The Philosophy of Taking Action

Every great drummer, every musician you admire, and every legend who inspires you didn’t arrive at their mastery by accident. They weren’t born with it. They worked for it.

But here’s the thing: most people only pay attention to the journey's end. They marvel at the accomplishments, the records, the performances. Or they get excited at the starting line—the potential, the possibilities, the dreams.

Very few people focus on what really matters: the grind in between.

It’s like watching a marathon. The crowds gather at the beginning to cheer the runners on. They line up at the finish line to celebrate the victory. But how many people think about the hundreds of miles those runners trained, the early mornings, the late nights, and the sacrifices they made to get to the starting line?

You can’t just stand on the sidelines if you're serious about your drumming. You have to commit to the work, lifestyle, and grind that gets you to your goals.

Stop Putti...

If you’re here, it means drumming isn’t just something you do—it’s part of who you are. Whether you’re striving for better gigs, more confidence, or a deeper connection to your craft, you’re looking for something transformational.

You may have heard me talk about DrumMantra or the Drumset Mastery Program before, but today, I want to go deeper. I want to show you what these are, why they’re unique, and how they can completely revolutionize your drumming journey.

What Is DrumMantra?

DrumMantra is not just a practice method; it’s a philosophy—a way of thinking about and approaching drumming that integrates technique, creativity, and mindfulness.

It’s built around six key elements that are at the heart of drumming mastery:

1. Time – Developing precise, unshakable timing and rhythmic accuracy.
2. Reading – Learning to interpret and execute complex rhythms with confidence.
3. Coordination – Building independence across all four limbs for ultimate freedom behind the kit.
4. Polymeters – Maste
...

“If you’re seeking serious practice, Rich Stitzel’s DrumMantra courses and books are for you. You’ll gain the focus and concentration needed for any gig and other life areas.  You’ll also gain a greater command of reading, technique, coordination, relaxation, and breathing. Rich’s method is a literal drum meditation practice that teaches you the journey's importance, not just the destination. I’ve practiced his method and can’t recommend it enough.”

-Mark Walker
Author, World Jazz Drumming

Arturo Sandoval, Boston Pops, Berklee College of Music
8x Grammy Winner

Align your mind and body in this experiential drumming journey with exercises that will challenge, inform, and inspire how you think and play.

I am thrilled to present the most recent DrumMantra Lesson of the Month exercise series & Community Challenge!

Each week, the Lesson Vault Community members have the opportunity to practice together online with me three times. Saturdays at 1pm (CST) we work on "The Lesson of the Month," Sundays at 1pm we work on Groove Studies with the 20th Note book, and Mondays at 1pm we work on The Foundational Series book the first half of the year, and The Primary Series book the second half.

In the Lesson of the Month for January, we worked on a 12-part exercise series I created called "Oceans: A Groove Study in 7." As you can see in the video, the groove is an ostinato between kick & snare, and every 6 bars, the ride pattern changes. It is a challenging exercise series, and it takes some work to get it happening. 

A handful of the Lesson Vault Community (LVC) stepped up to the challenge and were able to video themselves playing all 12 exercises in a row! This was not an easy feat, and I a...

SO MUCH NEWS coming down the pike this week!

First of all, I want to say that The DrumMantra Lesson Vault members have been working SO HARD this year. To date, we are coming up on the 45th week of the year, which means we have had 180 hour-long practice sessions together! We went completely through the Foundational Series Book, are on the final chapter of the Primary Series Book, and have been working on Section I of the new book for the past 2 months. 

If you want to get your practice game together and take your playing to the next level, I highly recommend checking out the Lesson Vault Membership. Its no joke and I am there with you live on zoom 4 hours a week! 

(My private lessons/consultations are $100/hr, but you can get me on a live zoom call working through the material together up to 16 hours a month for only $29!)

If you would like full access to all of the practice sessions, over 100 hours of lessons in the vault, access to the community, AND early access to the first c...

Happy Monday to you!

We had a fantastic weekend of practice sessions! I can't believe we're already starting week five of 2022! 

We have several practice sessions this week for you to attend, and some big news happening at the end of February!

This week at DrumMantra:

***Practice sessions in February are "pay what you want"***

Monday, January 31:

6pm CST - Lesson of the Month (ADVANCED CLASS) register here

Monday, January 31:

7:30pm CST - Private Lesson/Consultation register here

Tuesday, February 1: 

6pm CST - Primary Series Practice (ADVANCED CLASS) register here

Wednesday, February 2: 

6pm CST - Private Lesson Slot register here

Thursday, February 3:

7:30pm CST - Mark Walker & Rich Stitzel PASIC2022 Presentation on YouTube! click here to watch

Friday, February 4

11:30am CST - Blair Sinta's Recording Experts Course register here (Get 20% off when you join the DrumMantra Lesson Vault by February 1) - and get 20% off the Lesson Vault with code: DM2...

The DrumMantra online practice sessions have been amazing in 2022!

We are only just starting week 3 and have already had 77 drummers attend! This is going to be a great year of practice so make sure you have the times on your calendar and join us ASAP!

This week is very special. This is the week we have the great ED SOPH as our guest on the DrumMantra Masters Series.

Ed is considered to be one of the greatest drumset educators of all time, as well as one of the most musical and powerful big band and small group drummers of all time. 

If you know Ed, you know how big of a deal it is, and you will be at this masterclass. You will also spread the word and encourage every drummer you know to be there!

If you don't know anything about Ed - do yourself a HUGE favor and check it out. I promise your mind will be blown by what he has to say. 

REGISTER NOW FOR ED'S MASTERCLASS

This week at DrumMantra:

Monday, January 17:

6pm Lesson of the Month (ADVANCED CLASS) register for FREE he...

Every year around this time WE ALL start thinking about how we're going to make the new year even better. You may even start to make lists:

• Practice smarter.
• Get more gigs.
• Get better gigs.
• Play more sessions.
• Yoga.
• Drink more water.
• Eat healthier.
• Take walks.
• Less time on social media.

I'm sure your list probably looks like mine. No matter where you are on your journey, there are always things you can do better, more efficiently, and more effectively.

I have spent the past decade creating a practice system that will provide you ample opportunity to work on material that will absolutely make you a better musician - regardless of what level you are at currently.

DrumMantra is all about practice. It's about practicing things that improve your time, reading, coordination, polymetric awareness, phrasing, and groove.

DrumMantra is also about developing mental skills like concentration, patience, awareness, and understanding. 

I personally invite you to join us on a journey...

 PAUL WERTICO

Improvisation Essentials: Expanding Your Creativity

>> December 19, 2021. 1:30pm-3:00pm <<

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!

The ninth person to successfully complete "Day 30" of the DrumMantra3030 course is Mr. Bryan O'Flynn from Austin, TX!

Bryan will be receiving a custom DrumMantra Low Boy Custom Beaters for his focused practice and perfect execution of the final challenge in the 3030! His hard work paid off big time!

Completing Day 30 has taken participants on average about 8 weeks of intense focus to get perfect. It is no easy task. Bryan just accomplished something VERY DIFFICULT and deserves mad props!

 

(To learn more about the DrumMantra3030 Course, and how you can win a Custom Low Boy Beater, CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW)