Sanford A. Moeller

Sanford Augustus "Gus" Moeller (1886–1960) was an American rudimental drummer, national champion, educator, and author. He was born in Albany, New York, and began his music education by studying the piano.

While still a young man, Moeller also learned the snare drum and studied with August Helmicke. He served in the Spanish–American War. Later, Moeller moved to New York, playing vaudeville shows with George M. Cohen. He also played for the Metropolitan Opera House and the Seventh Regimental Army Band.

He is known for the Moeller method, which essentially documents the way of playing snare drum which was used in the army, particularly in the Civil War.

Moeller's pupils included Gene Krupa and Jim Chapin.

"The belief that anyone can beat a drum is discouragingly popular!" - Sanford Augustus "Gus" Moeller

Gus Moeller is usually associated with the "Moeller method" or "Moeller technique" (considered by some to be a misnomer), which advocates the use of "ancient" snare drumming techniques that can be used by drummers when playing a drum kit.

In 1925, Moeller compiled and wrote The Moeller Book: The Art of Snare Drumming. It was reprinted in June 1950 by Leedy and Ludwig.

Moeller's unique point of view was that he considered drum students, who were learning to drum properly, to be students of eurhythmics. Moeller based his lessons and instruction around a playing style used by drummers who had served in the American Civil War.

Moeller's book speaks highly, in the publisher's note, of George Bruce's method of drum instruction, and indeed, the book has some similarity to Bruce and Emmett's The Drummers' and Fifers' Guide, in that both have lengthy treatments of the rudiments, and many of the pieces in Bruce's book also appear in Moeller's.

This particular field drumming style arrived in the United States during the time of the American Revolutionary War. The "open style" approach and little finger stick grip are the trademarks regarding this "ancient" style of drumming. The roots of this approach stem from Europe, and go back to before the 18th century.

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