Brushes are one of the most misunderstood tools in the drummer's arsenal. If you're a jazz drummer like me, you know the sonic possibilities of the brushes, and the ways players like Bill Steward, Brian Blade, and Ari Hoenig bring them to life.
But did you know they're the single best cross-training tool I've found to improve time and coordination? Luckily, I made a video.
Bruce Lee said "take what works, and discard the rest". (I'm paraphrasing.) Here, I try to do that with jazz brushes. So much ink has been spilled, and yet so few players are really competent at brushes. I aim to change that, with a real-world approach informed by the tradition, but not confined to it.
Want to take it to the next level?
The 80/20 Drummer series is the blueprint for becoming great by practicing great. Wondering how to practice? Or just what are the most important things to focus on? Click below to learn more.