Several weeks ago I initialized a new feature here at the Drummer Cafe ... the Virtual Classroom.

Regular classes and instruction will be scheduled as an ongoing VIP Membership benefit ($26.50 annual membership).

This week's class:

I'll be teaching basic music notation and short-hand with a focus on making drum charts and cheat sheets that you might use on gigs, recording sessions and your own practice sessions. No matter what level of player you are, there will be something for you to glean in this interactive classroom. Even if you don't read music, this class will be a benefit to you! You'll learn how to effectively organize your drum parts as well as reduce excessive amounts of time spent memorizing songs and/or grooves.

Register now as a VIP Member, it's only $26.50 for the entire year ... and you'll have access to all of my classes as well as an ever growing assortment of lessons and resources (audio/video/pdf) reserved for VIP Members only.

For those that may be concerned with the quality of instruction and information, I'm a degreed music instructor (Bachelor of Music with post-graduate work) and have taught music theory/history at the university level in several colleges. I also have 25+ years of private instructor experience.

This week's class:

I'll be teaching the basic concepts behind polyrhythms through visual and auditory examples.

Part 1

• Eastman Counting System
• 2:3 Polyrhythm
• 3:2 Polyrhythm
• Hearing, notating and playing polyrhythms

By the end of the class you'll know how to count 2 against 3 (or 3 against 2), how to notate these polyrhythms, plus real applications and uses for all the polyrhythms discussed.

Register now as a VIP Member, it's only $26.50 for the entire year ... and you'll have access to all of my classes (including archives from the ones you missed) as well as an ever growing assortment of premium lessons and resources (audio/video/pdf) reserved for VIP Members only.

This week's class:

What are shuffles? There a many types of shuffles used in jazz, blues, r&b, rock and country music. In Part 1, I'll be talking about what makes a groove a "shuffle", plus showing various types of approaches to creating, notating and playing a shuffle.

This week's class:

If you've never played congas, want to improve your basic strokes, like perfecting your slap, come join us!

• Conga rum names, types, roles, etc.
• Hand position
• Set-up and configurations
• Five Basic Tones/Strokes - various ways to play them
• Son Tumbao with variations and applications

VIP Membership required for all Virtual Classroom sessions.

This week's class is open to everyone!


This lesson is combining the Virtual Classroom with Drummer Cafe LIVE ... and is open to the general public in celebration of International Drum Month.

Rhythmic Displacement

• Learn what it is.
• Learn how to use and apply it.
• Practical examples; beginner to advanced.
• Live demonstrations.

Login to the community forum and meet in the Live Chatroom at 7:30pm CST for this free class.