Expert advice and interesting insight from
Broadway Drummers, and Percussionists.
Musical Theatre Articles
![Setting Up a New Broadway Percussion Book](http://themillermachine.com/cdn/shop/articles/2013-03-09-cinderella-broadway-bill-hayes-percussion-01-featured-image.jpg?v=1602460706&width=533)
Setting Up a New Broadway Percussion Book
By Bill Hayes "When preparing a percussion book for a new Broadway show, we occasionally get the music in advance. That allows us to start our “treasure hunt” early, to have...
Setting Up a New Broadway Percussion Book
By Bill Hayes "When preparing a percussion book for a new Broadway show, we occasionally get the music in advance. That allows us to start our “treasure hunt” early, to have...
![Headshot photo of Danny Taylor.](http://themillermachine.com/cdn/shop/articles/danny-taylor-headshot-final-02.jpg?v=1686450737&width=533)
Conducting a National Tour
By Danny Taylor "Conducting a National Tour is incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. Stepping on to the podium with a new orchestra every few weeks really keeps you on your...
Conducting a National Tour
By Danny Taylor "Conducting a National Tour is incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. Stepping on to the podium with a new orchestra every few weeks really keeps you on your...
![Reporting from the Broadway Trenches](http://themillermachine.com/cdn/shop/articles/jon-berger-headshot-orignal-featured-image.jpg?v=1602462431&width=533)
Reporting from the Broadway Trenches
By Jon Berger "After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for...
Reporting from the Broadway Trenches
By Jon Berger "After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for...
![Drumming for "Ain’t Too Proud"](http://themillermachine.com/cdn/shop/articles/clayton-craddock-aint-too-proud-03-featured-image.jpg?v=1602462211&width=533)
Drumming for "Ain’t Too Proud"
By Clayton Craddock "When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era...
Drumming for "Ain’t Too Proud"
By Clayton Craddock "When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era...
![Headshot of Joe Mowatt.](http://themillermachine.com/cdn/shop/articles/joe-mowatt-headshot-featured-image.jpg?v=1602461546&width=533)
It's Groundhog Day... Again!
By Joe Mowatt "The unique part of Groundhog Day was that the drummer had to play on stage, in a groundhog costume, wearing a giant groundhog head. Since I could...
It's Groundhog Day... Again!
By Joe Mowatt "The unique part of Groundhog Day was that the drummer had to play on stage, in a groundhog costume, wearing a giant groundhog head. Since I could...
![Headshot photo of Sean McDaniel.](http://themillermachine.com/cdn/shop/articles/sean-mcdaniel-headshot-featured-image.jpg?v=1687924325&width=533)
My Tuning Philosophy
By Sean McDaniel "I’ve experimented with the bottom heads being a tritone higher on certain gigs if the drums are bigger. At my current Broadway show, I’ve even had the...
My Tuning Philosophy
By Sean McDaniel "I’ve experimented with the bottom heads being a tritone higher on certain gigs if the drums are bigger. At my current Broadway show, I’ve even had the...
Setups
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Mamma Mia! - Will Marinelli
Speaking of sound, this is the first time I've ever utilized an on-hat microphone during a show. This is actually a fairly common sight on Broadway, in particular Andy Jones...
Mamma Mia! - Will Marinelli
Speaking of sound, this is the first time I've ever utilized an on-hat microphone during a show. This is actually a fairly common sight on Broadway, in particular Andy Jones...
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Elf - Will Marinelli
"Timpani wise, this book requires quite a few low notes. In particular, the opening number 'Happy All the Time' calls for a low Eb and Bb, which can be pretty...
Elf - Will Marinelli
"Timpani wise, this book requires quite a few low notes. In particular, the opening number 'Happy All the Time' calls for a low Eb and Bb, which can be pretty...
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Frozen - Jeff MacPherson
"I sit behind my drums at a low to medium height. My hips are parallel to the floor. This allows me to generate as much power as possible when hitting...
Frozen - Jeff MacPherson
"I sit behind my drums at a low to medium height. My hips are parallel to the floor. This allows me to generate as much power as possible when hitting...