Vic Firth: Stories Behind The Sleeves | Mark Guiliana

Welcome to our latest Stories Behind the Sleeves Masterclass with Mark Guiliana! Join us behind the sleeves as Mark shows us how to push our creative comfort zones through diverse stick selections as well as in-depth orchestration exercises that will strengthen your improvisation skills.
You'll also see his own improvisation skills at work with exclusive performances from his Stories Behind The Sleeves Trio.
Skip ahead in class!
Intro: 0:00
"Three of Us, One of You" Performance: 0:29
Finding the Perfect Pair: 1:00
"Inevitable Conversations" Performance: 7:46
Orchestration Ideas: 12:52
Structured Exercise #1: 19:53
Improvisation Exercise #1: 23:54
Mark's Improvisation Masterclass: 30:46
"At the Intersection of Luck and Gratitude" Performance: 35:07
Artist Q&A: 39:40
Mark's Stories Behind The Sleeves Trio:
Nicholas Semrad on Keys
/ nicholastsemrad
Stu Brooks on Bass
/ stubassiebrooks
Mark Guiliana on Drums
/ markguiliana

[@AlvaroLopez1]

Mark G is the most generous teacher of all the great drummers. Very open, insightful and generous about his practice approach and application of ideas. Thank you 🙏

[@golem427]

Mark really transformed the modern way of playing drums, a real giant step that should really inspire young drummers

[@nannernator]

these series by VF is freaking amazing. such depth in content and production. love philosophical differences between different drummers, approaches, reasons for their choices in music and equipment and how they are interwoven. Thank you Mark and all those new generations of drummers who are carrying the torch for the next generation of drummers / musicians.

[@BoomerMusicCompany]

Well this was some unexpected freakin' awesomeness! Thanks Mark and Vic Firth!

[@TheZooNinjaS]

baseball card snare muffling, love it.

[@leedsdrumstudio553]

This is a very cool, interesting and educational video. Very well done Mark ❤

[@John_F898]

A BIG thumbs up!

[@samuelmatheis]

this drummer has a really rare fine feeling for music

[@Steffentrommelt]

make your louds louder and your softs softer and softer - true words

[@jordanswaindrums]

These episodes have been fascinating! Thank you vic firth. As always MG totally slaying it 🥁❤️

[@ChristopherAndersonDP]

Lots of great practicing tips! Mark always has fantastic drumming advice!

[@jigo13]

Wise words Mark! You explained those concepts in very simple but still detailed manner and it made me grasp your intention, I suppose, to take them beyond music and I think it is so important that it does. Thank you again!

[@GT-fx8fd]

What a superb episode from Vic Firth and Mark ... Just brilliant and awesome stuff.

[@awangendahl]

I love this and his energy alot

[@drummerboy6358]

Thank you so much for doing this Mark and Vic Firth!!!! Huge fan here 🖤🖤

[@MichaelWitting]

The drums sound awesome !

[@antkn33]

A true original and visionary

[@andrewbeaton3302]

THIS HELPED SO MUCH! THANKS!

[@tornehamn21]

Love it! Rousing and inspiring.

[@Leviplaysdrums]

Awesome nuggets of wisdom all through this episode!!!!

[@bilhamcobbly2957]

Incredible!!!!!! Thanks

[@thereem83]

Very musical very beautiful...mark is a special man..

[@TheDayisMineTrebeck]

Great analogy. "Sticks are invisible. They should be an extension of your body." That said, I stopped using Vics after I broke 2 pairs in less than month; split down the grain. Friend gave me a pair of Vaters. While they can vary pair to pair in weight, they never split, EVER. That's all I've used for the past 10 years now. To each their own but I thought that was a great quote from Mark.

[@mrmeoff]

All sticks can split... #physics

[@believeinittobe]

This is really excellent inspiration.

[@williamkjwilliamkj1815]

Really enjoyed this presentation.

[@omegalamda3145]

Really like the deconstruction-Thanks

[@JulianFernandez]

Thanks, Mark!

[@CristianContreras-fw3dh]

Gracias Mark !!!!

[@McAppleJuice]

Mark looks lean here, why are people questioning that? Energy and playing are great 😌

[@HarryJoiner]

35:08 - This is really inspiring

[@marlkarx7674]

But just this!

[@deniskarlash]

Super amazing ❤️❤️❤️

[@gersoncory5022]

Amazing 👏

[@white_dynamite_drums]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻best in world

[@jonashellborg8320]

That thing with voices on the drums, and note placements on a 16 note grid, I do that too! Only thing is, I’m at level 1, and Mark is at level “infinity”.

[@blackwizards1692]

What are the cymbals and sizes?

[@jacobfriedman4135]

I’m curious what snare that is?

[@barkhoe]

Does anyone know the cymbals that Mark uses on his snare and floor tom during Inevitable Conversations?

[@alexg4284]

Check out Zildjian 5As as well, great sticks. Bit lighter feel than VF 5A

[@terrydrums]

“The Chipped Shoulder” is the title of my autobiography. 🥴

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

Need more Tool vids !!!

[@metothemoon1227]

What a great drummer, his a genius ^^ Want him to join Mapex^^

[@mphase7575]

Mapex? Lol

[@george9065]

Mapex is not where it's at chief 😂

[@andrewwray8778]

agreed haha

[@metothemoon1227]

@M Phase My Mapex dream is now over. I'm again in love with Gretsch now haha. But I would Like to see Mark Guiliana playing a Gretsch Catalina Club.

[@metothemoon1227]

@george I want mark Guiliana to join Gretsch Catalina Club Kit

[@andsuaz]

Nice tshirt

[@mphase7575]

Can we get a richard spaven episode please?

[@oantoniosouto]

🧘🏻‍♂️

[@keziahj]

💛👾💛

[@_SevenHills]

Пушка!

[@bonzomio]

Hey Nick .... Next time in Omaha, let's jam, you can bring your dad. Great stuff!

[@knopflerugur]

New NERVE Band BUT lightweight version

[@johnnhello4913]

I didn't know Jake roper plays drums

[@metothemoon1227]

Mark has lost some weight ^^

[@N02tradamus]

My mind is blown ... ugh .... im going to go minimal

[@razgolan17]

When an artist becomes a drummer.

[@davidcipolla4036]

For the "7 sounds" Mark didn't include left foot hi-hat, which would have created more sound options.

[@weedavid4924]

Nope. Doesn't exist

[@JanneSiimesvaara]

I think that's understandable as it does simplify the concept quite a bit. Since that's basically just another sound out of one component, you'd then have to determine what sounds are different enough from others produced on the same instrument. You'd have to consider for example rimshots and cross stick on the snare, burying the bass drum beater versus letting it bounce off and hitting the hi-hat with your hand when it's open versus when it's closed and on top of that all the combinations of these sounds that are possible.

[@samgreene7961]

Toms, cymbals, cowbells, tambourine- the concept is yours to apply anywhere for a huge number of combos.

[@jmfs3497]

Mark looks really thin in this video... Hope he is healthy and eating!

[@dustjacket1000]

Mark, you ok?

[@samkempner8361]

?

[@thalidomide1]

Being thin don’t mean he’s sick.

[@aakashchaturvedi6400]

Yeah he doesn't look too well. Hope he's okay :/

[@HarryJoiner]

He sure as hell doesn’t sound sick. I mean, his playing is sick. But he doesn’t sound sick. If you know what I mean! 👊

[@christianorozco4956]

literally saw him play live about two weeks ago and looks healthy. This must have been filmed a while ago or something .