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Drums & Percussion/Questions Answered by Expert James Moyer

Subject	Date Asked
the blue devils book of drumming	2/7/2012
Q: i was wondering if you happened to know where i could perchase this book for him online. please ... A: Wow - I have been out of DCI for decades. I imagine there are only 2 sources for what you want. The ...
repainting drums for a marching band	12/9/2011
Q: Our drums are looking a little beat up and we were wondering if we can repaint or resuface them ? ... A: Much depends on the type of finish already on the drums. I suspect they are covered in a cortex or ...
Rogers Drum Set	4/12/2011
Q: I bought this set from my instructor in 1974. It's got a white shell and in absolutely beautiful ... A: Kelly, A few things on your set. Rogers, Ludwig and Slingerland were the Big 3 of drum sets before ...
5 piece mapex drum set	1/17/2011
Q: i have a 5 piece mapex drum set with hardware and cymbols and hard cases included. the kit is about ... A: Damian, My answer will vary widely as I do not have enough information to suggest a fair price. I ...
about Bjork song Earth Intruders	11/26/2010
Q: I'd like to know what's the instrument Björk uses for the percussion things on her songs "Earth ... A: I just returned home from a holiday break. I believe these are a mix of african drums. The xylophone ...
Ludwig speed master foot pedal	11/18/2010
Q: When did Ludwig quitproducing the Speed master bass pedal, and how can I tell when mine was made? ... A: Mark, The best resource for this is Dale's Drum Shop in Harrisburg PA. Or - you can contact Ludwig ...
learning drums!	9/27/2010
Q: i want to learn playing drums as a hobby. Is it true that the learning has to be done on an acoustic ... A: Aseem, Drum heads are always better choices for feel and response, but today's E-kits are fine for ...
drum set for hobby	9/1/2010
Q: I would like to take up learning drums as a hobby.Which compact device do you suggest i should buy? ... A: Aseem, I am not a big fan of learning drums on electronic pads. The feel is all wrong, the response ...
Drum foot pedal	8/20/2010
Q: When I press the foot pedal it does not snap back. The beater just stays against the drum. Is there ... A: D, You need a new Spring. You might try calling one of these 2 drum shops for assistance. They ...
how to fix my hi hat	7/19/2010
Q: and my hi hat is like missing springs and stuff. It works and all but the pedal i can get it to ... A: Quentin, This is a tough one. Each of the major drum set companies makes a half dozen or more ...
amplification of small djembe	5/11/2010
Q: I want to play a small djembe along with a DJ at a nightclub. The last time I participated in this ... A: Alireza, I am not a hand drummer by profession although I have played congas and djembe many times ...
gong	4/16/2010
Q: What is the proper material used to 'string/hang' a gong from a stand? I have a large Paiste gong ... A: Wire is the worst way to hang a tam tam or gong. What you want is a thick cotton chord, which you ...
Hi hat stand	3/26/2010
Q: I have a Roland TD-6V percussion sound module. It comes with the pedal for the Hi-hat ( Roland FD-8 ... A: Neilo, I am sorry, but your question is somewhat difficult to understand. It appears as though you ...
Value and History	2/8/2010
Q: I came across a vintage "60's" Rogers Holiday 3 pc kit that I am hoping to purchase and I wanted to ... A: Daniel, I had a drum set identical to this in blue at my first college job. The set was in poor ...
goin to a 4 piece?	1/21/2010
Q: I want to reduce my 5 pc. setup down to a 4 pc. for a multitude of reasons. I own an old Tama ... A: Greg, The size of your drums and what you choose in terms of "your sound" is a decision left to ...
slingerland drum set	1/8/2010
Q: I have a slingerland drum set that i belive to be from the 1970s. i am saving for a more modern punk ... A: Given the further details and the picture, it's not really what one would classify as a "Vintage" ...
slingerland drum set	1/6/2010
Q: I have a slingerland drum set that i belive to be from the 1970s. i am saving for a more modern punk ... A: Dylan, Slingerland drums were good quality in their day. The company has long since closed and the ...
drum tuning	12/29/2009
Q: youtube and books etc and they aren't helping me to get a good sound out of them due to my lack of ... A: Jamie, Actually, I do not play guitar or bass. I play lots of band instruments and piano, but no ...
drum tuning	12/28/2009
Q: youtube and books etc and they aren't helping me to get a good sound out of them due to my lack of ... A: I get this question often and there are many variables here. First, the drums do make a huge ...
Software for constructing complete drum tracks?	12/12/2009
Q: I am an expert in the Exporting/Importing goods category: ... A: Hank, There are a number of options at various levels of sophistication. GarageBand can do this to ...
know the carrer	12/5/2009
Q: iam a 18 yr old boy.i hav an innet aptitude for playing drums.& i play them very well aslo.so i want ... A: Shashank, This is a question I get a few times a year and it's different for each person. It ...
Gene Krupa/Radio King	11/27/2009
Q: I am doing some research for my father. He is a retired musician in his late 80"s. He was a ... A: Frank, This sounds like a great set, however I am not expert at vintage stuff. You should contact ...
Click Track machines	11/26/2009
Q: First i would like to say that, some guy asked the same thing which is: Is there a Click Track ... A: I am afraid I a not aware of any drum machines that do this, however Apple's Logic and Pro Tools ...
drum software	11/14/2009
Q: is there any decent FREE drum machines or downloadable drum tracks? the main thing is i don't want ... A: This depends on what computer you have. If you have a Mac, there are hundreds of drum loops built ...
jenco vibes	11/3/2009
Q: I have an old set (1960ish) of Jenco Vibes and I am wondering what they are worth. The frame and the ... A: Denny, Thanks for your question. First of all, what you describe are not Vibes, (vibraphone), ...
rogers 360	10/21/2009
Q: bught a rogers 360 for my son its a black kit,i paid 100£some hardware is tatty though although it ... A: Mick, Here is a helpful link. Recovering drums is pricey. You first need to strip all the hardware ...
reattaching snare to 60's Ludwig snare drum	10/7/2009
Q: The string attaching my snare broke. There are numerous holes below the switch, and three on the ... A: Frank, I have the same drum. I actually changed heads and converted mine to one of my concert snare ...
Teaching drums.	10/1/2009
Q: I see you have many years experience as a drum tutor. I too would like to be a private drum tutor ... A: Ashley, Thanks for the note and background here. Being a "teacher" has many different ...
Electronic Drum Machine	9/21/2009
Q: I would like to get into drumming and to start with I would just like a basic drum machine such as ... A: Martin, If I were buying a new drum machine today, The Alesis SR-16 is by far the best value on the ...
duraability in the road	9/11/2009
Q: Good day, I plan to buy a ddrum dominion kit soon & wante to know if it's tuff enough for the road. ... A: ddrum seems to be the choice of many metal drummers and they beat the carp out of drums for the most ...
Difference between Crash and Ride?	9/8/2009
Q: My son says we are missing a Crash Cymbal on the set we just bought. I have looked around and can't ... A: Hmmm - good question and I honesty have to say it depends on the company. Most drums sets that come ...
new crappy drumset	8/10/2009
Q: i just bought a "new" drumset..its not new..its a real crappy one....but its obviously new for ... A: Two cymbals on one stand are not standard but very possible. I use a device called a STACKER and ...
new crappy drumset	8/10/2009
Q: i just bought a "new" drumset..its not new..its a real crappy one....but its obviously new for ... A: Julio, I'll take your questions in order. There is no way to put 4 heads on a drum. This is ...
rock drumming techniques	7/19/2009
Q: I'd just like to know about the different kinds of drumming techniques used in rock music. I know ... A: John, There are actually hundreds of fills based on the 40 rudiments. In fact, there are 3 ...
CD 700 Drums	7/14/2009
Q: I'm looking for an official Website for CB 700 Drum kits and can't find one. I know they are entry ... A: Cory, I cannot be totally certain, but believe there is no such company. Many of the chinese ...
DRUM MIC ING PLEASE HELP ME!!! I NEED THIS SO MUCH	6/30/2009
Q: Ok i have done ALL of the research possible! I have stayed up all night trying to figure things out! ... A: Nick, Very late here and you have lot of questions, so let me give you a few things that may help. ...
Question	6/24/2009
Q: I'm a left handed drummer, and I share my set with my brother (Who is a right handed drummer). We ... A: Yikes- good question, never had this one before. I am going to suggest you contact the experts at ...
slingerland drums	6/12/2009
Q: hello i found a set of slingerland drums on craigslist and the ad said imported not vintage can u ... A: I'm afraid I need much more information to help you. There are dozens of drum set companies in the ...
Help.	6/3/2009
Q: I'm not new to drums at all but i'm recently getting involved with the overall quality of the drum ... A: Jake, Some answers to your skins question. I have 3 drum sets, have played on hundreds over the ...
Alesis D4	6/1/2009
Q: I'm planning on buying a used Alesis D4 module with it's original pads and triggers, i need to use ... A: Alex, I have used the Alesis Drum modules in the past, although not this model. I do have one of ...
How much is my snare drum worth?	5/18/2009
Q: ok short story short. i have a Starcaster ( by fender ) snare drum that i replaced by a pearl on and ... A: Me, I have never seen a set of these from Fender. Looking at the very limited information on their ...
eletronics	5/18/2009
Q: I have 2 questions. First is I want to compose and write drum music. I went to Sibelius's website ... A: Brett, I do not use VDL - although it appears to rely on Kontact Player in Sibelius. The only ...
Mufflers	5/1/2009
Q: Where can I find a buddy rich drum pad? A: Michael, Unless I am mistaken, this is a discontinued product. HQ percussion and Evans drum heads ...
drums	4/7/2009
Q: I have a set of old CB700 drums and I want to sell for a better kit but I have no idea how much they ... A: Tommy, CB700 are considered entry level drums, made in China and typically sell new for under $300 ...
stewart drums	3/28/2009
Q: My husband recently acquired a Stewart snare with a marine pearlish finish(it looks kind of mosaic). ... A: The "Stewart" snare is very likely part of the Stewart Copeland signature drums from Tama. ...
Milestone drums	3/12/2009
Q: i searched the internet and couldnt find anything telling about the value of Milestone drums. the ... A: Andrew Some background at http://www.tempusdrums.com/lndex.html This is now Tempus drums. The ...
Slinger drums value	2/28/2009
Q: Hey, i'm currently looking at a slingerland drum set. The owner doesn't know much about them since ... A: Well - hard to tell from pictures Andrew. if they are close-ups, then you have to hope that they are ...
tom mounts	2/26/2009
Q: So-what type of suspension system would you use for your "dream set"? Also: what is your opinion of ... A: I will try and answer these questions although the suspension system question is a bit vague. Most ...
Drum configuration	2/18/2009
Q: I've been learning the drums a year or so, and am reaching a limit with my what I can do with the ... A: Jon, I actually never heard of reversing the set up for left handed drummers being called the ...
click track	2/8/2009
Q: we are a 3 man band, drums bass and guitar. we some times lack a keyboard track. is it possible to ... A: Rene, I THINK I understand what you are trying to do. Although it's not the pitch you want to ...
music making software	2/3/2009
Q: could i have a list of different softwares that are music makers kinda like jamstudio.com, but you ... A: Kaleb, There are many - and it depends on what you want to do with it. The best in my opinion are ...
The Drums	2/3/2009
Q: ok thanks for the info. OK got one more Question hope not getting on your nerves. ok now the bass in ... A: Hmmm =- That's not an easy thing to address. You need to practice with a metronome or a CD of the ...
Drums	2/2/2009
Q: How can i Make a better roll when I'm playing the drums and hitting the symbols? A: Mariah - This is a fairly big question that has lots of answers. Rolls, whether on a drum or ...
Brass Snare Drum	1/29/2009
Q: Wow 30 years of experience... hope you can help: I just received a Nickle plated Brass TAMA 4in ... A: CD, I have a brass snare as well, so old, we cannot trace the company that made it. Tama is a very ...
ankle pain	1/25/2009
Q: I've been drumming for round 5 months now and noticed that both my ankles hurt while i play,i play ... A: James, I am not a double pedal drummer, never had a job I needed to play on that required it. ...
How to shorten the ring on my cymbal	1/21/2009
Q: I have a 16" Sabian XS20 Thin Crash, and it rings for about 20 seconds after, and im starting to ... A: John, There are a few old tricks that work well. If you are on the cheap, duct tape actually does a ...
click track	1/7/2009
Q: I am about to apply for cruise ship work as a drummer most of work involves playing in a showband to ... A: Sam, Your best choice is to purchase a drum machine. Sweetwater.com sells everything and the Alesis ...
playing base drum	1/2/2009
Q: I play drums as a hobby (Pearl Exports - love 'em)....I picked up in HS / College while hanging ... A: Steve, I'll give this my best shot. My life on drums is mostly jazz/fusion and some rock. That ...
bass drum sound	12/27/2008
Q: Hey, I just replaced the back head of my bass drum (the resonant head, not the beater head). The ... A: Hmmm - tough one there. Pillows or anything else that sits in the drum does make it more quiet ...
bass drum sound	12/27/2008
Q: Hey, I just replaced the back head of my bass drum (the resonant head, not the beater head). The ... A: Brett, I am not a fan of keeping the Sear's bedding department inside my bass drum. I have what ...
Cocktail Drum Set	12/26/2008
Q: My brother-in-law drummer would like a cocktail drum set. I am an analyst/writer by professsion, ... A: Ed. This is a very nice drum set. Hard to say what he is asking for it/ However, it's NOT what ...
Good Brands of Drums	12/15/2008
Q: hi i am looking for a drumset for my boyfriend and i was wondering what brands of drums are good for ... A: Metal guys tend to play loud and hard so you cannot plan on a cheap drum set as it will fall apart. ...
Beginner Drum Set	12/11/2008
Q: I'm looking for a beginner drum set for my children, ages 4,8 and 10. I've gone through two of the ... A: Sandi, This question I get all the time, and I usually have the same answers. You first need to ...
Double Bass Pedal Help	12/10/2008
Q: I just bought a Pacific Drums by DW DP402 Double Bass Drum Pedal for 100 bucks. I found out how to ... A: Austin, I don't use double pedals but generally Pacific/DW pedals have have spikes on the front of ...
Used Roland Kit	12/3/2008
Q: I recently found a used electronic drum set on craigslist. I went and tried the drums out and ... A: Justin, I follow the developments and products in the electronica percussion world casually. I do ...
Cymbals	11/30/2008
Q: hey, i have a pretty basic set right now, i have 2 18 inch ride/ crash cymbals one made by camber, ... A: Gage, A few things for you to consider when you ask about "building up" your set. What kind of ...
Cymbals	11/29/2008
Q: hey, i have a pretty basic set right now, i have 2 18 inch ride/ crash cymbals one made by camber, ... A: gage, I have 23 students at this time, and I get this question often. You're in luck, I have the ...
Slingerland base drum	11/16/2008
Q: Why did Slingerland mount the dbl tom tom mount so far forward on my 14X24, but on my 14X22 it is ... A: Dave, Slingerland's been out of business so long, I can't remember. There's really no way to tell ...
drum mic hole in custom snare	11/11/2008
Q: I rebuilt and converted this gretsch shell into a snare as in the link below, and its now my main ... A: Aldan, Some pretty creative stuff here. cutting holes larger than the air hole in shells does ...
MalletKat-software-backup	11/10/2008
Q: I am a mexican percussionist and I want to have more feedback about an electric marimba, specially ... A: Enrique, WE had a MalletKat at a university I used to tech at. At that time, we had the Alesis S4+ ...
drum triggering	11/3/2008
Q: ..I am using a vintage 1966 Premier kit with a 20 in kick. The problem I am having is that I am ... A: Jack, I personally do not use triggers although I have no problem with them. The ddrum seem to be ...
Hand Drum	10/17/2008
Q: I would like to buy a hand drum for a friend who was a drummer and percussionist through high school ... A: Kim, I don't consider myself an expert on ethnic percussion and "hand drums" come in many forms ...
about my practice kit	10/4/2008
Q: hi my question is i have a practice drum set made by Gibraltar and pintech plastic cymbals the ... A: James. I never had this question before. I am doubtful there is a solution. The only possibility ...
percussion mp3	10/3/2008
Q: where can i find 1812 Overture just the percussion section mp3 A: I'm sorry - I have no idea - this is more of an internet search than a percussion question. ...
Which drum set should I buy my kid?	9/26/2008
Q: My kid is 11 years old, has played and taken drum lessons for about a year. We want to get her a ... A: Alba, Hello and thanks for your question. I get this one many times and my answer is different ...
Roland HD-1	9/8/2008
Q: I have a Roland HD-1 Lite kit for practicing in my apartment. It was the perfect price and size for ... A: John, Thanks for your question. I am writing back to you as soon as possible so that you might seek ...
Timbale lessons	9/6/2008
Q: I'm a senior citizen who received a timbale set a while ago. I've taken a few lessons and want to ... A: Larry, This depends largely on what it is exactly you want to do with your newfound skills. There ...
midi drums	9/3/2008
Q: I just bought a mac pro with Logic Express. I want to buy some electronic drums to use as triggers ... A: Joseph, Good questions - and you have already made some great decisions. Logic is an outstanding ...
bass drum technique on kit	9/1/2008
Q: I see 100's of video clips etc on how to do double bass drum work such as the heel-toe method. They ... A: Andrew, I'll try and answer your question although there's no way I can make the best judgements ...
Why use a drum machine?	8/27/2008
Q: I've seen some people here recommend using a drum machine when you practice. I'm not that familiar ... A: Tracy, Did not see this question until today. Drum machines used to be the enemy of ever working ...
drums	8/27/2008
Q: i got a blue cb drum set with only 1 base drum, but i want a cheap double base. should i get ... A: Sheri, It's near impossible to purchase a single bass drum, especially one of the chinese lower ...
Record from Fruity Loops to my DR-3 Roland	8/22/2008
Q: I'm a musician and I bought a Roland Drum Machine DR-3, I Want to increase the rhythms by hooking up ... A: Octvio, Each piece of software handles this differently, also Macs and Windows computers are very ...
drums sticks or rutes	8/18/2008
Q: I have a pearl drumset and I have a drumming dvd and i was wondering what if I should use a brush ... A: Carl, This depends on 2 things really: how good is your audio system form your computer and how ...
how to read music for quad/quint drums	7/11/2008
Q: I've played drums in school band for the past 4 years. Now I'm going into high school & want to ... A: There are four spaces and between five lines on the staff. The Staff is the area on the page where ...
First Drum Kit	7/1/2008
Q: I'm a guitarist who's gradually become interested in picking up drums, but I still don't know a lot ... A: lena, I get this question all the time. Here are the best options for you in this price range, In ...
cymbals	6/16/2008
Q: I recently had a fire in my house.and my cymbals got some over spray from the fire hose.now they ... A: 3 products I would try: At most stores Noxon (not for polished "brilliant" finish) Brasso ...
Need help deciding on a set	6/5/2008
Q: I've been playing drums on and off for about 6 years now. Am now 18, graduating highschool and am in ... A: Doug, Both sets you are looking at are fine. Mahogany does have a darker sound, although the type ...
Choosing drum set	6/2/2008
Q: Can you please tell me GP percussion 300B vs Percussion Plus brand which is better? A: Tam, GP are Chinese, like about 80% of all cheap sets. Percussion Plus is based in England, however ...
WHAT are my drums?!	5/10/2008
Q: James Im a 40 year old drummer thats been playing the same set since high school and I'm ready for a ... A: Ron, Thanks for your question. Your set is from around the very last Slingerland sets before the ...
drums	5/6/2008
Q: I am a high school student who is writing a paper about how many people believe drummers just "bang ... A: Let me give this a try, not questions I normally get for sure. Well let's see. I am a drummer, a ...
Tuning 5 marching bass drums	5/6/2008
Q: My high school bought brand new Yamaha Marching Drumline equipment last year. Sadly, the senior who ... A: I get this question at least monthly from band directors and drummers online. Here is my stock ...
Please Help Evaluate Used Kits; Mapex Venus, Tama Rock/Swingstar, 70's Tama/Camco, Pearl Export	4/24/2008
Q: I started playing at age 9, I'm now 50. Had Slingerland then in the 70's Dad bought me the on-sale ... A: These are all entry level sets. The Pearl Exports are not good, basswood shells mostly crap. The ...
Live performance with backing tracks, need click track for drummer	4/12/2008
Q: I hope you can help me. I'm a solo performer (singer) making electro pop, and, in the past, having ... A: EJ - I am sorry, I am unaware of any way of syncing the iPod of Mac with your click track. That ...
drum help	4/10/2008
Q: I'm trying to decide if I wanna teach myself drums or get a car lol so If I go with the drums, what ... A: Sierra, I do not think drums will cost as much as a car! I think it's great you want to learn. If ...
New Kit	4/9/2008
Q: I haven't played drums in about 5 years as I got sick of the dead-sounding kit I had. When I started ... A: Good choices - good questions. First a very brief discussion of wood. Birch, like Maple and Walnut ...
Live performance with backing tracks, need click track for drummer	4/8/2008
Q: I hope you can help me. I'm a solo performer (singer) making electro pop, and, in the past, having ... A: Hmm = that's a tough one. How would you coordinate the click to the tune. I believe what you are ...
New Kit	4/7/2008
Q: I haven't played drums in about 5 years as I got sick of the dead-sounding kit I had. When I started ... A: James, Great question, sorry about your fire. Please keep in mind, these are my opinions, although ...
bass drum pedal	3/21/2008
Q: i have a broken Ludwig bass drum pedal. i think it's a Classic or a Combo design. i don't quite ... A: Most of the pedals in the price range are made in China, and likely in the same factory, so my guess ...
bass drum pedal	3/20/2008
Q: i have a broken Ludwig bass drum pedal. i think it's a Classic or a Combo design. i don't quite ... A: Corey, There are only a few things that could be wrong. A. The spring is shot or has slipped off ...
tuning drums for metal	3/18/2008
Q: hey James i am getting a seven piece mapex this week and it has 2 22x16 bass drums, a 12x9 tom, a ... A: Joe, I have a number of students in your situation although I am mainly a jazz/show drummer myself. ...
double pedal	3/12/2008
Q: I am looking for a double pedal and noticed that the cheapest one was $100. I wanted to know if it ... A: Yes, it matters quite a bit. Cheap pedals are exactly that. They are made of cheap pot metal, little ...
double bass drum	3/5/2008
Q: ok well i have been playing drums for about 5 years but i just started double bass drum about a year ... A: Well, you have the best pedal in the business so it's clearly not your equipment. I am more of a ...
vintage Ludwig snare	3/3/2008
Q: I have a Ludwig snare (all original parts and case)that is circa early '80's, I am interested in ... A: Ludwig had a few levels of drums from that period of time. Ludwig Standard was their student line ...

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James Moyer

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Expertise

Anything in percussion or drums. Macintosh computers or music software

Experience

30 years of professional playing and 25 years of teaching at all levels in percussion and drums. I taught middle school, high school and college students since 1978. I used to work for Apple. I know the computer line and operating system at expert level and teach music technology at my college.

Organizations
American Federation of Musicians Percussive Arts Society Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Pi Kappa Lambda Phi Kapp Phi

Publications
Percussive Noites School Band amd Orchestra Author of Four Mallet Method for Marimba - Studio 4 Productions 3 guitar transcriptions for marimba available at Steve Weiss Music

Education/Credentials
Bach. Music Ed. - Susquehanna University Master of Music - University of Oklahoma Doctor of Musical Arts - University of Oklahoma Associate Professor of Music - Millikin University 1986-98 and Lafayette College 2004-present.

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