronoff Drum Clinic

Hello Fellow Drummers,

I must say last night,Thanks to Jeff, The Proud Owner of Resurrection Drums was amazing. Jeff got one of today's most influential Rock/Pop Drummers, Kenny Aronoff to put on a Drum Clinic for South Florida.

Jeff drummed for 25 years. He taught at Resurrection Drums and loves drumming so much that he bought the place!! He Started the "Big Beat Event," which is a Charity Event to help keep Art and Music programs in the schools.. The next Event is November 7th, 2010. Go volunteer and help support the Arts...

http://www.rezdrums.com/.

Kenny Aronoff was amazing. He grew up in Massachusetts. Kenny is self taught. He had one year of drum lessons. Later on he attended and graduated from Indiana University with a Classical music degree and specialized in Timpani and Marimba. He later went on to play and study with the Boston Symphony. Later, Aronoff decided to specialize in drum kit playing and moved to New York to take lessons with Gary Chester, and then back to Boston to study Rudiments with great Jazz drummer Alan Dawson. In the words of Kenny, "He was known for making Rudiments Musical."

Kenny later moved back to Indiana and played in some local Jazz/ Fusion bands. In 1980 he joined John Cougar Mellencamp. For the several years he recorded multiple albums and Toured with Mellencamp. By the mid 80's Kenny has become a successful Studio Musician. He worked and toured with several Artists such as: John Fogaty, Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Alanis Morissete, Melissa Ethridge, Elton John, Conway Twitty, and Bombastic Meatbats, and Buddy Rich Big Band (In tribute to the late legendary Buddy Rich) just to name a few!!

A funny story that he told last night, Kenny was in the studio doing a session with Alice Cooper, and the next room over was Paul Mc Cartney. Kenny was on his phone talking to a producer and Paul McCartney knocked on the door and Kenny said to "come in".. Paul kept knocking until he finally walked in and Kenny's mouth just froze, he told his producer on the phone that Paul Mc Cartney just walked in. The Producer said the other one is better. Kenny said,"Yes I know, but He's dead."

Kenny, last night also did Demos of his different styles of playing, playing along with his original studio work from John Fogaty, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, John Mellencamp, and from the Tribute to Buddy Rich he played "Straight No Chaser" and ended with his own drum solo... It was breath taking..

Here is the original version featuring Buddy Rich.
YouTube - Buddy Rich Straight No Chaser

I personally want to Thank Kenny for taking time out of his very busy schedule to come and do this clinic for South Florida. Kenny had just flew in taking the Red eye from LA working with John Fogarty the night before. And thank you Jeff from Resurrection Drums for hosting and putting this clinic together.

Kenny plays on TAMA Drums, beautiful Bubinga African wood shell drums with die cast hoops. He Uses Remo 2-ply drum heads and Clear power stoke 3 on the bass drum. Kenny uses Zildjian Cymbals; 15" newbeat Hi-hats, 19" hybrid, 2-18"crash,and 21" Rock Ride. Aronoff also has his own TAMA signature snare drum based on the classic Ludwig "Black Beauty," and has his own Signature Drum sticks from Vic Firth.

THANKS Kenny- YOU ROCK!!

Nylon tips V.S. Wood Tips

Nylon Tips or Wood Tips? That is the Question.

Are you a Jazz Drummer, a Rocker , Do you play on acoustic or electronic drums?



Most Jazz Drummers prefer Nylon tips because they can educe more sound from the cymbals.



However most Rock Drummers prefer Wood tips because when playing too hard, Nylon tips are known to damage cymbals. Wood tips also create a warmer sound.



For those of you who play electronics as apposed to acoustic kits Nylon tips are safer to use being that wood tips may splinter and damage the drum pad.



In choosing the right drum stick for you, there is a lot to choose from. For Example: Size of the stick, the weight of the stick, the type of wood the stick is made from... But this is open for a whole other discussion. This is just the "Tip" of the iceberg.

The Corporate World of Congas

Natal Percussion has been around for years. They have come such a long way since the 1950's. It was founded by British Percussionist Alan Sharp. It was a few years later they Introduced Fiberglass Congas which many legendary Rock bands Loved. ie: Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Santana just to name a few.

Just recently Marshall, a British global Icon in the music industry manufacturing amplifiers bought Natal Percussion.

Check out this article. I thought it was very interesting.


http://www.drummagazine.com/musikmesse/post/marshall-amps-buys-natal-percussion/

Zildjian Z3 Cymbals

I thought this was interesting. Me personally I love Zildjian Cymbals. Today There are so many different kinds and levels of Zildjian cymbals to choose from, ie: "K" or "Z 3". It sounds like you're buying a car. Me, I'm old school I have classic Zildjians which I love. I use 13" new beat Hi- Hats, 16" Medium Crash, 18" Thin Crash, 20" Ping Ride, and an 18" Swish with Rivets.

Product Test: Zildjian Z3 Cymbals