The Godmother Of Drumming Reacts To Drumline (Dorothea Taylor)

Dorothea Taylor – godmother of drumming and queen of drumline rudiments – has seen a lot of drummers during her almost 60 years of playing. So we asked her to break down some key scenes from the movie Drumline (2002).

When it came out. it reminded the general public that hey – drummers are pretty awesome. School drumlines have since gotten better and better, and more people have felt inspired to pick up the sticks.

Dorothea notices something while she’s watching Nick Cannon’s scenes in Drumline.

“Did he really play that? Or was the camera just showing hands?”

Dorothea’s gut was right: Cannon was not the one with all the drumline chops in the movie. In the first film, the blazing hands belonged to a guy named Jason Price (a Florida A&M drummer who later played with the Atlanta Hawks drumline, the Atlanta Falcons drumline and more).

Nick Cannon now has a daytime talk show, and he invited Dorothea to join him for a drum battle! You can watch that clip in the reaction video in this video. Marcus Joyner (a ‘hand double’ for two main characters in the second Drumline movie) calls in to chat with Dorothea while she goes through scenes from the film. She also drops facts about actual drumlines and if she thinks the movie reflects reality.

Dorothea was a snare drummer in her school drum and bugle corps, and she’s been mentoring and teaching drumline drummers (and drum set drummers) ever since. She’s also a Drumeo Coach and rudiment advocate who’s always pushing outside the box.

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[likeamandistressed]

The fact that this movie is 20 YEARS OLD punch me DIRECTLY in the

[AmberMaloneAZ]

I think Dorothea is a winner because she's so self-actualized. She's not trying to be cool and hip and impress the 'young' people. She just keeps on keeping on doing what SHE loves in the way that SHE loves to do it.

[Mrtcoltpilot]

In Navy boot camp I was in the Drum and Bugle Corps. I had to teach rock drummers basic rudiments. We ended up first place Company 913 Tripple Threat. I was 19 at the time as a boot camper. Was able to use my drum knowledge for the ships band USS Independence and did well. My main job was air traffic controller. Retired Navy 1994.

[weinderdog]

Dorothea is a national treasure and we must protect her at all costs

[stephaniewhite]

This was so much fun to watch. I have loved this movie for years. When my kids were old enough, i showed it to them. My youngest daughter is a percussionist in her high school band and is pursuing a front ensemble placement in college. This movie stirred something in her. She's adhd and has ALWAYS been tapping on anything and everything since she was a toddler. She's now focused and accomplished. We love music!

[CraigDrummer]

I was a High School Drummer in Oklahoma, won 3 State Titles in Drum Line and out band Placed 4th in the National Bands of America Competition. We were more geared for DCI drumming back then but watching this movie was so much fun. I have seen it about 20 times!! lol....

[randomnotes]

Dear Dorothea - you are such an inspiration! I just turned 60 and just started drumming and love it so much!

[imtherapycat]

I've never been a drummer, but I fell in love with drums when Drumline came out and love a good drumline to this day!

[johnlogan]

What a great lady. Everyone should have a drum-playing grandma!

[juniorsimmons]

Ok. Just a little different context. At HBCUs drumlines have been a staple since the 70s, The drum battles (I saw one in the 70s between FAMU and SCSU) in the past were really a competition. To be quite honest drumlines were thought to be so strenuous that women were not allowed to even try out for drumlines. In the early 80s I was part of SCSU's Marching 101 and we had our first female drummer from Goldsboro, NC. Man she was incredible. The old drum battles were way more difficult in my opinion. But she is a gem. I appreciate her love for the music.

[peeholio]

The timing and the syncopation that coincides with the showmanship of so many people is what's phenomenal to me.

[jonpoon]

“One band; one sound” is still being used musical situations all over the world

[kevinrice]

At HBCUs that's how it always been. Drumline have always been the battle. At HBCUs the band is just as important as the game

[BrendanKDavis]

This was so cool to discover! Weird fact: in my former life I was a movie soundman and I was the on-set playback guy (and 2nd boom op) in the Sound department for this movie, running all the playback of the pre-recorded tracks and setting up things so that the actors / performers could hear it and play in sync to it on camera, in a way such that we could also record the live performance sound too, as a bonus for post-production to play with. Was super fun.

[fastfiddler]

Love the movie. I started learning drums last year right before I turned 35. I have a lot of best decisions in my life. Having kids, being married, being a pilot, but as much as I feel I waited way too long to do this, it's proving to be one of my best choices. I hope I can find people in real life to share this with because the online community is amazing.

[walkerdrae]

Drumline was my movie. Acted well and entertaining. My dad was a drummer so my appreciation for the craft kind of came through that experience watching him play at church.

[SusanLedford]

My husband was a country music drummer. He is said to have been one of the best in the Maryland area. He was self taught. Musicians, singers and dancers all loved him as he stayed in the pocket. He learned the Bakersfield sound and then toured with a son of a country legend for a while. When Drumline came out, we watched it multiple times. We were also able to hear the local high school drumline from our home, when they played on the field. Thank you for this video.

[wpelfeta]

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I must have watched it at least 10 times. hahaha.

[silky]

This woman is SO talented yet so humble, you can’t help but love her. Well I guess there might be a fer hard hearted people out there but anyway, keep us rockin Dorothea! You are a treasure to behold.

[lareh]

I caught myself having a continuous smile during the entirety of the final clip of Miss Dorothy's drum off with Nick at the end.