Teaching Rhythm For All Instruments – Joel Rothman
This is an excellent source for learning to read rhythmic notation. Around here we just call it “Rothman,” and it’s a requirement for all beginning drum students. Mr. Rothman presents the material in such a simple and logical way, that my students can literally read music from day one. The lessons become progressively more interesting…
Read MoreGary Chaffee’s Time Functioning Patterns
It would take too long to write about the importance of Gary Chaffee here, so I’ll just say that this book is a must-have for intermediate/advanced players. The “Fat Back” section in particular is required for all my students once they can read 16th-note rhythms. Chaffee designed the “Fat Back” section so that it methodically…
Read MoreA Funky Primer for the Rock Drummer
Ah, the Funky Primer! I believe this was my very first drum set method book… I still have my copy from the 1970’s! This book is primarily for beginning and intermediate drummers, but I regularly repurpose pages of this book to make it challenging even for advanced drummers. The first few sections cover basic notation…
Read MoreTommy Igoe’s Great Hands for a Lifetime
This is quite possibly my favorite drum education product, and I use it both in my teaching practice and as a life-long student of drumming myself. It’s essentially a guided sequence of snare drum rudiments all seamlessly connected by a double-stroke roll. It makes for a great warmup and is fun to play. The product…
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