Joe Morello Master Studies -

This is the meat of the book. Morello presents bars of 16th notes where accents move by one 16th note every bar. It sounds simple. It is maddeningly difficult. These exercises force the weak hand to lead accents, breaking the "right-hand bias" most drummers have. If you can play Section III at 120 BPM without tensing your shoulders, you have achieved what few ever will.

Write in pencil: p (soft) on the grace notes, f (loud) on the accents. Morello’s genius was dynamic contrast. If you play everything at the same volume, you are doing calisthenics, not music. joe morello master studies

Morello provides a systematic way to achieve a smooth, orchestral press roll by controlling the number of bounces per stroke. This is the meat of the book

“Take Five” was five minutes. Master Studies is a lifetime. It is maddeningly difficult

Watch your stick heights. Are your accents consistent? Is your "prep" stroke efficient?