Isolation Headphone Choices

Isolation Headphone Choices

As a drummer with a home studio, I'm always looking for ways to upgrade my space in the "sub-$300 price bracket" and in that quest, decided it was time to begin collecting isolation headphones. Not just as a hobby (we all have our quirks) but also to accommodate other musicians who come over and record/rehearse with me. My drums are quite loud, so having a somewhat sealed aural environment would make for a better experience for everyone. Plus, they also help to protect the wearer's hearing. This is not a review; that's a forthcoming story, but rather a piece to…
Review: KODO Percussion Ensemble

Review: KODO Percussion Ensemble

KODO were recently in Seattle, but my wife & I caught their show in San Diego and I cannot tell you how much of an inspiration that was. Being a professional drummer, there's always the allure of "let's go watch some drumming event", but coupled with the centuries-old art of Taiko Drumming, this group of performers took it from barely a whisper all the way to a roaring cacophony that you felt all the way into your DNA. From their website: "The taiko: a traditional Japanese drum with limitless rhythmic possibilities. Kodo’s mission is to explore these possibilities, and in…
Seattle Drum School of Music in Seattle’s Child Magazine (2017)

Seattle Drum School of Music in Seattle’s Child Magazine (2017)

Steve Smith has loved performing since he took the stage as a kid in green-and-orange-striped bell-bottoms, a Nehru jacket, Apache scarf tie, and Beatle boots. “I was the rock star in my elementary school talent show,” recalls Smith, an accomplished drummer and founder of the Seattle Drum School. Now, he and his singer/songwriter wife, Kristy, thrive on helping other aspiring musicians perfect their craft through their music school, one of the largest in the Northwest. Here, students of all ages (from age 3 through adults) and abilities can learn to play a wide range of instruments, including drums, guitar, bass and…
Article on Success feat. Seattle Drum School (2018)

Article on Success feat. Seattle Drum School (2018)

FTA: https://www.furious.com/perfect/creativesuccess1.html Creative and Professional Success for Independent Artists/Musicians Part One: What Defines Success? Article & photos by Jack Gold-Molina(June 2018) Defining success is something that preoccupies most professional artists. It could be making music that is creatively satisfying and will attract listeners. It could be marketing themselves effectively to get people to buy their music and attend their shows. It may also be achieving a very high level of musicianship, partly in order to be more competitive, but also to be certain that they are challenging themselves and putting in the countless hours of practice that it takes to…