Welcome to the Discussions section. Here you can leave me a message or post a question. I'll do my best to respond in person. If you'd like to contact me directly, feel free to email me at the address below.

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Hi Mr Riley, I just want to say I'm absolutely fond of your instructional books (At the time, I'm in the posession of 'The Art Of Bop Drumming' and 'Beyond Bop Drumming'). I like your website very much, too. There are a lot interesting questions on this discussion board, and perhaps it would be a good idea if you would post your answers to some of them on your website? By doing so, you would be spared the trouble of answering the same question twice, and everyone who visits it can have an answer to a question they might want to ask as well. Kind Regards, David
by David Sommen (Merksplas (Belgium))February 2, 2007 5:03 AM
Hi mr. Riley! First I want to thank you for the great educational drumbooks of yours. I'm using The art of bopdrumming and Beyond bopdrumming. I am studying at a Music university in Sweden to become a drumteacher. I have one question that I would like to get an answer to if possible. When you play the exersizes in the book Beyond bopdrum. which contains a more irregular hi hat playing, should you play those Hi-hat patterns with heel up or heel down? I know you could do it both ways but which way do you reccon is the better one? Hope you understand my question. Kindest regards. Marcus Skoogh
by Marcus Skoogh (Arvika, Sweden)January 11, 2007 1:58 PM
Hello John - I am very pleased and inspired to look over your great Website. It is very informative and I am sure it will provide a valuable service to all musicians for years to come. You have become a model of excellence and an inspiration to all who are familiar with your work, both on the bandstand and in the classroom. Bravo! - Todd Coolman: www. toddcoolman@artistshare.com
by Todd Coolman (Purchase, NY)December 5, 2006 11:20 AM
Hello John Iworte to you before regarding tuning and you helped tremedously. I have been studying piano for a couple years now and it has helped my drumming quite a bit in terms of hearing the changes much better in the jazz groups I play with. Lately though I have become sort of tired of my ideas on the drums. I hear guys like yourself and Jeff Ballard, Brian Blade and all these phenomenal players and I cant seem to get that creativeness that I hear. I love drumming and have been playing for 40 years now. Can you give me some advice or inspirational advice. I seem to be in a rut and not sure how to get the creative juices flowing. I feel like I am repeating myself all the time. Do you ever feel this way about you playing and what do you do aobut it. Thanks so much for being a great role model to millions of musicians. Felice Bernardara
by Felice Bernardara (Detroit Michigan)November 29, 2006 7:02 PM
hey mr.riley ive been working out of your art of bop drumming book(which is amazing) and i've completed all the excersizes and mastered them at different tempos so i ordered your other two(which ive looked through and are also amazing) the jazz drummers workshop and beyond bop drumming. which one would you recomend to go through first?
by Daniel Higuera (Miami, Florida)November 18, 2006 5:40 PM
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