A series of four weekly classes take you through the exact steps involved to play this iconic halftime shuffle groove that’s a milestone for every drummer. For details, see https://empowerdrumming.com/fool-in-the-rain

Right Hand Bootcamp is a deep dive on your strumming and picking hand. Rhythm, texturing, dynamics, hand/voice independence, playing with a pick -- these elements can make your songs more interesting and compelling.

Session 1: Rhythm 101 - Subdivisions, working with a metronome, internalizing a pulse, time signatures, how all of these can affect your strumming patterns.

Session 2: Using A Pick - Why you should, how to hold, relaxing your wrist, improving precision, low and high picking “zones”, anchoring your hand, specific songs for working on all of the above.

Session 3: Strumming - Breaking out of your rhythmic ruts, strumming pattern analysis (what are the subdivisions), intro to new patterns, tools for creating new patterns, the power of repetition.

Session 4: Texturing - Muting, dynamics, hammer-ons and pull-offs, percussive playing, using all of these as tools to create variety, tension and “sectional contrast”.

Session 5: Independence - Separating the rhythm of your strumming hand from the rhythm you're singing, isolating your strumming so you can work on the rhythm without worrying about the chords.

Class is limited to 8 students. Cost is $275. Sessions are 90 min over Zoom, every other Tues at 6pm MT, starting September 13th. Enrollment includes an online portal containing handouts, chord charts, MP3s, song player w slow-downer, and a practice log. A Zoom recording will be available after every session!

June 7 2022
7pm Eastern Time
Zoom Workshop

🥁⚙️ THE GEAR LAB: COMPLETE SNARE MAKEOVER!

We will:

- REPLACE HEADS: both top and bottom
- CHANGE the snare wires
- TUNE and DAMPEN
- CLEAN and LUBRICATE
- Learn TIPS and TRICKS for fixing problems

Bring your snare, new heads, and new wires to the workshop! You will also need a drum key, screwdriver, and dampening gels. Highly suggested: TuneBot and/or a pitch pipe app!

Cost: $35
To register: ⬇️ Click the $35 button below

May 17, 2022
7pm Eastern Time
Zoom Workshop

🥁⚙️ THE GEAR LAB: DEMYSTIFY YOUR HI-HAT STAND!

We'll cover:

- The names of the PARTS and what they do
- How to ADJUST the clutch, pedal tension, stability, and space between the cymbals
- The best HEIGHT and ANGLE of the cymbals and stand
- What TYPES of stands are available
- How to MAINTAIN

Bring your hi-hat stand to the workshop!
Get tips on YOUR specific gear.

Cost: $20
To register: ⬇️ Click the $20 button below

April 19, 2022
7pm Eastern Time
Zoom Workshop

GEAR LAB: BASS DRUM PEDAL DEEP DIVE

We'll cover:

- The names of the pedal's parts and what they do
- How to adjust the beater: tension, angle and length (all of which can affect your speed!)
- How to attach to your bass drum without ruining the hoop
- What kinds of beaters are available
- How to maintain your pedal

As with ALL of the gear labs: Bring your own equipment to the workshop (in this case, your kick pedal).
Get tips on YOUR specific gear!

Cost: $20
To register: ⬇️ Click the $20 button below

Date: April 20, 2021
Time: 6-8pm Mountain Time (5pm Pacific, 7pm CT, 8pm ET)
How: Online via Zoom
Cost: $50
To register: ⬇️Click the $50 button below

Description:

Learn BASIC (understandable!) audio concepts, as well as the simple, affordable gear and software you’ll need to record your drums at home and on your own.

In this 2-hour workshop, you’ll get a straightforward explanation of audio recording, as well as the lowdown on the exact equipment that’s required. (A gear list will be provided!)

Yes, you CAN record yourself!

We will cover:

Mics -- a few basic types & brands, and where to put them
DAW’s (recording software) -- which ones and what they do
Audio interfaces -- what YOU need based on your goals

💥 2nd Virtual Drum Mini-Camp! 💥

When: Saturday, 11/28, 12-2pm Pacific Time (1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET)

How: Online via Zoom

Cost: $50

Registration link: https://bit.ly/3lGJ4NA

This will be a two-hour workshop for female beginner drummers (or beginner/intermediates who are coming back to the drums from an extended break) to offer beats, tools, concepts and techniques you can use immediately in your own playing.

We will cover:

-Setting up your drums in the most ergonomic way: heights, angles, proximity

-The three drill exercises I give every student in their first lesson, to be played as warm-ups whenever you sit down at your kit

-An intro to the “seven basic 8th note beats” used in 1000s of songs

-Simple fills and fill ideas you can modify for use in any genre

-The three essential (free) apps that will instantly improve your drumming life

-Application all of these concepts to learn the song “Free Fallin’"

Workshop registration includes emailed handouts and diagrams, interactive transcriptions, and a video recording of the entire class available for download.

This 2-hour Zoom class will be hands-on and interactive! Get ready to play your drums (don’t worry, you’ll be muted), use your practice pad and sticks, and possibly make some minor adjustments to your kit.

We’ll be covering many topics, so the workshop will be packed full of info and fairly fast-paced. Attendance is limited to 20 participants to have time to answer questions as we go.

Anyone can attend, but being able to play a basic rock beat is highly encouraged!

Clicking the link https://bit.ly/3lGJ4NA will take you to the event listing on EmpowerDrumming.com where you can purchase your registration.

Let me know if you have any questions! Either post as comments here, or email me at jj@empowerdrumming.com.

A two-hour workshop for beginner to beginner-intermediate drummers to offer beats, tools, concepts and techniques you can use immediately in your own playing.