Preparing for the World Solo Drumming Championships
Preparing for the World Solo Drumming Championships
A Monster Blog by Kerr McQuillan
The World Solo Drumming is the biggest event of its kind and attracts people from all over the globe. For us drummers, The World Solo Drumming Championships is an opportunity to present our hard work and it can be a tense and nerve-racking experience. That said, preparation is key and builds your confidence to ensure you give yourself the best possible chance of making the prize list.
I prepared for the competition in a number of different ways, both psychologically and physically. You wouldn’t think for one second that psychology and the way you think would come into a drumming competition, but for me it is a big part.
Talking with drummers is always enjoyable and we can hear ourselves asking each other “Who am I up against?” “Where have they placed before?” “What might excite and attract the judges’ ear?”...
Bryan's Blog #8 | Practicing Through The Storm
Practicing Through The Storm
A Monster Blog by Bryan Lowe
As I write this, Seattle is recovering from the Snowpocalypse of 2019.
Nine inches of snow shut down schools, churches and just about any driving. Now, before those of you in snowy areas get all “oh my god how silly”, just know that Seattle is nothing but hills and bridges, and snow is rather rare. This isn’t the flatlands of Nebraska. Look for videos of buses sliding and crashing through guardrails, then hanging precariously over the precipe.
I just mention this, as both lessons and practicing came to a halt. We lost electricity three times, for a total of about 34 hours. No heat, no lights, no drumming.
But the snow is gone and my lessons on Rhythm-Monster and with the Keith Highlanders have resumed. Lessons are lining up pretty well, as I was just getting into buzz strokes online, and the teacher at my in-person classes is also introducing them. ...
Getting Beastly In Rural Areas | Haydn Halsted
Getting Beastly In Rural Areas With Scottish Snare Tutor
A Monster Blog By Hayden Halsted
Montana (USA). One of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth that I 
hold very dear to my heart. A place where everyone knows everyone else and communities are very tight knit, including the music community. There are some amazing musicians here that makes for a very eclectic and surprisingly diverse music community throughout the state. In a quick google search, there are approximately four pipe bands spread out across this massive state.
Why All This Talk About Montana?
Relative to the size of the Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg) that holds 27 million people, Montana holds 1 Million in an area about 4 times the size. This makes it difficult for many musicians to interact and hear what others are doing without traveling for 6 to 8 hours. I bet many of you can relate to that.
Because of this, I have had to utilize many online...
Bryan's Blog #7 | What Difference A Day Makes
What a Difference a Day Makes
A Monster Blog Series By Bryan Lowe
I feel good about my Buzz Stroke progress! I’d been feeling rather clumsy and slow for a bit, and ending up taking a couple of days off. That cold wasn’t helping either.
About five minutes into my return it all fell into place.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Both hands!
For some reason, a drum roll or buzz roll seems like real progress, more than the tap, tap, tap of previous exercises. I do understand progress on those “taps” lead to progress on the buzz roll, but this feels like a big step forward, emotionally. This is starting to feel like “real” drumming.
Need a break down on the Buzz Rolls? Check out this class to get your basics rock'n.
For any future challenges on this journey I need to remember that progress isn’t a steady line. Recognizable progress can come in fits and starts sometimes.
Online Lessons
Life is...
From Percussion to Pipe Band Drumming
by Mike Garcia
From Percussion to Pipe Band Drumming
A Blog By Mike Garcia
The world of music is a beautiful thing. So many different styles and approaches within so many different cultures all over the world. Pick a genre, go down the rabbit hole, and you will discover invaluable experiences of how impactful a single or combination of sounds can truly be and how they bring people together.
Pick a world, let’s say: percussion, and for you Pipe Band people, drum corps - and there are various journeys you can embark on to explore the many wonders of the style. Personally, I have experience in American rudimental drumming (i.e. Drum Corps International, aka “DCI” experience) and classical percussion (either a “percussion ensemble” or concert band/orchestral percussion). I am fortunate to say I have had the opportunity to experience performing in these groups at some of the highest levels possible! However, I have always been a lifelong learner and have...
Taking Technique to New Levels | Haydn Halsted
Gareth McLees - Taking Technique to New Levels
A Monster Blog by Haydn Halsted
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Over the years, I’ve been observing and imitating the great American Drum 
Corps including their closed hand technique, rhythmic virtuosity and rigid intensity to their uniformity, clarity and overall production level. The Drum Corp style and the Marching Arts have kept my fire burning for some time now and to me, the DCI shows are some of the most impressive works of art put out each year.
Until recently, I was unfamiliar with the world of Scottish Pipe Band drumming (we can go over my story another time), and when I was introduced to the Gareth McLees Monster Drumming Series on Rhythm Monster, I immediately saw the true artistry and musicality that can be produced on the snare drum. In this seven-part video class series, McLees demonstrates what the Snare Drum is capable of by presenting an incredibly relaxed and...
Manawatu Pipe Band Drum Corps MSR WPBC18
Monster Drum Sgt.
Gary Potter
is rock'n with his Monster Drum Corps from
Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band
Many more where that came from!
To access all of our Monster Classes, you'll need a profile and a subscription. So many other Monster Drummers from around the world are waiting to meet you and rock out. Fear no more, click the button to Monster-Up!
We've got hundreds of classes that breakdown every concept, like our Music Theory Tutor classes, MT3005 - An Intro to Unisions, Chips, and Fortes
Many more where that came from!
To access all of our Monster Classes, you'll need a profile and a subscription. So many other Monster Drummers from around the world are waiting to meet you and rock out. Fear no more, click the button to Monster-Up!
Allison's Tenor Tour | #1:
An Intro to My Pipe Band Journey
An Intro to My Pipe Band Journey
A Monster Drumming Blog by Allison Hildebrand
Ooh boy, writing this feels intimidating. It’s something to write down all your thoughts and feelings about something knowing it’s going to end up somewhere anyone could see it. But, if I had to write anything that everyone was going to read, writing about Pipe Band would be one of my first choices.
But before I take you down the rabbit hole of my weird, crazy obsession with what Michael Eagle calls Pipe Band Land, I should probably tell you a bit about myself. My name is Allison, and I’m twenty years old. It’s my first year playing Tenor Drum for the best band out there, Cameron & District Pipe Band. In addition to this, I also take bagpiping lessons from my PM, one of the world’s best pipers. That’s a lot to juggle at one time. But I love it a whole bunch.
Teddy Roosevelt has this quote, and it’s the best one I know of to describe...
St. Laurence O'Toole Drum Corps WPBC 2018 Reel
Monster Drum Sgt.
Stephen Creighton
is rock'n with his Monster Drum Corps from
St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band
Many more where that came from!
To access all of our Monster Classes, you'll need a profile and a subscription. So many other Monster Drummers from around the world are waiting to meet you and rock out. Fear no more, click the button to Monster-Up!
We've got hundreds of classes that breakdown every concept, like our Music Theory Tutor classes, MT3005 - An Intro to Unisions, Chips, and Fortes
Many more where that came from!
To access all of our Monster Classes, you'll need a profile and a subscription. So many other Monster Drummers from around the world are waiting to meet you and rock out. Fear no more, click the button to Monster-Up!