Foundations — the punchy arena backbeat A tight, powerful backbeat that can fill a big room without extra volume
• A solid quarter-note groove with a strong, focused snare hit • Even singles and doubles as the base for cleaner fills later • Consistent kick drum weight underpinning the groove Unlocks: The verse groove of My Hero at half speed
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Monkey Wrench
Leads to: Stage 2 — Core grooves — tight rock backbeats
5 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 84 BPM
Core grooves — tight rock backbeats Locking a driving 8th-note rock groove with a hard, consistent snare
Carries in from: Stage 1 — Foundations — the punchy arena backbeat
• A steady 8th-note hi-hat groove with a punchy backbeat • Ghost notes added subtly without softening the main hits • Dynamic jumps between verse and chorus energy Unlocks: The main groove of Learn to Fly
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Learn to Fly
Leads to: Stage 3 — Signature techniques — Copeland-influenced hi-hat work
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 136 BPM
Signature techniques — Copeland-influenced hi-hat work Borrowing syncopated hi-hat precision to add intricacy without losing power
Carries in from: Stage 2 — Core grooves — tight rock backbeats
• Syncopated hi-hat patterns layered over a straightforward backbeat • Open hi-hat accents used for dynamic lift into choruses • Balancing intricate hands with a steady, driving foot Unlocks: The hi-hat-driven verse groove of Times Like These
Heard in: Learn to Fly · Times Like These
Leads to: Stage 4 — Fills & transitions — melodic, singable fills
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 142 BPM
Fills & transitions — melodic, singable fills Building fills that have a clear melodic shape rather than just filling space
Carries in from: Stage 3 — Signature techniques — Copeland-influenced hi-hat work
• Fills that rise and fall in a recognisable melodic contour • Fills that land exactly on beat one of the next section • Combining snare and tom voices to shape a fill's melody Unlocks: The chorus fills through Best of You
Heard in: My Hero · Monkey Wrench · Learn to Fly
Leads to: Stage 5 — Advanced coordination — Moon-influenced controlled chaos
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 138 BPM
Advanced coordination — Moon-influenced controlled chaos Adding busier, more explosive fill ideas while staying locked to the groove
Carries in from: Stage 4 — Fills & transitions — melodic, singable fills
• Fast, dense fills that still resolve cleanly on the beat • Four-limb independence for busier fill-and-groove combinations • Linear phrasing borrowed for cleaner transitions out of big fills Unlocks: The explosive fills through Monkey Wrench
Heard in: My Hero · Monkey Wrench · All My Life
Leads to: Stage 6 — Song applications — The Colour and the Shape era
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 168 BPM
Song applications — The Colour and the Shape era Putting the groove and fill vocabulary into full song arrangements
Carries in from: Stage 5 — Advanced coordination — Moon-influenced controlled chaos
• My Hero's anthemic, dynamically building groove • Monkey Wrench's fast, aggressive drive with tight fills • Everlong's shifting dynamics from quiet verse to huge chorus Unlocks: A full run-through of My Hero
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Monkey Wrench
Leads to: Stage 7 — Advanced song studies — There Is Nothing Left to Lose
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 128 BPM
Advanced song studies — There Is Nothing Left to Lose More restrained, textured grooves that still carry arena-sized energy
Carries in from: Stage 6 — Song applications — The Colour and the Shape era
• Learn to Fly's tightly controlled, radio-friendly groove • Breakout's fast, punchy drive • Aurora's slow-building dynamic arc across a longer song Unlocks: Learn to Fly played through at full tempo with clean dynamics
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Learn to Fly
Leads to: Stage 8 — Signature performances — One by One and In Your Honor
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 136 BPM
Signature performances — One by One and In Your Honor Heavier, more aggressive playing balanced with melodic sensitivity
Carries in from: Stage 7 — Advanced song studies — There Is Nothing Left to Lose
• All My Life's explosive, driving energy • Times Like These' anthemic build and release • Best of You's huge dynamic arc from restrained verse to massive chorus Unlocks: Best of You's dynamic arc played convincingly start to finish
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Monkey Wrench
Leads to: Stage 9 — Challenge workouts — energy control under speed
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 138 BPM
Challenge workouts — energy control under speed Sustaining big, explosive fills and dynamics at fast tempos without tiring
Carries in from: Stage 8 — Signature performances — One by One and In Your Honor
• Monkey Wrench's fast tempo sustained for a full song • Rapid-fire melodic fills without losing the underlying groove • Full-band energy maintained across an entire high-tempo set Unlocks: Monkey Wrench played through at full tempo with no drop in energy
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Monkey Wrench
Leads to: Stage 10 — Mastery — playing with Hawkins' energy
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 168 BPM
Mastery — playing with Hawkins' energy Applying melodic fills, tight backbeats and energy control to any song
Carries in from: Stage 9 — Challenge workouts — energy control under speed
• Improvising melodic fills that fit any chorus lift • Balancing Copeland-style intricacy with Moon-style explosiveness on demand • Free improvisation shaping a full dynamic arc across a song Unlocks: Improvising a Hawkins-style groove and fill over any song on request
Heard in: My Hero · Everlong · Monkey Wrench
6 part session · warm-up, build, push, apply · from 130 BPM
