Drum History
A podcast all about the rich history of the drums - and how they became what they are today! Join Bart van der Zee as he speaks with experts about the curious journey of the ever-evolving drum set.
Your Mind’s Ear: Dave Elitch on Sound, Gear, and Playing Without Pain
Drummer and educator Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta, Weezer, Miley Cyrus) joins me to break down why so many drummers hit a ceiling—and how to fix it with better mechanics, smarter practice, and choices that actually translate to the kit. We dig into eliminating hidden tension, building sustainable speed and feel, practical tuning and muffling, and Dave’s new course Your Mind’s Ear on dialing in sound and gear (launching September 8, 2025).
Highlights
The #1 mistake: building speed on top of tension—and how to unwind it
Meeting players where they are: playing “more you” without pain
Social media vs. reality: flashy techniques that won’t hold up on a gig
Practical tuning & muffling (heads, dampening, avoiding dead drums)
Small daily habits that prevent injury and compound progress
Find Dave
Website/Courses: www.daveelitch.com
Instagram: @daveelitch
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Podcast Episodes
The Gear of Steve Gadd (Part 2) with Paul Wells
In Part 2 of our deep-dive into the gear of Steve Gadd, Paul Wells returns to unpack even more forensic-level details about one of the most influential drummers of all time. Building on the wildly popular Part 1, this ep…
New Show! The Fully Vented Podcast: The Story of Orange County Drum & Percussion
I am super excited to share with you the first episode of this great new podcast! The Fully Vented Podcast: the story of Orange County Drum & Percussion By host Jarrod Fallon and producer Evan Nagorner New episodes premi…
How Drum Sample Packs Are Created with Shawn Fields and Darrell Thorp
In this episode, Bart talks with Shawn Fields, founder of Drumatica, and Grammy-winning audio engineer Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Beck, Foo Fighters) about the creation of the groundbreaking Black Oyster drum sample libra…
A Look at the Gear of Steve Gadd (Part 1) with Paul Wells
In this episode of Drum History, we take an in-depth look at the legendary gear of Steve Gadd, one of the most recorded and influential drummers of all time. Our returning guest, Paul Wells (Juilliard jazz faculty, Curti…
How To Pronounce the Tough Drum Brand Names with Eric Leiderman
Ever wondered if you’ve been saying Tama, Paiste, or Sonor correctly? You’re not alone! In this episode, Late Night with Seth Meyers producer and friend to all drummer's, Eric Leiderman joins the show to settle the debat…
Drumming Insights: A look at "Drummers on Drumming" with Ben Hilzinger
We are joined by Ben Hilzinger, professional drummer and author of Drummers on Drumming, to explore the stories behind the records that shaped the legends of the drumming world. Ben shares his experiences performing with…
The History of How We Buy Drums with Gerry Porter
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating history and evolution of buying and selling drums with special guest Gerry Porter of Hazelshould.com. From the dapper beginnings of mom-and-pop drum shops in bustling cities…
Finding a New Rhythm: Ryan Dusick on Life After Maroon 5
In this episode, we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of Ryan Dusick, the original drummer for Maroon 5. Ryan shares his experiences of rising to fame with one of the world’s most popular bands, the mental health…
A Deep Dive into Shakers with William Johnson
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of shakers, one of the most versatile and underrated percussive instruments! In this episode, we dive into the origins of shakers, their unique classifications, and a variety o…
How to Ergonomically Set Up Your Drum Set with Brandon Green
Brandon Green from drummechanics.com joins us on the show to give us a 101 course on all things drum ergonomics and how to play the drums without any pain! We go every piece of the drum set and discuss how to set them up…
