Recommended Drum Education Books
-Reading-
Understanding Rhythm (Manhattan Music Publications – Drummers Collective)
This book’s focus is 100 percent reading. Beginning with simple whole-note, half note and quarter-note combinations, this book also covers eighths, sixteenths and thirty-second-notes, syncopated eighth note figures, ties, dots and triplets.
-Snare Drum-
Breeze Easy Drums, Book 1
One of the first snare drum books that I worked through when I started. It’s well written and intended for a beginner. Focuses on the quarter note as the basic unit of beat. Contains many miniature marches, overtures, solos and duets to keep things interesting.
Brook Double Drum Studies
Great “old school” find for learning rudimental playing. Double Drum refers to both the Snare and Bass drum (book was published well before double bass drum playing of today existed) Book level is advanced beginner to intermediate.
America’s N.A.R.D. Drum Solos
Great for Reading and Rudimental Etudes–intended for intermediate to advanced drummers.
-Technique-
The Level System: A Natural Method for Developing Control of Accents and Dynamics
This book is an overview of the level system as taught by George Lawrence Stone and Joe Morello. Use of this method will allow the performer to transition instantly between accented and unaccented notes.
-Drum Set-
Rockin’ Bass Drum
Great book for beginners and advanced beginners. The author gives a number of two-bar patterns involving bass, snare, hi-hat and ride. Below each pattern, he gives you the same two bars with just the ride and the bass, allowing you to focus on coordinating the bass drum off the eighth-note ride.
Bass Drum Control by Colin Bailey
Great for developing bass drum technique
Alfred’s Beginners Drumset Method
The book is divided into two sections: Rock and Jazz. In each section students learn the use of the hi-hat, ride cymbal, snare drum and bass drum in their respective styles.
Drum Techniques of Led Zeppelin
This book contains 23 of Bonham’s most famous drum transcriptions from his work with Led Zeppelin. Also included are editor’s notes from each record and note-for-note transcriptions.
Recommended Drum Sticks
Vic Firth MS5 Corpsmaster Snare Stick
Great sticks for playing in marching bands, snare drum, and for learning stick control. The heavy weight of the sticks makes it easy to feel the rebound and builds up the necessary muscles that need to be developed for stick control.
Vic Firth American Classic 5A HingeStix
Hingestix are great for learning proper grip. What I like most about them is that you can’t operate them without all the fingers being on the stick. They come in two models–SD1 and the 5A.
Vic Firth American Custom HingeStix SD1 Practice Sticks
The SD1 is similar in weight and size to the 5A but it has a round tip, which is better for producing dense sounds.
Recommended Practice Pads
RealFeel by Evans, 1-Sided Practice Pad, 12 Inch
Evans products are all good quality and I particularly like the rubber they use on this pad. Feels like a real surface to me.
RealFeel by Evans 2-Sided Practice Pad, 12 Inch
A two-sided practice pads is great for developing hand technique on different types of surfaces.
Vic Firth, 1-Sided Heavy Hitter Slim Pad, 12 Inch
This 12 inch practice pad by Vic Firth fits nicely on top of any 14 inch snare drum.
Vic Firth, 2-Sided Practice Pad
Vic Firth’s double sided practice pad is also a great choice!
Recommended Products
Vic Firth Kidphones — Isolation Headphones for Kids
Specially designed for children reduces overall noise levels by 22 decibels.
Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones
Sound isolation headphones that reduce overall noise levels by 24dB. Great for playing along with recorded music!
New Grip Wrist Supports for Drummers
These wrist supports really help alleviate pain from chronic injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. I’ve utilized them myself to get through some pretty painful CTS and tendonitis flare-ups.
