Studio work

So my friend has a very small little home-studio thing going. He's really just doing for high school bands that can't afford a real studio. He charges like $7 an hour or something like that. Anyhoo, if anybody comes to him in need of a session drummer, I'm gonna be the one drumming. I've never really had to do this sort of thing before, I've only drummed for my own bands before. How do you seasoned studio drummers handle playing and learning other people's music? What do I do for fills and stuff? Any other useful tips and hints?

I have done it a few times, all you do is sit down, and play the music on the stand, and get out.

haha. I can pretty much guarantee you these kids won't have any sheet music, unfortunately.

For high school kids, I think all you need is mad fast double kick then.

I don't have a double pedal

But honestly, there aren't too many metal bands in the Tucson high school music scene, and the ones that are here are a bunch of rich kids that can afford amazing equipment and pro studios.

Ska seems to be the genre of choice around here.

Then play whatever the song calls for. It comes down to whether you listened to alot of different music or if you dwelled on one. If you payed attention when you listened then you should have a decent idea of what to do.

And don't feel like a studio guy playing a genre. If they throw blues at you, throw on the blues switch. Pretend it's 1955 and you're a fat old black dude that grew up in Tennessee, eating Chitlins with hot sauce and watching the masters playing in the clubs. If they throw pop pretend you're a pop guy. and if they throw Polka at you, pretend you're a complete douche.

Fortunately, if they throw polka at me, I have no pretending to do.

I love playing ska. Crank that {censored}, and rock out.

Yeah, definitely an energetic style of music. I just hope I get to play with a decent band. =P

But, uh, yeah, any other tips?

Listen to The Specials. They have a great drummer for the style, but he is a brand whore.