X8 Drums Blog

What do drummers love doing? We love to drum. We drum on our drums, percussion instruments, desks, steering wheels, and sometimes, on ourselves. Look at Kevin Bacon right there - he's playing a tambourine!  But, we have to sadly admit that drumming doesn’t always allow us to spend quality time with our family and friends. Or, if we’re sick or injured, we can’t necessarily pick up the sticks or grab our djembe and rock out. We’re only human, and once in a while, we have to put a …

The holiday season can make us all crazy. We’ve got families to visit, meals to cook, office parties and a whole lot of shopping to get done in just a few weeks. Because this is such an important part of the year for everyone, it only makes sense that at the end of it all, we just want to relax with our loved ones and enjoy the feeling of not running ourselves ragged. So, you should get everyone you know drums and percussion instruments for the holidays. Drums are natural stress relie …

Unless you’re a closet drummer, with probably the least amount of space possible for a full drum set, at some point you’re going to wonder one of the great drumming questions of all time: should you trust your beloved drums to a drum rack, or keep them safe on drum stands. With the love of rhythm and drumming comes the understanding that out of all of the members of your band, or your friends who play guitar, keyboards or saxophone, you have the most gear and instruments to care for. I …

There you are, minding your own business, when you notice flashing blue lights in your rear view mirror. You think to yourself, “Was I speeding? Why am I being pulled over?” and then go through the hundreds of possible traffic violations you may have committed while innocently driving down the road. Once you are safely pulled off to the side of the road, the officer approaches and asks if you’ve been drinking. “No, sir, I don’t drink and drive,” is a likely response to the officer’s q …

Despite public opinion, being a drummer isn’t easy, nor is it all fun and games. There are a ton of reasons why people start drumming, and probably more reasons why people stop drumming. We, the drummers, are the unsung heroes of music and the pounding heartbeats of rhythmic divinity. We keep the beat alive even as we take a beating, ourselves. Sometimes, in those moments of pure introspection (usually as we wait for the other instruments to get tuned up), we even ask ourselves if drumm …

That whole “stupid” stereotype that surrounds a drummer is baffling, especially considering all of the effort a drummer puts into play drums, as well as selecting all the right equipment to make a rhythm come alive. To the untrained, non-drummer ear, the nuances in sound, tone and decay from drums and cymbals can be easily written off, but, we know that there is no mistaking the sound of a set of drums for jazz music compared to those played in a metal band. The drums in those drum sets …

Every parent wants to help their child learn and grow to be the very best they can be. Recent studies show that music lessons, especially percussion lessons, can help children develop the skills they need to succeed. Learning to play the drums can help a child develop communication skills, improves behavior, and can even help them succeed in all areas of academics. Getting a child musically involved through drum lessons can be a way to introduce them to a world of music and a lifelong h …

“Busy” is the buzzword of today, between work and family and the pursuit of happiness, we are all trying to keep motivated and get it all done. Unfortunately, being busy all the time can lead to stressful living, and many people just can’t figure out how to break the cycle and still keep the motivation going in a positive, beneficial manner. Imagine, however, during those stressful times of life, having the ability to take 10 minutes off to reset your mind and body without medication. W …

Encouraging a love of rhythm and music in a child may be the first image of what beginner drummers need to succeed, yet, age has nothing to do with exploring drumming and rhythm. Kids often represent the potential of the future, but, they are not the only beings able to learn a new hobby, especially drumming. Adults aren’t often considered beginner drummers, perhaps because the majority of drums and percussion instruments seem to be sized correctly for the average adult, or maybe …

When you play your drum, be it djembe, congas or a kit, how tempting is it to slouch over? Resist the urge! Proper posture is the first step to playing with the professionals. After the news of Phil Collins' retirement from drumming as a consequence of back surgery to repair dislocated vertebrae injured due to poor posture while playing on the last Genesis tour, drummers are looking for ways to prevent similar damage to their spines. After all, if Collins had kept posture in mind, he might …