My life pre-drums was a mix of stuff: basketball, BMX riding, and wood working. I come from a long line of wood workers in my family. On my mother’s side we have a few crafty dudes, but mostly home repair based wood working. Somebody taught me how to use the scroll saw, so I started making little projects here and there. Thank god I didn’t cut my finger off.

In 2017, I saw an exhibit at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis showcasing Swedish master green woodcarver Jögge Sundqvist (aka Surolle). Like myself, he came from a long line of woodworkers, albeit, his much more successful, and cool. I specifically remember seeing some of the pieces below and being sucked in. The colors, the shapes, the word slojd (to be “not uncrafty”) carved everywhere. It was all intriguing, a totally different world that he invited me into. I bought his book and started learning all I could about the process of carving green (wet, non-dried) wood. Something I’ve never done before. It was exciting.

The next year, he was teaching a 5 day carving workshop on the shores of Lake Superior, so I jumped at the chance to learn from him. After a few days of immersing myself into the class, which was making a beauty shelf from scratch (Jögge told us it was a shelf to display our most beautiful things) I had a reinvigorated attitude toward creativity. I was terrible at the carving for the most part, but Jögge and the rest of the students helped me immensely. I’ll never forget the feeling of trying something really new after so many years of focusing on drumming.

I made a few green wood carving pieces, like a ring holder for my now wife (we got engaged the same week as the carving class, on the shores of Lake Superior) and a few other pieces that aren’t worth mentioning.

On a cold winter Sunday afternoon, my wife and I explored the “20th Century Japanese Woodblock Prints” exhibit at MIA in Minneapolis and I found myself interested in something new. Again, something wood related, and again, an exhibit at a museum. Thank god for museums. To hell with anyone who cuts funding for museums…

Anyway, I always had an interest in printmaking, in all its forms, but woodcut printing really tickled my fancy after that exhibit. The traditional Japanese oil based method didn’t really do it for me, but the idea of just carving an image into wood, and using it to create a relief print is what I thought would be cool to try. I asked for a set of carving tools, inks, a brayer, and other things I needed for my birthday or something, and I was off to the races. I started small, making a Charlie Brown print, a print based on a vintage Yellowstone National Park poster, and a few originals.

In 2022, I created the cover for my drum set instructional book Groove Manipulation using 3 individual wood blocks. One block for each instrument in a variety of colors. After many attempts, one design stuck.

The green woodcarving workshop and the woodcut printing experience have been so important. This time away from my instrument has allowed me to think way outside the box and come up with some of my best, most creative work. It also just gave me perspective that living a creative life is about variety. The same way that learning how to play bass and guitar changed the way I approach my drumming, so has all these new experiences. I notice now that I’ve never been far away from a craft relating to wood (cough, drums).

Try new things. You’ll suck at them, but who cares? It’s not about being good at it. It helps clear the sludge off your creative plate that might be holding you back from making your next great thing. Corny as it is, it is about the experience and the process. Lean into it. Just don’t cut your finger off.

OG Heavy Funk Example

Heavy Funk GM Chart B - Manipulation only on beats 3 & 4

Heavy Funk GM Chart 8 - Hi-hat moves to kick, this creates an interesting kick variation

Funk GM Chart D - Every Sound Swapped (See Chart Below)

Funk GM Chart 1 - Kick Rhythm Added to Snare as Ghost Notes

This groove manipulation is a simple rock groove. The hi-hat rhythm is now on the kick drum. The kick drum rhythm is on the snare drum. The snare on the 2 & 4 is on the hi-hat.

Full song chart with a Groove Manipulation on the intro, pre-chorus, and outro

Other Variations

Here are the other four primary Groove Manipulations. Check out the book for all the charts.

Charts A, B, C, & D - Moving the rhythms around the hi-hat, snare, kick

Charts are not in order in musical example. Listen to and hear if it's a GM or original!

Afrobeat Groove Manipulation Jam

This Bossa Nova groove moves the clave and kick rhythms around. One primary and one secondary manipulation.

OG Bossa Nova Example

Bossa Nova GM Chart A - Kick and Clave swapped

Bossa Nova GM Chart 15 - Kick rhythm added as accents on hi-hat

*Recordings done at Crowsnest Studio. Mixing and engineering by Allen Maier.

Andy lives in the Twin Cities. He teaches drum lessons, performs with various artists, and writes drum set educational material.

22+ years of playing experience in both live and studio environments with bands and artists from all genres including jazz, metal, funk, hip hop, garage rock, avant-garde experimental and percussion ensembles.

In 2022, Andy released his original Groove Manipulation drum set theory book. This book took over 15 years to develop and is appropriate for all skill levels. He has had articles and reviews published by the Percussive Art Society. He holds a Bachelors degree in music performance from Wisconsin River-Falls.

He has studied with drum masters including Dave King, Dave Elitch, Joe Tomino, Gordy Knudtson, Todd Trainer, Patti Cudd, & Craig Hara.

Artists you may have seen him perform with include Jake Schultz and the Outsiders, Leslie Vincent, Rogue Valley, Mike Fisher, Modern Monsters, and Zeitgeist Ensemble.

Andy works full time as a Business Analyst at the University of Minnesota. He is a big fan of balance in all things in life, including music and work. If you're an artist struggling to find a balance between work and your passion of music, reach out and Andy would love to have a conversation with you.

Andy is available for lessons and musical collaboration. Contact Andy if you're interested via the contact form below.

Andy endorses Twin Cities Drum Collective 651 Drums.

Contact Andy via email at AndyEricksonPeterson@gmail.com.

Read Jeff W. Johnson's review from the April 23' issue of Percussive Notes.

What do drummers think about it?

"Groove Manipulation spotlights Andy’s drumming creativity. He offers drumming exercises, improvising ideas, while covering a variety of music styles. New creative ideas around the drum kit grow when opening up Groove Manipulation."

- Allen Maier (American Scarecrows, The White Keys)

"With Groove Manipulation Andy EP has created a method that stands with the classic drumming books. Whether you’re looking to expand your independence, unleash your creativity, or just have fun, this book will be your go-to!"

- Dr. Lane Pederson, owner Twin Cities Drum Collective (TCDC) and drummer for Dillinger Four

"The book is brilliant. Page 9 unlocks all kinds of ideas - especially when I'm sent a track with no drums and need to create. Wow."

- Sheila Klotz, Educator & Clinician

"It's helped me truly explore the drum kit in ways that I never thought before."

- Jake Schultz, Fear the Dark, Motion Mosaic, Match Fever, Solo