Mike Johnston is the godfather of online drum lessons. Back in the early 20-teens, when I was starting the channel, practically everything was Mike’s Lessons.
Fast-forward 10 years, and Mike’s figured out a niche that sees him teaching drum camps, doing clinic tours, working with sponsors to develop new products, and making only the content he wants to make.
In this wide-ranging interview, Mike shares about what’s changed in the drum ecosystem since we were both in college, his favorite gear, and what he’d tell a brand new creator about the bare minimum to get them started. He also dishes about whether there’s room for every drummer to be a personal brand.
I’ve enjoyed speaking to all my guests on the podcast so far, and MJ is no exception.
And if you haven’t caught my latest youtube video, on a new system I’m implementing to “boot-camp” myself to better solo trading in the jazz style, you can watch below.