David Anania is a powerful drummer in a band called Those Medley Kids who are currently performing an exciting catalog of classic progressive rock tunes from some of the biggest prog rock bands like Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis, and Rush. He's also a long-time drummer and Creative Consultant for The Blue Man Group, and has performed on stages around the world with stars like Moby, David Bowie, and Busta Rhymes. He has also performed on major television networks including The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Rosie O'Donnel, CBS This Morning, and several shows in Europe.

In this episode, David talks about his journey in becoming an accomplished drummer, and what he likes most about drumming. He also provides a robust list of influences that have shaped his artistry and style along the way. David reveals some of the best ways to find other players who are like-minded with your own musical tastes along with how the role of the drummer is to serve the song. He goes deeper into playing what is necessary and how to lay down the main pulse of the song.

David shares some of his biggest breakthroughs in his own playing along with some specific tunes to challenge yourself to reach higher in your drum-craft. He also provides the process he uses to learn new material, and how to understand phrase lengths. He talks about the importance of intentional drumming and how to make every note count while subtracting unnecessary notes to create space. David then delves into melodic playing and how to maintain a solid meter throughout each song, with or without a click track.

He touches on how to develop your own style and unique voice to a song, along with the importance of body position and kit set-up to support the physicality of drumming. He shares warm-up and practice routines and advises to be patient with yourself and practice healthfully. He encourages practicing with purpose and to experiment with your drum-kit setup to achieve a good flow around the kit.

Links: https://www.instagram.com/ananiamusic_official