The Double Stroke Roll: Michael Carvin Breaks Down Drumming Rudiments

The 26th and final rudiment of drumming, check out the double stroke roll, as taught by Michael Carvin!

Michael Carvin - Drums
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Aaron Chandler - Sound Engineer
Richard Emery - Production Assistant
Seton Hawkins - Producer

Recorded September 10, 2013

[boomerguy]

When I was 17 years old in the 60's, I had been a self-taught garage band drummer and I thought I was great. After watching jazz drummers on the The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, I decided I wanted to learn jazz and started looking for a jazz instructor. How hard could that be? I was in the right place at the right time and found a drummer who had actually filled in for Ed Schaugnessy when he was on vacation from Doc Severenson Orchestra on The Tonight Show. In spite of the fact that he said he didn't teach, I finally wore him down and he agreed to one lesson. If I pleased him, there would be another one....maybe.
When he told me to bring my snare drum and stand, I told him I could bring my whole drumset (I wanted to dive right in!). He repeated with the emphasis that I would do as I was told. I brought my snare drum and a pair of 7A sticks.
He brought out his 14" x 4" piccolo snare drum with 40 snare wires and no muffler on a stand. Then he used his 7A sticks to do a double-stroke roll that sounded like tearing a piece of paper and told me to do the same thing on my drum while he handed me some giant marching band sticks. I started to clamp the batter head muffler and he stopped me while showing me the underside of his snare drum with no muffler. OK. I tried it and sounded like I had thrown marbles into a trash can. I said I couldn't do it with those big sticks.
He smiled, took the big sticks and repeated it on his snare with the same expertise. then he showed me the proper way to hold my sticks. Lesson was over. I was told to come back next week.
He was like Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid with "waxy-on, waxy-off". Each week I had to show my improvement before he would teach me ONE new rudiment and how to play it. This went on forever and he never charged me because he said he was not a teacher and this was only a favor. If I had ever shown up without improving, he would have stopped.
This tiny old man had severe arthritis and showed me the most fantastic drum solo with brushes that I have ever seen. He was a wonderful instructor and an amazing human being who taught me many amazing things through rudiments, patience and perseverance. I still practice his lessons today and they all surround the rudiments.

[LemontreeFarms]

Kit tuning is just perfect. Great great sound.

[dansmith]

Even the most basic rudiments sound amazing in the hands of a true master of the instrument!

[seasondrummer]

Michael, love the way you break down these rudiments and apply them to the drumkit, great inspiration, keep it up

[barberjeff]

I love your style, class, and humor you deliver in your lessons! You're drumming is very greaceful!

[hootgibson]

Great style Mr. Carvin. Wonderful approach in your teaching. Thank you!

[MattKane]

THANK YOU MASTER DRUMMER MICHAEL CARVIN!!

[ROCKNROLLFAN]

My struggle is getting each rudiment as even as possible especially when I try to get the paradiddle up to speed. I'm going to do each rudiment slow until I can get it to sound clean like his demonstration. He's definitely a master of his craft and he does it with CLASS.

[williamcharman]

Congratulations Michael for being a terrific modern Tutor.When I was tought Rudiments in the 70 s, they kind of seemed boring, but your style of teaching is very exciting.Way dah go kid

[harleythomas]

Yeah Michael Carvin kicks ass on the drums ..a true master

[nghawk]

he's so cool, wish i was that cool

[sluggo]

I’m not even a drummer and I’m learning so much from these lessons.

[JS]

“The drummer with the best technique is the drummer who controls the bounce.” That’s going up on my wall by my drums today! 🥁😃🥁

[JS]

I just watched a lifetime of work in less than 5 minutes. 😳

[Dogdrum]

The roll at the fastest speed reminds me of Philly Joe's.