Thinking about tinkering…
Link in bio for this week’s newsletter, on CarTalk and tinkering in the practice room.
/5eva586f
Interested in learning more? The summer cohort is coming up fast. I’ll share conceptual ideas, and we’ll put things into practice with material from cohort members.
#newsletter #cartalk #tinkering #unsnareddrum #snaredrum
New ideas!
In celebration of my forthcoming book, I’m launching a summer cohort, aimed at exploring how creativity in the practice room can help us develop custom-fitting instrumental technique, perform well under pressure, and learn music more effectively and efficiently.
Unsnared Studio is coming in June, and I’d love to have you join us.
Link above, or visit
/unsnaredstudio
#summer #program #learning #snaredrum #percussion
The one and only! MikeDrop is joined by @colincurrieperc ! Tune in as we talk to Colin about his newest album release: Steve Reich Sextets (available April 11, 2026). A true pleasure to talk with Colin about Steve Reich, chamber music, pedagogy, concerto piano reductions, concertizing, and, briefly, puzzle tables!
The album is great, with a unique and crystalline sound. Definitely worth a listen (although I can't say the same for our podcast).
Link below, or wherever you get your podcasts
/us/podcast/the-mikedrop-podcast/id1726991047?i=1000759482056
What makes a great percussion piece, and a great performance of it?
In this week’s Learning Percussion newsletter, I go deeper, sharing how long-term collaboration shapes expressive new music.
This video is part of my Unsnared Drum Performer’s Guide. For each work, I ask “what makes a great interpretation of this piece,” and then offer specific tips for learning and performing each work (and any work, to be honest), point the interpreter towards salient musical details, issues of style, and technical ideas that might facilitate flexible interpretations.�
I hope they are valuable tools for ALL pieces…
Shout out to @chrisgouletproductions and @jcostamusic for the vids!
#percussion #learningpercussion #practice #pearldrums
Inverted doubles are a useful way to strengthen the fingers, which help stabilize arms and wrists during rebounded strokes.
This week’s Learning Percussion newsletter explores inverted doubles in greater depth, offering a number of prompts to invent and compose your own exercises to help your hands. Happy practicing!
#percussion #learningpercussion #snaredrum #practice #pearldrums vicfirth remopercussion challenge snaredrum practice backtoschool getinshape practice musician snare warmup
Some thoughts about changing intervals on the marimba, and how to loosen the fingers to allow for relaxation and fluidity.
More marimba tips are in this week’s Learning Percussion newsletter including my clinic handout from @udelpercussion , my marimba exercises, and my top tips for Stevens grip for fun and profit.
#percussion #learningpercussion #marimba #practice #pearldrums
New newsletter drop: on learning communities, music, science, and the future of learning. Link in bio for more info…
I explore my increasing connection to the sciences and the utility of music and musical communities to learning in person and online. While cognitive neuroscience teaches us a great deal about individual learning, the arts remind us that learning is fundamentally communal. Thoughts?
#music #learning #history #projects
Had a few snare drums in the studio yesterday 👀
Thanks to @comp.y.tello and @genekoshinski for coming in and making these drums sing!
#percussion #snaredrum #pearldrums #snaredrummer #steveweiss
This May: the inagural @vicfirth Summer Institute. During a week at the University of Maine and the Vic Firth factory (May 31-June 6), we’ll combine percussion performance and pedagogy with an introduction to the business practices of the music industry: look out for daily masterclasses, performance opportunities, clinics, and other learning opportunities with the Vic Firth Team.
I’m honored to be included, and looking forward to learning from amazing faculty members @bonniewhitingpercussion , @clarawarnaar , @brianstockarddrums and @keithaleo on this. Hope you can join us! Link in bio for more info or visit vicfirth.com
#festival #summer #percussion
🥁I had a fun few days at Arizona State University hanging out with @comp.y.tello@arizonastateperc and @asuwindbands !
Thanks to ASU percussion prof Dr. Mike Compitello for inviting me to perform together, and to work with his students in lessons and studio class, and to Dr. Jamal Duncan for programming “Run to the Light” by Ivan Trevino!
It was great to see AZ percussion friends- thanks for attending the concert, along with a few of my @nau_percussion students who made the trip!
Happy birthday to my awesome dad! In typical fashion, we celebrated with food and friends. We forgot to take pictures of anything other than the food, so here are some older photos which include @ginalouisette and myself as filler.
Love you dad!
