Serious Hand-Drumming

November 2003

You know the kind; they start tapping along to TV commercials. Something prevents them from combing their hair regularly. They can't sit still. Anywhere.

It's true: drummers tend to stand out in a crowd. And in a crowded world of solo pianists, Jared Johnson uses his percussion training to make his own name.

Jared distinguishes the rhythm and electricity of his music by drumming on the piano during concerts. He developed the technique several years ago while writing the song Flooded. The introduction needed a beat, so while playing with his right hand he hit his left hand on top of the piano like it was a Conga drum.

"Everything came together on Flooded once I started drumming with my left hand," Jared said.

Ever since then, he has been adding more percussion wherever it fits, always while keeping on piano with the other hand. Check out the demo of Flooded right here.