Chad Wackerman - Introduction to the Murray Spivack Method 

Chad is the most underrated drummer alive. He's a true virtuoso by definition! I had the immense good fortune of studying with Murray Spivack between 1985 and 1986. I still teach his philosophy to my students exclusively with stunning results. Style is truly something you should learn on your own by listening and witnessing different drummers. If you want to be first class though, you first have to be 100% comfortable with a pair of sticks and a snare drum.

While I was studying with Chad, he hipped me to Murray who I went to for about two and a half years. Totally changed my playing and tough as nails. He could barely see anymore but he could actually hear when I was off on my sticking as the two sticks had different resonance and he could hear that even in his late 80's! One of a kind......

I studied with Chad for almost a year. Couldn't meet a more humble and nice guy especially considering who he plays for. In this day of gospel chop drummers people seem think this stuff is irrelevant but it is truly timeless just as Murray was. However if you watch Pridgen teach rudiments and grip he uses almost the same exact fulcrum and grip. Chad saved my drumming by teaching me this grip and being so demanding with rolls (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 stroke), swiss triplets etc. I've been using more french grip now too which might seem contradictory but having learned to use rebound and throw much more efficiently (having the stick do most of the work for me vs muscling it non-surface dependent) I have much more control, dont have to work as hard, and wont get shoulder injuries like a certain young drummer canvassing China, or like Bobby Schayer (Bad Religion) whos injury ended his career. Scoff if you want to but I highly recommend putting some effort into this.

Chad is always down to earth humble honest and one of the most musical drummers alive today

Just letting you know a bass player is listening! Thanks for your knowledge, and thanks for Murray Spivack!

Yes, he did not teach style. He called himself a drum coach. One of the concepts he made clear was that what ever he was having you practice, You didn't bring to the gig, because all that stuff would eventually work its way into your playing. One of the things that was truly remarkable to me was that I originally went to see Murry because of a technique problem I was having with one of my hands, back when I was working two 6 hour shifts a day in Vegas, and it was really turning into a problem. He proved to me that my fulcrum should be the middle finger (more orchestral), Which was weird, because I learned from a great rudimentalist as a kid, that my fulcrum was between the thumb, and forefinger. So I had a lot of work to do, because he proved that his way had four times more control, and dynamics, then the way I was doing it. Furthermore, I never thought I was muting the stick, and I wasn't, but he also proved that changing my fulcrum would affect the sound of my stick, and now they're actually less muted. You can hear it. I was really touched that a 92-year-old Man would care enough to make sure that I knew these details about something that was very important to me, and sent me off into a new direction. Murry Spivak made a big difference in the world to lots of people!

All the Wackermans are incredible. I love and admire this family a lot. I wish Drum Channel made some content with Brooks too.

I saw Wackerman play at a PAS competition back in I think it was '75 at CSUN. The two judges were Carmine Appice and Louie Bellson. My friend was in the competition and I started taking lessons from his teacher who took lessons from Murray Spivack so I learned a little bit about how to hold the sticks and the up-and-down stroke. Wackerman must have been around 14 at the time and easily won the competition. He was the wunderkind back then in Southern California.

I discovered Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio, and Neil Peart live in dramatic fashion, each for the first time between late '82 and early '83. Chad with Holdsworth and Berlin (on mushrooms). Then a friend loaned me King Crimson's Discipline. In thunders Bill Bruford. I've never recovered. I'll always love the explosive power of Bozzio and Peart, but there was something elemental in Chad's approach that was striking and an instructive contrast for this drummer. Like Gadd or DeJohnette.

I sat first row with my Son in Denton Tx to see Allan Holdsworth Chad and Jimmy Johnson play. They were all so kind and down to earth .. I noticed no one was helping they were loading their own gear and I asked to help.. Worried I was real careful with Chads kit he said oh you cant hurt that stuff no worries so I motioned like oh yea and acted like I was gonna hurl things Chad Laughed great guy Allan handed me his Delap after the show and I was floored by that and Jimmy Johnson also just handed me his alembic bass I was quite floored by how down to earth they were and R.I.P. Allan It dawned on me after the show id seen Chad before with Frank Zappa and how could I not ask about FRANK ? DOH they put me right at ease and were GIANTS to my son and I .. So as a father who knows how important a great teacher can be it can make you or break you as a child I think Chad is a great Teacher a kind soul that wants to get the right message across and you see it here in the lesson.. Im watching this to learn and Im a guitar player but im here because Chad was humane to me first off and ive always loved his music with others Zappa Holdsworth Id seen him before with Holdsworth in Houston right before the Hurricane hit we drove in from Austin to see them as they were not coming to Austin.... Great shows...

I Love Chad ....his effortless and musical style of playing drums enhanced everybody’s sound around him. Am an Allan Holdsworth fan, but the only time I saw him live was with Steven Wilson in Chile. Amazing show and drum interpretation of every song.

Chad Is the best! ❤ I love his style, great professionalism, perfectionist and has a great versatility of musical styles! Greetings from Italy! 🇮🇹👍😉

One of my favorite drummers. Saw him with Holdsworth. Power and taste in spades.

My old drummer friend from middle school and I studied with the same teacher, the great Russ Moy (RIP) from Elizabeth, NJ. My friend studied with Russ since he was 5-we are now 63 years old-My friend got his teaching degree and was a high school music director for 38 years. In his last 6 years of teaching he had a very talented 10 year old drum student that he taught privately. His student at age 17-without telling my friend, his teacher-auditioned for The Russ Moy Music Scholarship. Russ Moy's wife was one of the judges. When my friend's student finished his audition, Russ's wife started crying, stood up and said to him, "young man, you sound and play just like my late husband!"

I, too took lessons from Cheryl Hall-Sleeth who took lessons from Chuck Flores who took lessons from Murray Spivack. Really helped me out, too. Have seen Chad play drums, too, and he has the goods, no doubt about it.

"He [Murray Spivack] was the first person that told me about Frank Zappa." ~ Chad Wackerman (16:31)

guys, this is too awesome

Everything about this is outstanding! 100% truth.

A great person first and a great drummer too !

awsome thanks drumchannel

Many thanks! Blessings!!!

love your work!!

To my opinion: - Very musical and technical drum solo. Highest level!!!!

BRILLIANT VIDEO!!!BRAVO chad!! thanks for this. Murray was to LA what my teacher, HENRY ADLER, was to NY..greg Venuto NYC

A very humble man and he's a real good well rounded drummer but his little brother is and was at age 8 incredible I believe his name is Zach but I may be wrong on his first name!! Chad be well my friend!! Your truly Jerry Cuccurullo

Good channel for all levels of playing 🤙

Whoever would thumb down this incredible video, should have their thumbs cut off. Wackerman played with Zappa.... cant touch this! Dah-nana-nah

Marvelous!!!!

There's one almost immutable fact common to great drummers; they all sound almost apologetic and super humble. I've had the pleasure recently of attending Drum hangs with the likes of Peter Erskine, Steve Jordan and Ian Thomas; all were very relaxed and level headed about both their undoubted talent and great achievements. Chad Wackerman is no different.

Great drummer!

Thanks!

It is curious how close Chads and Terry (Bozzios) styles are oh so similiar yet completely different. Must have been the zappa experience that created a link in their sound and phrasing

who else is watching in feb 2019?

I got to study with Murray!

You have to be pretty good to have a method named after you!

Damn, I want to take lesson with Chad now.

Met him when he was a teenager, now he looks like someone’s math teacher.

《Odd Time Reading》and Linear ?so the second book name is ?anynone could tell please,thx.

What I like about Chad is he looks like the guy who works in a cubicle 9 to 5 and knits sweaters in his spare time, then he absolutely CRUSHES a drum set. My fantasy is for him to fill in when Lars is sick one night and all the girls are there.

"Wackerman"...perfect name for a drummer...lol

@ 14:12; " ... I teach your brain and your hands will follow ... " Or they will fall Low...

I heard thru the LA drum scene that Murray told Colaiuta his playing was too stiff

Reply to this comment with who would you like to see next on Drum Channel! 🥁

@5:55

0:00 to 0:35 In the footsteps of Terry Bozzio))?

Chad's voice kinda reminds me of a slightly higher pitched James Cromwell.

Is that John Goode on Bass? ;)

The few of you who clicked thumbs down, please explain.

One of Murray Spivack´s Master Students was Josh Freese!

Go get Brooks...

Good people age very well

Terry Bozzio