Mark Zonder Musicians Institute Drum Clinic

[85Aheadstix]

The singer sounds like Bruce dickinson!.

[00SnowTop00]

Best Drum Composer Ever Period........

[toltec1983]

I was thinking the other day which drummer i'd like to sound like if I played the instrument and Mark came on top of the list. Other more well known guys overplay it with cliched fills IMO. Mark does it just right!

[GEOLED79]

this is magik!!!

[maidenovac]

I don't want to troll here, but I think he fell out of rhythm a few times, for instance in 3:03 with the snare (rewind to 2:57 so you can hear it better) And those are beginner's mistakes...

[maxbrand2000]

@maidenovac hey genius... that was intentional.

[dmb912002]

@maidenovac

well,, he does the same exact pattern on the studio album, so methinks he did it on purpose... no malice here, just letting ya know :)

[npyx]

to people yanking "i can do these too! me me me!": as long as you perceive elements of music as a competition, you're doomed to remain mechanical, dull and swellhead. playing super hard drum patterns to prove yourself doesn't necessarily mean you are making music, it means you are making gymnastics. there are fucking gyms for that. go there and prove yourself, get jealous, make people jealous, whatever. music is supposed to make people "feel".

[berre30]

he's a god on drums, his play is pure art

[jerm26554]

He should replace Portnoy in Dream Theater. Easily the second best in Progressive Metal and Rock.

[kKkevinyYy]

@jerm26554

The first...

[85Aheadstix]

@jerm26554 hahaha, deffs!, i saw a vid of Portnoy get showed up by Richard christy, using like a snare and hi hat.

Portnoys just overrated!.

[stromghouls]

hey the 15 year old retard who thinks he can play better than zonder. go soak your head retard. post a video of yours so we can appreciate your talents, or lack of talents.

[bertrude123]

I love the reading the comments that slam Mark. They most likely come from people who worship speed freaks and can "kind of play" some of their licks, so they think they're automatically better than Mark Zonder. Yeah, I guess every drum part has to be as fast as possible and technically insane. Timing, groove, musicality, and uniqueness shouldn't be part of the equation, according to some of these 'tards. While you're trying to blow the world away, we'll be saying, "So what? Play a groove!"

[TylerSabian]

@bertrude123 Oh my god, I agree

[gmoactive]

All you guys saying that Mark sucks don't really know how to appreciate good drumming. Just because "you can play it" doesn't mean that it sucks. I would love to see you guys come up with such interesting patterns like these.

[DholProdigy]

this guys playing professionally???  he suckss!!!

[TylerSabian]

So, I'm 15 and I can play everything that this guy plays here, so, maybe I should do the next drum clinic? And maybe a full ride scholarship?

[enedene1]

@TylerSabian

So, when you grow up, maybe you'll understand why this was a stupid statement.

[TylerSabian]

@enedene1 Serious question- Do you suck at playing drums? Because if you could play well, you could understand the simplicity of his playing. So by telling me that my statement was stupid, that obviously means that you think this guy is way better than you. So, that means you're not that good if you cant play this stuff.

[SneezyG]

@TylerSabian Simplicity is genius! It's all about feel, my friend. Sadly, there's not much of that to be heard in todays music... Marks playing is all about feel. Often, people tend to realize that as they mature as individuals and players. Technical skills is worth nothing if you don't have the feel. Just listen to say "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin... there it is!

[liquifex]

@TylerSabian Amazing how you have zero of your awesome drumming vids available, haha. Do you masturbate when you troll? You do don't you. Make sure your doors locked so mommy doesn't walk in again.

[TylerSabian]

@liquifex It's kinda funny how I just wrote one comment about me being able to play what he's playing and asking for a full ride scholarship as a joke. Then you comment trying to be all smart saying witty insults to get attention. Who's the troll?

[Yiannis2112]

@TylerSabian Yeah right! Thing is not whether u can play it, thing is whether u can think the way he does in order to play like that

[take2visualmedia]

Everyone....again the singer is not Ray Adler it is Gregg Analla from Mark's band Slavior. I worked directly with Mark on this and got it straight from the source.

[helenaki8]

he plays like he ate a metronome

[makrygialiotis]

EISAI THEOOOOOOOS EISAI PAIXTARAS PROTOS

[shemphoward1000]

I am a huge Dream Theater and Fates Warning fan. Portnoy and Zonder are 2 of the finest drummers I have seen. It saddens me to see Mike leave the band but how fucking cool would it be if Mark got the call. Oh yeah.

[jimmymac63]

@shemphoward1000 Thumbs up to you for understanding that, unlike that idiot raptormanx

[chewypc]

I see I'm not the only one that immediately thoguht of Mark Zonder when Mike Portnoy announced he was quiting Dream Theater. I think Mark Zonder would be a perfect fit.

[dvd588]

Mark Zonder the next  Dream Theater drummer! I hope.

[Phoenix87x]

Dream Theater needs a new drummer, just throwing it out there. Fingers crossed.

[riffeishonman]

I wouln´t like to see mark in DT, they are makin bullshit music now.

Zonder is too ellegant for them.

[lolpawnage]

@riffeishonman Damn straight.

[VHDT10]

Can the singing be any gayer? Op, there it goes in the second verse.... Awesome drumming without a doubt. Great music too, but aaaaaaaaah little bit cheesy in the singing department in my opinion.

[anurabisu]

This guy is a drum god. Fates Warning rules!

[defector1968]

i know zonder from warlord back in 1985, and was the reason that start to play drums

[rawdealist]

kinda sounds like a bad Alder impression...truly amazing drummer every time i listen

[ironcult666]

@rawdealist

It´s not Alder

[Saggrisch]

I've never heard a drummer that brings so much melody into songs... This guy is definately one of the best drummers of the last 30 Years, maybe even THE best!

[doineedoneofthese81]

i like Fates Warning but its a shame i never really listened to the drums. Mark Zonder is a monster .....

[hamjamnspamalot]

And he does that all with trad grip.....hoohoooo...just like Virgil Donati. Mark just kills it! Not a dud move.

[TokaCola]

this is a treat

[snotshadow]

Mark Zonder Vs Danny Carey

Who wins?

[PROGDT]

@snotshadow no question bout that: Mark...

[WinnieVista]

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

[helenaki8]

none can play like him

[TheOmegaeyes]

Man I love this dude's playing, Parallels is such a fantastic album still to this day! Better then Dream Theater in many ways.

[shred5]

I'd take Fates Warning over Dream Theater anyday. Dual guitars who are both very good and I'd take Zonder over Portnoy any day of the year.

[85Aheadstix]

@shred5 Same!, i think Portnoys overrated as fuck!, plus he's doing twice as much work than Portnoy on a kit half portnoys size.

[shred5]

@85Aheadstix, Zonder is a master of extremely complex beats and is much more dynamic... Portnoy is a great power drummer, but has no dynamics and overuses double bass a lot and I've never heard him play anything in a complex time signature that does not revolve around counting double bass hits before using the snare (ie 4 kicks 1 snare).

[85Aheadstix]

@shred5 Nah!, he is good!, i put him up there with Donati!(also an Aussie) his groove is killer, beats 7 shades of shit out that overrated hack portnoy.

[shred5]

@85Aheadstix, Donati is also awesome!

[mikeanelson]

Mark's efficiency on the drums is what really makes him great. Young guys who spaz out on the kit should to watch, listen and learn. Not that there's anything wrong with spazzing out on the kit once in a while.

[redstartn]

Zonder is for sure one of my favorite drummers.

His drumming DVD is awesome and at 10 bucks!

I would love to know though, why he switched to such a small set?? I thought he was at his best with FW and the double bass kit.

Hope he does another video!

[transmittance]

the last 60 seconds of this video really showcases his unique style and technique...I hadn't sen him play in 10 years and the last 60 seconds still kicked my ass.

Nice Mark...

he should step out with more varied fusion & prog guys and get more respect for his talent...he can keep up easily with those guys

Mark...move to a larger city and start sitting in with heavier cats...you'd fit right in.

[MIND4eva]

One of a few Prog Rock/Metal drummers who has got feeling in his playing! Mark is precise.

[jesterbass]

I just love Mark's surgical and dish-rich playing... especially recorded...

[raptormanx]

Mark is F'n groovin'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DonaldGerbino]

I saw Fates A few years ago in New York And the drummer for spocks beard was filling in for mark. He could not hold a candle to MZ he didnt even know the drum parts well. I was dissapointed big time but I still love them. Jim Metheos is a excellent song writer and lyricist. Dream theatre did a really cool version of Rushes the necromancer at the same show it's on u tube check it out.

[DonaldGerbino]

Actually a pleasant shade of grey pat 11 would been cool to see and yes I like fates better tham dream theatre because the music is more important to the fw guys than showing off their abilities(any musician knows this) I like mz because he follows the vocals like keith moon did

[lupine73]

Bingo. That's always been an important distinction to me as well between Fates and DT... Fates still focuses on the *song*. DT, meanwhile, seems more and more focused on the technicality.

Incidentally... why couldn't Mark just use the Fates version of these songs? I really don't like the singer in these versions.

[dhwild69]

his snare sounds terrible.

[downbeatdrummer91]

He is performing in front of people. Im pretty sure that an experienced musician like himself would know if his snare didnt sound the way he wanted you to hear it.

[agentsteell]

@downbeatdrummer91 besides, the way the snare sounds on the video has nothing to do with how it might sound live ;)

[take2visualmedia]

To reiterate....the singer is Gregg Analla, from Mark's band Slavior. Mark had Gregg re-record the vocals for his clinics

[jbusbee87]

@take2visualmedia I think Ray is so much better...Mark should have paid the royalties and used the real tracks.

[dtjesus101]

@arkee71 ummm, no, it isn't. Seems like a true FW fan would know that :-P

[manydaysago]

Hes right, on this recording it is not Alder, that is in fact John Arch.

[TheHeadGeekNo1]

I've talked to Mike Portnoy about his times filling in for Mark Zonder. He was really intimidated by the experience. I don't blame him.

I think what makes Mark my favorite drummer (and he most certainly is) isn't necessarily his playing proficiency, it's his amazing creativity. I've seen Fates live many times, and I've seen Mark screw up a few times (I've seen Mike blow it maybe once out of all the times seeing Dream Theater). It's not always about perfection.

[bleep1986]

This video is a little less interesting than a wet towel.

[Phoneguy71]

One of the songs should have been (Leave the past behind)

[jdrums73]

Both Eleventh Hour and Point of View are from the 1991 Parallels album and Ray Alder was absolutely the singer on that album......

[scrappyjoe123]

IF ANY OF YOU WERE FATES WARNING FANS, This is Jon Arch singing. and as far as Mark Zonder goes, the guy is playing some odd time stuff. not the easiest thing to do. just try it , ga'head give it a go! i dare ya!

[marceloyakko]

ist ALDER? I HAVE DUDES:::

[marceloyakko]

who is the singer? ist very good !!!

[jldibiase]

Ray Alder

[spontigo]

Ray Alder ...

[LokiLasher]

John Arch's 2 song ep was awesome, and Portnoy really shined on that one...to bad Mark's stuff doesnt compare of late..

[LokiLasher]

who is the wanna be Alder singing? Or is he trying to be Bruce Dickinson? Or is it Bruce lol?!

[arkee71]

dude dream theatre has never and will never have the respect from musicians that fates has....never

[LokiLasher]

Thats why Ray is still playing with Fates and Dream just put out the new AWESOME album??? Look, Fates is my Fav...but Ray has lost it....

[raptormanx]

Tragic that so many Mike Portnoy fanboys don't truely realize how Mark is many levels superior...yes, I know Mark taught Mike for a short while...Mike really just has an incredible guitarist to play 16th notes to...rediculous how many awards Mike has and Zonder doesnt get near the accolades....

[chaimpo]

watch?v=o54VnepIpvo&feature=ch­annel

[PROGDT]

@raptormanx im a huge fan of Portnoy but i do realize that he is less technical skilled than Zonder. Mike jus worked on his image so perfectly well. No overrated though...

[jbusbee87]

@raptormanx find that live in Greece vid where Portnoy is so lost on a sit in...that will help them see.

[liquifex]

@raptormanx .I'm not even going to attempt to discuss this since you're clearly ignorant on this subject. Portnoy is an amazing drummer. Zonder is also amazing, but is far from 'many levels higher' than MP. He has a very tight in-the-pocket type of style, but it's nothing that many fusion drummers don't do. MP is in fact amazing for the style of music he plays and most drummers in music would be hard pressed to attempt to play what he does.

[dmb912002]

@raptormanx

its true... and fanboys is SUCH an accurate description...

[jimmymac63]

@raptormanx what is tragic is that you really don't understand drumming!

[ironcult666]

@jimmymac63

How do you know that? Do you even know him??

Dude, stop pretending you know everything.

[jimmymac63]

@ironcult666 You're an idiot. Shut up, your posting rights have been revoked because you are stupid!

[ironcult666]

@jimmymac63 That's what I'm talking about. Your just a jackass who pretend to be someone, but the cruel reality is that you're nobody. You need to respect other people's opinion

[jimmymac63]

@ironcult666 Nice, and that would make you? The internet tough guy? The savior of the internet? According to your assumption of me, you just placed yourself in my boat! settle in sailor, it is going to be a long ride!

[ironcult666]

@jimmymac63 That's not what i'm saying. I'm nobody too, but I think I'm better person than you.. jackass

[jimmymac63]

@ironcult666 Ahh, a better person than I? Okay, then in that case, I thank you for the 20+ years of honorable service you gave to your country and for the right to express my opinions. I thank you for the continuing service you are now giving to your community in the way of police work Fire/EMS which ever you prefer). I thank you for your work in church. I thank you for working with the special olympics and dedicating your time to other worthy causes. I humbly bow before you!

[ironcult666]

@jimmymac63 You just don't know the real concept of better person

[jimmymac63]

@ironcult666 I guess not

[ter50]

@raptormanx Agree! Portnoy is really overrated, there are hundreds of progressive drummers better than him, in addition to Zonder. Bobby Jarzombek, Sean Reinert, Virgil Donati just to name a few.

[CirkimusPrime]

Got Rick Rolled, eh?

[drummerjh2006]

Pull you head out of your ass and listen to some of the shit he's doing & you may have an epiphany, or maybe your stupidity level is beyond help.

[thelawler]

In my eyes he's the greatest Drummer of all time. He plays with class and never overplays the song, yet he comes up with amazing patterns and his technique is world class. He's also not afraid to use electronic drums and in every song he throws in something special. Hard to describe him but he's my favorite. If you are truly into drumming at some point I believe you'll find what is great about him.

[Ieronymous]

This guy is one of the best drummers ever..his style and the way he plays is absolutely great...!!

[matalmike]

I read ( Could be wrong) that yes his family was an issue , the band saw this also and approached him before he even had a chance to decide what to do. He was working for a motorcycle repair shop with a very understanding boss that let him tour and come back when ever he wanted. If u know him fill in the blanks.

[matalmike]

John Arch did'nt leave the band, he was kicked out!!!

[HarryBobbinManass]

Actually he did leave..He had a family at the time and wanted to be there for his wife and daughter..Super nice guy,by the way.

[davidsanful]

WAIT, WAIT, WAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTT!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!! MARK ZONDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't even mind that RAY ALDER is not on vocals!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

Five fire ball stars******. Amazing!!!

[Bloodpool11]

zonder is god...i dont like the singer though....nobody could hit the high notes like ray alder, seems like hes trying way to hard, hes not bad but just doesnt have the vocal power of alder. sorry.

[berre30]

especially the second part (Point of View) is very impressive stuff

[petlizard]

Actually the singer is Ray Alder and has been the singer for Fates Warning since John Arch left after the album Awaken the Guardian. FW, best fucking band on earth!

[take2visualmedia]

For the record, the singer is in fact Gregg Analla from Slavior. Mark had him re-record the tracks for his clinics.

[gemari77]

He sounds damn good!!! Don't know why he had to re-record Ray's vox...but, I must admit that I'm impressed.

[JohnCarpenterPro]

Tu no has ganado nada.

*spit on your face*

Chilavert rules!

[Knuse]

@petlizard If you recognize Ray Alder anywhere on that vocalrecording, I'm amazed since it's not even him ....

[take2visualmedia]

@petlizard FWIW the singer is Gregg Analla. I worked with Mark directly on the video and got the info straight from the source.

[beau1968]

The singer on this Greggory Analla He sings for Marks new band Slavior .He used to sing for a band called Seventh Sign. He also sang for Tribe of Gypsies which featured Roy Z a guitarist/ producer who works with Bruce Dickonson and Rob Halford.You should check out gregg singing Victem of Changes live on youtube with seventh sign. Gregg is a really cool guy with a unique voice that bleeds and emotion.and soul. and Mark he rules,check him out with Warlord 1982.

[dartosdeathmetal]

who's the guy singing?

sounds nice

this guy is a genius by the way.

his drum lines are unique and ellegant.

[robbus13]

Stif...

[fates77]

amazing!

[bruno9193]

Zonder Rules!

[fates5896]

Niiiice hi-hat work.

I wish he would post the entire FW repertoire. I could watch this all day.

[gemari77]

Me too!! I'm rooting for him to do some Perfect Symmetry stuff.

[BJJNUNEZ]

ZONDER!!!!!!!

[Ieronymous]

Royalty,Excellency,Perfection.­.

[thelawler]

Mark Zonder is the greatest drummer ever!

[silvertear1]

Zonder is my favorite Drummer ever,he's such underrated.FW will never sound the same without him and Aresti :(

[thelawler]

I agree, I love Frank Aresti also, very underrated guitar player. Zonder is just something special, Fates Warning Ray Alder & Mark Zonder era is my favorite band ever!

[Oaklander32]

This band got better and better with every release (unlike some other prog bands who shall dreamily remain nameless). Would love to see a new release with the Parallels line up.

[jbusbee87]

the new vocal blows...Mark is awesome.

[johnfr1234]

Sounds like a board mix, that is why it sounds a bit funny, reverb also. The singer sounds like Ray at his best. Very strong. Boy this guy can really play, very underated.

[mingus8one]

that snare sounds like a cardboard box. And that's not Ray singing.

[SabuPtolemy]

That sounds like Gregg Analla who sang on the Slavior album. Gregg used to sing like that back in the Seventh Sign days who were a Queensryche type band. I guess, Mark and Ray don't like each other that much anymore if he is using another guy to sing over those backing tracks for his clinics.

[meetmeatthe1]

It almost sounds like Bruce Dickinson to me, although, I doubt it is.

[giulienk]

Two of the best songs in late-Fates Warning repertoire and Mark is always the master. I remember seeing Fates Warning in Milan during the Pleasant Shade of Gray tour (I think) and "The Eleventh Hour" was one of the best songs of the night. And Mark came to clasp my hand at the end of the concert: great.

[Fuggzza]

it's funny this clinic was not opened to the public and My friend and I drove up to check the clinic out,when they told us it was only for student's.We had to go to 3 dif.places to finally get a pass and well Mark was just amazing.I never would have thought I would ever see Mark do a clinic.Nov.12 Sam Ash in Hollywood this time it will be open to public so don't miss out.FATES WARNING fuck yeah.

[WARLOCK70]

I know when I got FW IN ATHENS I was little dissapointed that MARK Z. wasn't there. All though RAY was hacking his brains out here and there, maybe he smokes too much or something.Hmmmm could it be the reason that MARK left was because of RAY?

[fates5896]

I know. I felt like taking it back to the store and getting my money back after hearing Nick's kit.

[importtek]

sounds like ray to me..or as good!!

[gowanis]

Mark is amazing. But that ain't Ray Alder (ouch!)

[beercan75]

This guy fuckin' rocks. Loved your drumming for a long time Mark.

BC

[rbueno57]

Like many others Mark's fans, I've been waiting for a clinic/instructional video from Mark for years. This is really a Christmas gift for every Mark's or Fate's fan!

Mark rules!

[shadowgallery]

nice mark