LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

A Deeper Purpose Behind Every Note

At DrumMantra, technical growth is just the beginning.
The real journey — the one that changes not just your drumming, but your life — is about discovering where your music comes from:
Are you playing from your head?
Or from your heart?

Recently, during a Drumset Mastery session, a beautiful conversation unfolded.
It started with technical talk — accent patterns, left-foot ostinatos, complex coordination — and evolved into something much deeper:

Performing Beyond Technique

Even while fully engaged in difficult exercises, it’s easy for your mind to wander.
Maybe you imagine yourself performing in front of hundreds.
Maybe you think about what it would sound like with a full band.
Or maybe, like we did, you begin to wonder:
"What kind of music do I really want to bring into the world?"

When you study deep rhythmic structures — like polymeters and layered phrasing — you're not just learning to play complex music.
You...

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST EPISODE HERE

Performance anxiety is a deeply human experience. Whether you're stepping on stage for the first time or the hundredth, that swirling blend of anticipation, self-doubt, and adrenaline can shake even the most prepared musician. I recently had a powerful coaching session with one of my students, Michael, that reminded me just how universal these moments are—and how transformative they can be when approached with care and clarity.

The Backstory: A Big Gig on the Horizon
Michael is a dedicated drummer who has been putting in the work. He’s thoughtful, meticulous, and fully invested in growing as a musician. As part of his journey through the Drumset Mastery Program, he had been preparing for an upcoming performance with a band that clearly valued his playing and commitment. Despite their support and his own progress, he came into our session feeling unsettled.
He described how, during rehearsal, everyone else was excited about the progress the band had m...

Big Band Drumming: The Philosophy, the Function, and the History

Episode 96 of the DrumMantra Podcast

Even if you never end up playing in a big band, understanding its role in the evolution of the drumset is essential to your growth as a drummer.

The drumset was invented in the early 1900s—born out of the ragtime era, evolving through early jazz, and designed to serve the music. It wasn’t originally created to be a solo instrument—it was built to support, to connect, to drive the band. Understanding this lineage gives us a clearer picture of what our instrument is really meant to do.

In this episode, we explore how drummers function in a big band setting:

• From early press rolls on the snare in New Orleans…

• To the birth of the swing pattern, comping, and articulation

• To the modern big band context, where the drummer becomes both the engine and the glue holding 20 musicians together.

Big band drumming isn’t just about playing what’s on the chart. It’s about ...

🎥 Watch the Video: See real Drumset Mastery Program students talk about their breakthroughs in confidence, coordination, timing, and musical awareness.
👉 

Inside the Drumset Mastery Program, transformation doesn’t take years—it often happens in weeks.
In this video, I share recent wins from current students:

Michael, who recently sight-read Rush’s Tom Sawyer in real time, after just a few weeks of practicing kick drum subdivision work from class.
Nick, who had been stuck on a plateau for years, now feeling like he’s finally climbing—and getting recognized for his playing.
Adam, who’s improving his posture, breathing, and mental focus, all while learning how to bury the click and play with confidence.

These are just a few examples of what happens when you train with intention, structure, and a proven system rooted in the DrumMantra Six Key Elements:
Time, Reading, Coordination, Polymeters, Phrasing, and Groove.

Are ready to experience massive growth in your drumming? 

Book a free cal...

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news—The Primary Series, the second book in the DrumMantra repertoire, has officially landed in the Top 100 on Amazon! This recognition is a testament to the power of deep, intentional practice and the growing community of drummers committed to expanding their rhythmic horizons.

What Is The Primary Series?

Following the success of The Foundational Series, which introduced core polymetric concepts and coordination systems, The Primary Series picks up right where book one leaves off. This book is designed for intermediate to advanced drummers ready to deepen their understanding of polymetric coordination and explore complex rhythmic phrasing across various time signatures.

You’ll study the functional relationships of:

• 3:4

• 3:5

• 4:5

• 3:4:5

These relationships are explored in both Native (resolving within a single measure) and Non-Native (requiring multiple measures to resolve) expressions—offering a thorough and practical a...

🥁 Left Foot Independence Homework Breakdown

This exercise is designed to develop greater control and independence of your left foot (hi-hat pedal) while maintaining a steady groove with your hands and right foot. The goal is to be able to play consistent grooves while introducing various left foot patterns without compromising timing, coordination, or feel.

🎯 Primary Focus: The Left Foot

Your left foot is the main area of development in this exercise. The idea is to cycle through different hi-hat foot patterns (permutations) while keeping a steady groove with the rest of the limbs.

🔁 Groove Ostinato (The Constant Groove Layer)

This pattern should be maintained throughout the entire exercise:

• Right Hand (Ride Cymbal): 8th notes (1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &)

• Right Foot (Bass Drum): Beats 1 and 3

• Left Hand (Snare Drum): Backbeats on 2 and 4

This forms a classic, steady groove framework over which the left foot permutations will be layered.

🦶 Hi-Hat (Left Foot) Pe...

DrumMantra LIVE Online Workshop: A Hands-On Training Experience That Will Transform Your Drumming

📅 Sunday, March 2 | 2.5 Hours of Hands-On, Transformational Training
🎯 Limited to 20 Drummers | Hosted on Zoom

Are You Ready to Revolutionize Your Drumming?

Most drummers spend years practicing the wrong way—repeating bad habits, reinforcing sloppy time, and guessing their way through practice sessions. They hit plateaus, get frustrated, and ultimately don’t reach their full potential.

That ends NOW.

On Sunday, March 2, I’m hosting an exclusive LIVE online workshop that will change the way you approach drumming forever.

This isn’t a lecture. This isn’t a masterclass you watch passively. This is a hands-on, real-time training session where YOU will be actively practicing, developing, and improving right alongside me.

You’ll be joining drummers from all over the world for an immersive, structured practice experience using the Six Key Elements of the DrumMantra Practice System—a method ...

Rich Stitzel to present at the 2025 Chicago Drum Show

Rich Stitzel is a professional drummer, educator, and author known for his innovative DrumMantra Practice System.  This method cross-trains time, reading, coordination, polymetric awareness, phrasing, and groove to help drummers develop a deeper understanding of drumming. As the founder of the Drumset Mastery Program, Rich has guided drummers worldwide in unlocking new levels of precision, creativity, and control.

At the Chicago Drum Show 2025, Rich will deliver an interactive clinic that challenges drummers to rethink their approach to practice. Blending performance and instruction, he will demonstrate how to go deeper with their practice through focused, intentional, and structured methods. Attendees will experience hands-on participation, gain insights into refining their technique, and walk away with a new perspective on practice.

Rich has performed nationwide in all types of venues—from clubs to theaters to arenas. As a...

A Powerful Approach to Teaching: Real-Time Practice with Your Students

As drumset teachers, we all want our students to succeed—not just in mastering an exercise but in understanding the true art of practice. Too often, lessons follow this cycle:

1. Assign exercises.

2. Send the student home to practice.

3. Check their progress next week.

While this approach has its merits, what if we took it a step further? What if, instead of simply assigning practice, we actually demonstrated what it should feel like in real time? Imagine giving your students the full experience of what’s required each day while they’re practicing on their own.

Teaching in Real Time: The Philosophy

Practicing effectively isn’t just about hitting notes or checking boxes. It’s about building focus, developing consistency, and internalizing the how and why of each exercise. As teachers, we have the opportunity to set the tone for this during lessons by practicing alongside our students in real time.

This...

If you’ve ever wondered whether the Drumset Mastery Program is the right fit for you, let me make it crystal clear:

Your Own Pace, Your Own Track