Drum Teacher Reacts: Vlad Ulasevich (JINJER) — Open-Handed | Ambidextrous | SELF-TAUGHT PRECISION

Today’s reaction was sent in by subscriber — long-time viewer, first-time requester! We’re looking at JINJER — “Call Me A Symbol” (Drum Playthrough) featuring Vlad Ulasevich, taken from the 2021 album Wallflowers. This is a beautifully shot and recorded playthrough, and a great excuse to go deep on something I’m often asked about but rarely get to fully unpack: ambidextrous vs open-handed vs cross-handed playing. Vlad is a fascinating case study. He’s largely self-taught, incredibly precise, and has developed a very personal solution to how he moves around the kit. None of it feels accidental. In this video, I break down: The real differences between open-handed, ambidextrous, and traditional cross-handed approaches Why self-taught players often develop different strengths — not weaker ones How players compensate for gaps in formal education with heightened control, awareness, and repetition. Vlad’s ghost notes, examined microscopically — touch, placement, consistency, and intent Why this level of accuracy doesn’t surprise me at all There’s a tendency to assume that “proper training” is the only path to high-level precision. Vlad is a great reminder that musicianship finds a way — and often builds unusual strengths along the journey. This is also a strong example of why seeing a band live, in person, changes your perception completely. Jinjer is next-level as a unit, and Vlad’s role in that machine is crucial. Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92pDl74Tb-Y SUPPORT & LEARNING Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/RooneyDrums?sub_confirmation=1 Drumeo 30-Day Free Trial: https://www.drumeo.com/andrewrooney/ Request a Reaction (guaranteed): https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WNN4VP75DG53 How reaction requests work: https://andrewrooneydrums.com/youtube-reaction-requests/ Patreon — blocked & behind-the-scenes videos: https://www.patreon.com/AndrewRooneyDrums Sweetwater — Drums & Gear (North America): https://imp.i114863.net/EaqZz2 https://imp.i114863.net/BXKy00 https://imp.i114863.net/DVLeLb Thomann — Recommended Gear (Europe & Beyond): https://www.thomann.de/intl/thlpg_rqg2g5l68b.html #Jinjer #VladUlasevich #Drumming #MetalDrums #DrumTeacher