X8 Drums Blog

For anyone who wants a career in drumming and music performance, it can be a challenging arena to enter into. With the competition involved in becoming the next big star, as well as an industry that is shrinking due to less music sales overall, setting one’s sights on a career in music is a formidable goal. As a drummer, the opportunities in music performance are certainly different than those of a vocalist, and it is talent and motivation that may trump other aspects of performance that lead to …

A therapist has teamed up with Spotify, a music provider, to help nervous travelers relax. London’s Dr. Becky Spelman has done extensive studies on travel anxiety and ways to cope with it and, MSN’s Health Hub reports, settled upon music as a great flight tranquilizing tool. Dr. Spelman found that irrational thoughts are the cause of travel anxiety, so she recommends passengers listen to music with few beats per minute to stimulate both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Since controll …

Between July 10-13, 2013, 35 drummers will attempt to set a new world record. According to Lutterworth Mail, the drummers will attempt to drum for 70 hours straight. Each drummer will drum for two hours and there will be no lull when they switch out. The drummers hope to break the record for the longest marathon drumming by a team. Apparently, this is the year for drummers to set new world records. One of the drummers, Steve Price, also played at the opening night of the London Olympics. The gro …

If you have always wanted to be able to actually produce sound while drumming in the air, you are in luck. The Airbeats app from Leap Motion will soon be available, giving drum aficionados a fully functional drum set that takes up little to no space. DVICE reports that the Airbeats software will let users play up to 12 different drum sets and record their performances. If that isn’t impressive enough, drummers will also be able to air drum using either their hands or drumsticks. The app, created …

With spring in the air and summer right around the corner, outdoor activities are on the minds of people everywhere. Drum circles are great ways to not only enjoy the weather and soak up some sunlight, but they are an opportunity to join communities of people together in the pursuit of music and rhythm. A drum circle can benefit everyone, regardless of ability, age, gender or culture, but, starting one can be a daunting task even for the most experienced drummer or community organizer. Drum cir …

Photo Kimberley MeadVORTEX Repertory Company has made a name for itself in Austin, Texas. The company’s dedication to new types of theatrical forms is obvious and several of its past offerings have boasted award-winning performances. Since 1998, VORTEX has been bringing some of the best and most innovative creative works to the stage and that trend certainly continued with “The Elementals: Earth”.“The Elementals: Earth” is a staged, ritualistic celebration of one of our most beloved elements. Wi …

In May, American jazz drummer Ari Hoenig received the German BMW WELT Award in Munich. His quartet performed, leading Ari to take home the award for the band-leading drummer theme. His foursome, the Ari Hoenig Quartet, plays in various venues in America, as well. Though his musical beginnings lie in the violin and piano, Chestnut Hill Local reports that Ari took up the drums at a young age as a way of attaining some freedom. Although his parents are also musicians, the drums were something they …

People know Eddie Tuduri as the drummer for The Beach Boys, but they may not be aware that he was in an accident that left him paralyzed. Fifteen years ago, Eddie was in a surfing accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. According to an interview with NBC affiliate WMC, Eddie thought he would never be able to drum again. But, by starting with small percussion instruments, he eventually regained his abilities. It was during that time that The Rhythmic Arts Project began, too. The goal …

Ed Shaughnessey was largely known for being the drummer on “The Tonight Show”. He began that part of his drumming career when Johnny Carson was the host and played with the show’s band for thirty years, although he began as a jazz drummer. He had drummed with many famous musicians, including drumming great Buddy Rich. Ed was eighty-four when he passed away in his California home, leaving a rich personal history that he memorialized in an autobiography. Published in 2010, the memoir tells how Ed …

Learning to play double bass can be a long, exciting process. Like any skill, it requires dedication and practice, but how you practice can determine how long it takes you to build this ability. While many drummers who try their feet at double bass drumming these days probably do so out of a love for the metal genre, double bass drumming has its origins in the jazz scene. Learning this particular playing technique can benefit drummers of any genre of music, as the training and movements help all …