MattByrneMusic.com

Yesterday, I ventured an hour south of me, down to NYC to visit a reputable drum school called “The Collective.”  I’ve heard a lot about the school and it’s reputation.  It’s been around since the late 70’s and has some really great lesson programs for aspiring drummers. Read more

Ok, so I’ve spent the last hour or so away from the TV, computer, kitchen- anything that might be considered a distraction- to really sit down at my electric kit and work on some chops (I can’t make that much noise in my place, hence the reason using the electric kit).

First- I did about 15 min of running a steady, solid, hard-hitting tempo of 130bpm with the double kicks. Read more

This has absolutely nothing to do with drumming or music, but that’s ok.  We all have varying interests, no?  It’s fun doing blogs that relate to differing subject matter.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading as of late and one of the authors I’ve been turned onto is David Baldacci.  Ever see the movie- Absolute Power?  Well, the movie was based on one of his novels.  It’s real “possible gov’t cover-up, people mysteriously dying, the chase is on!” type stuff that will keep you reading until 2am.  This guy writes some great stories about believeable characters dealing with some real thought-provoking subject matter.

So far, I’ve read HOUR GAME, THE CAMEL CLUB and SIMPLE GENIUS.  He has about 16 novels published right now and after reading one, you’ll want to read them all.  Definitely check his stuff out.

www.davidbaldacci.com

Stay tuned.  My next blog will be about my recent bout with food poisoning.  I must say, pretty humorous yet altogether disgusting. 

MB

For many beginner drummers the drum throne is an afterthought, but it is actually a very important part of the set. The importance of a good drum throne is often marginalized because many starter and advanced drum kits already include a throne. But the truth is that most drum thrones that come with the kits are of low quality. They are flimsy, unstable, and uncomfortable. Read more

Thanks for checking out my website.  Wanted to just give a little update about what’s been going on in my world.  Hatebreed is taking some time off for a couple months so I’ve been keeping myself busy in one way or another. Read more

Here’s a subject that everyone has an opinion about- Play with a click or Play without. Whether recording in the studio or practicing on your own in your basement, a metronome is a drummer’s best friend and should be embraced, not feared. Read more

Selecting your Drumsticks is a process that is more involved than you may think.  Here are some things to consider when stick shopping-

What type of band will you be playing in? If it’s a heavy metal band or a marching band, you’ll need thicker drumsticks to withstand the heavy abuse they will take.  Sticks come in all different sizes. Larger drumsticks are normally a 5B or 2B size (2B is larger) and will usually last much longer.  If you play in a jazz band or low-volume band, you will want to go with a smaller stick size.  A 7A (very thin) or a 5A (standard) will suffice. Of course, if you play many styles, you may find that a 5B is the most suited for you because it is versatile. Read more