Peter Erskine | Zildjian Drum Set Artist

Peter Erskine

The Dr. Um Band

Peter Erskine has played the drums for sixty years. He appears on 700+ albums and film scores, has won 2 Grammy Awards plus an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee. Fifty+ albums have been released under his own name or as co-leader. He’s played with Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, et al, and has appeared as a soloist with the LA, Chicago, London, Oslo, Helsinki, BBC & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras. Peter graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and studied at Indiana University under George Gaber. He’s the Director of Drumset Studies at USC.

Peter Erskine

in 3

1

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

The sound of music and the sound of my Zildjian cymbals (the same thing!).

2

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRUMMERS

Play what you want to hear (not what your hands know, or what you imagine someone else might want to hear). And LISTEN!

3

FAVORITE ZILDJIAN CYMBAL/COMBO

14" New Beat or Avedis Hi-Hats are the foundation of my cymbal set-up(s). I look for a Ride with clarity, good recovery from crashing (stick articulation), and enough of a dark "wash" to give depth to my beat. The K Sweet Crash plus Flash Splash cymbals add all of punctuation and color I need for any playing situation.

Behind the kit

Peter Erskine plays Mintzer Big Band Essentials app "Ellis Island"

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