Cruise Ship Drummer!: Everything wrong with power toms, but worse.

A drumming blog written by Todd Bishop.

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About the author

Todd Bishop

Portland, Oregon, United States

I'm a jazz drummer, drum teacher, band leader, and visual artist from Portland, Oregon.

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Todd Bishop Group
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GET DRUMMING BOOKS by Todd Bishop:

Print and e-books. Books of the Blog include all downloadable materials from the site for that year.

NOW AVAILABLE: 2019 Book of the Blog!

131 page volume including all of the downloadable materials, transcriptions, and practice methods posted on the site in 2019.

EXPANDED PRINT EDITION: Syncopation in 3/4

Reading text in 3/4 time, in the style of one of our favorite books, Progressive Steps to Syncopation by Ted Reed.

Get: 2018 Book of the Blog

132 pages of exercises, transcriptions, practice methods from the site in 2018. Snare drum technique, EZ solo and uptempo methods, expanded funk drill, jazz waltz, Afro 6, Songo, much more! Jack Dejohnette, Buddy Rich, Roy Haynes, James Gadson, Charli Persip, Dannie Richmond, Joe Chambers, Airto, Changuito, others!

GET: 2017 Book of the Blog

90 pages of practice materials and transcriptions from 2017. Technique, jazz comping, funk, odd meters, Afro feels, much more! Gadd, Tony, Dejohnette, Roy Haynes, Terry Bozzio, Billy Higgins, and others.

NEW E-BOOK: EZ ROCK DRUMMING - A Short Course for the Mastery of Rock Beats

An extremely effective method for teaching and learning this very important area of drumming. Good for students all levels, great for teachers.

Purchase our print books, e-books, and CDs

Click the images to order:

NEW E-BOOK: 13 Essential Stickings

Intro to 13 patterns essential for soloing and filling in all styles of drumming. Designed for fast learning with minimal technique, for the most real drumming effect for your practice time.

E-BOOKS: 5 Transcriptions of Max, Tony, Elvin, Zig, more!

NEW TITLE: 13 Essential Stickings! Also: Roy Haynes solos, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Max Roach Solos, Zigaboo Modeliste, 70s Funk! For tablet or Kindle. Instant download, all titles $4.95

Get the 2016 Book of the Blog

119 pages of practice materials. Snare drum, jazz, rock, A TON of funk, odd meters, Latin. Drum transcriptions of the playing of Elvin Jones, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Billy Higgins, Airto, Ndugu Leon Chancler, Joe Chambers, more!

Playing Samba and Bossa Nova: print or e-book!

All the essential information you need for playing these styles creatively and professionally! Print version is now available.

Get the 2015 Book of the Blog

102 pages of drum practice materials and transcriptions. Includes snare technique materials, odd meters, jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban studies. Transcriptions of Tony Williams, Billy Higgins, Frankie Dunlop, Ed Blackwell, Elvin Jones, more!

Get the 2014 Book of the Blog

80 pages of blog stuff from 2014. Snare exercises, jazz waltz and Afro-Cuban studies, transcriptions of Tony Williams, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Ed Blackwell, and much more!

CSD! BOOK: 100 Grooves

Over 100 drum grooves, as played by some of the greatest drummers ever. Funk, Latin, jazz, odd meters, much more!

Get the 2013 Book of the Blog

122 pages of blog items from 2013. Pages o' coordination, transcriptions, jazz, funk, Latin, odd meters, metric modulation, much more!

Get the 2011 Book of the Blog - transcriptions

Now discounted 15%! 139 pages of transcriptions of your favorite drummers: Elvin, Tony, Dejohnette, Haynes, Vinnie, and many, many more!

2014 CD: Todd Bishop Group / Travelogue

click cover image to purchase download, or scroll down to "support the blog" to purchase CD

2012 CD: Todd Bishop Group / Little Played Little Bird

and other CDs by Todd Bishop

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