The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was recommended to me by my jazz drumming teacher. It contains a way of using Ted Reed's Syncopation book that is very interesting.

It is an inspiring book, which really comprises a total concept for teaching and learning drums. Every drummer should have this book, I think. It is probably the one and only really essential drum exercise book I've seen. And yes, that is even including G L Stone's books.

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Product Description:
Alan Dawson was a legendary drummer and educator, known for his work with the top artists in jazz as well as for his 18-year association with Berklee College of Music. This new text and CD combination was put together by John Ramsay, a prominent drummer in his own right and a former student of Dawson's. The book contains all the important techniques and concepts that Alan Dawson embraced in his own playing and subsequently taught to his students. The two CDs include some remastered audio examples from actual lessons taught by Dawson himself over the years. This is a highly comprehensive textbook from a jazz master.

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Portraits in Rhythm: 50 Studies for Snare Drum Review

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(More customer reviews)This book contains 50 solos that each work a different aspect of playing.One must pay special attention to note length and placement.It works timing and different feels of classical music.This pieces are meant to be played as orchestral pieces, not marching.Make sure all rolls are buzz and pay attention to if they are tied to a downbeat or not.It is an excellent book to work on every aspect of snare playing.Try to play the pieces for someone with musical knowledge so they can tell you if your interpretation of the solos are correct.

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One of the classic snare drum books in print today! This publication presents the reader with challenging and stimulating material for the intermediate and advanced percussion student. Contains 50 musical solos and brief performance notes.

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Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich Hardcover (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)Mel Torme is not a genius of prose or of the biography genre, but he isn't unreadable either, and literary standards these days are low anyway.Besides, Mel Torme KNEW Rich for much of Rich's life.Buddy Rich asked Torme to write a fair biography, and that is what Torme has done.If you want to learn about the life of the greatest technical drum soloist of all time, this is the book to buy.I like the pictures, too.(How's that for genius in prose?)

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Building Bass Drum Technique: Strength, Speed, Endurance and Control for Single Bass Drum Players (Percussion) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is really helping me with my speed and control and in turn giving me a better overall sound on the bass.The ideas in this book progresses in a very structured order.This book is good for beginners as well as for advanced players.The only draw back is that it doesn`t come with a CD.You will probably need a teacher to guide you if you are a beginner.If you want to really improve your single bass foot drumming this book is surely a great asset..

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Product Description:
This book from Modern Drummer publisher Ron Spagnardi will help drummers using a traditional single bass set-up attain the most effective and efficient results from their playing. In a simple and methodical manner, it presents bass drum development exercises using 8th notes, triplets, two common 16th-note figures, straight 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, and 32nd notes. The last section of the book presents five challenging solos using combinations of the previously studied material.

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Alfred's Drum Method, Book 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)The product was just what I was hoping for, and the reason I made the order. It came on time (actually early) and has been perfect for my needs. Thanks so much, and God bless you!
Dick Grout

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Product Description:
The ideal beginning snare drum method. Book 1 covers Rudimental Studies, Roll Studies, Contest Solos, and Bass Drum and Cymbal Techniques. Book 2 covers Traditional Rudimental Style, Corps Style, Orchestral Style, Accessory Instruments, and Multiple Percussion Techniques. The Video tapes include demonstrations and performances by the authors.--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Primary Handbook for Snare Drum Review

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(More customer reviews)You don't have to be a snare drummer in a marching band to benefit from the exercises in this book. All drummers have to know how to count rythym/beats and these exercises help develop that skill very well. I usually play with the book on my own first (so that I am considering notes and rests myself and figuring them out), then I play the same piece with the accompanying CD which are played at a good pace that challenges you to really be reading the music, but not so fast that you feel like you'll never get it. I like to find a piece that I can't play accurately all the way through the first time, then play it about 10 times with the CD, until I am playing it accurately. Then later I come back to that piece and see if I am still hitting it right. Anyhow, I strongly recommend the exercises in this book for drummers of all levels - coming back to the basics now and then even when you think you've got it down already just serves to strengthen your skills.

By the way, there are two versions of this book on Amazon, one with and one without the CD. It is definitely worthwhile to have the CD and it is not "cheating" to play along with it. You'll see that when you try to do it - it's just more like playing along with another drummer, which is great practice.

I have a growing library of drum books and this is one I come back to over and over.

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Product Description:
A comprehensive and musical beginning method that includes rudiments, reading, duets, repetition exercises, multiple drum studies and composition assignments.

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The Jazz Drummer's Workshop: Advanced Concepts for Musical Development Review

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(More customer reviews)John Riley is an excellent writer and instructor, and his last work makes no exception. In depth analysis of masters' drumming (Roach, Higgins, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Williams), odd times comping and soloing, basic snare drum training routines, and much more. This book really is the ideal companion to Riley's first two books, and I warmly recommend it to every serious jazz drummer.

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Product Description:
Noted drummer and educator John Riley has created an in-depth work for serious students of the instrument. Conceptual topics (time playing, comping, soloing), artist style and analysis (Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and others) and technique (warm-ups, Moeller, etc.) all come together in a fresh, educational and inspiring way. Destined to become an important addition to curriculum. The CD features Riley performing several of the examples.

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Master Technique Builders for Snare Drum: Actual Daily Practice Routines Undes by Anthony Cirone Review

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(More customer reviews)The book is divided into exercises by different world famous percussionists and each writer gives a brief text on why they believe each exercise is important.I am looking forward to using this book with all of my students.The format is clear and easy to follow.Great book for anyone who is looking for exercises to strengthen their performance.

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Product Description:
The actual daily practice routines used by professional symphonic and jazz drummers. The many variations of basic rudimental patterns make snare drum practicing a joy.

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Drum Set Warm-Ups: Essential Exercises for Improving Technique (Berklee Guide) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is absolutly the best book on the market for developing drum
set technique.It is so much fun to work through the exercises.It takes
practice for these excersises to be put to their full potential but you
will see results fast.I noticed a big improvement in my playing,
especially my drum fills and my speed and accuracy.i have been playing
drums for over 6 years and i have used many drum books in the past, but
none compare to this.i recommend this book to anyone.

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Product Description:
Step away from the practice pad! Legendary drummer Rod Morgenstein reveals his innovative warm-up method designed to limber up your entire body. Features exercises to develop and improve your speed, power, control, coordination, independence, accuracy, endurance and agility. With this book, you'll gain a greater facility and command of the drum set, along with an increased feeling of confidence."The definitive text for improving technical facility on the drum set." - Ron SpagnardiEditor/Publisher, Modern Drummer

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Contemporary Drumset Phrasing: Creative Grooves and Fills for Funk, Fusion, Jazz and More (Book & CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)new stuff and some really interesting fill. frank katz shows some really interesting fill and grooves. a book worthy of every drummers library.

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Product Description:
In this book and CD package, Frank Katz demonstrates a variety of grooves and fills for use in funk, fusion, rock and RandB. Styles such as hip hop, jazz, Latin and Caribbean music are also represented. Many examples show how various patterns can be put together in limitless combinations to satisfy the needs of any drummer. As a special bonus, excerpts from several tunes are included, showing how various patterns can work within complete musical contexts.

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Best of the Dave Matthews Band for Drums (Play-It-Like-It-Is) Review

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(More customer reviews)I started Rapunzel the first day I got this book.I've been playing Carter's stuff for awhile, listening to him for years, and I play alot like him.I can listen to his stuff and play it note for note.I figured buying this book would speed up the dechipering of his nasty hi-hat work.Man I was dissapointed.The guy who tried to tab out Carter's playing doesn't get half the notes that are played.Ghost notes are missing, bass hits are added, and some measures are in the wrong time signature or on the wrong beat all together.I know the guy was listening to the same version of the same song as I because he's close to accurate, but then again, close isn't "note for note" or "play it like it is." All in all, this guy either doesn't play the drums, or he drums as bad as the two beat drummer from AC/DC and doesn't know a damn thing about rhythm.I would do this book all over again with me at the headphones, pencil in hand...this transcriber is a joke calling it "note for note" accurate.

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Product Description:
Note-for-note transcriptions of Carter Beauford's great drum work on 10 DMB hits: Ants Marching * The Best of What's Around * Crash into Me * Don't Drink the Water * Rapunzel * Satellite * So Much to Say * Stay (Wasting Time) * Too Much * What Would You Say.

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Guide to Standardized Drumset Notation Review

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(More customer reviews)WOW - I should have looked my own book up here much earlier. To make a few comments:

Insufficiently Authoritative?? - that hurt! I have a DMA in percussion performance from Indiana University. I am the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Arizona. I have a number of works published: over a dozen musical compositions, three books, and over 400 published articles. This book was the result of over two years of research for my DMA document. The entire document and rationale of why certain recommendations were made, was over 900 pages long. I honestly feel that my background and research makes me an authoritative figure on this topic. I started writing music calligraphy back in 1973, and have worked with computer-based notation since Professional Composer came out on the Mac in 1984.

These recommendations were not decided by some arbitrary means. The claim that these recommendations are contrary to standard practice is simply wrong. This book was created by making a very thorough analysis of the notation used in over 200 drumset examples, both using precise notation - such as actual transcriptions and drumset method books, and improvisatory notation - such as big band and studio drum charts. In addition, over 25 books on contemporary notational standards were analyzed in respect to drumset notation. The final recommendations were nothing more than an acceptance of what is currently being done the most. HOWEVER, some recommendations were made in order to help drumset notation work for a small 5-piece kit, or a kit the size of Terry Bozzio's!

"Theta" claims that some of the instructions are "absurd", but please keep in mind that requirements change depending on what the composer is trying to do. For a short example, having one cross-stick rimshot on the snare is an easy notational example - Theta suggests using an "X" on the snare space. That's fine, but what if you want to use that same technique on a tom tom? Using the "X" for that technique now means that it can easily be confused with the cymbal. Not a big problem if you've only using two cymbals, but what if your kit includes 8 toms and 8 cymbals. Then the book's recommended notation makes much more sense.

Concerning the statement that the "standardization" has yet to be implemented - I put forward the FACT that the book has been adopted by: The Percussive Arts Society and the PAS Publishers Committee, Hal Leonard Publishing, Alfred Publishing, Studio 4 Publishers, Meredith Music Publications, Modern Drummer Magazine, Drum! Magazine; as well as the Finale and Sibelius notation programs - to name just a few influential organizations. Hell, I wrote the section in the Sibelius manual for drumset notation. I was also a beta tester for Finale for over two years, working exclusively on their drumset notation capabilities.

To make a comment to Max Parish's suggestion to use "my own Guide", is exactly the reason why this research was done in the first place! So that everyone didn't create their own notation from scratch. The book also goes so much further than simply recommending the proper line or space for a particular instrument. The main purpose was.... Here's something that works for every type of musical situation, let's just all adopt it and we'll be much better off.

If you're looking for a book that HAS been and CONTINUES to be a standard for drumset notation, then this is the book. Check it out and you'll agree.

Here's what Peter Erskine said about the book: "...I hope and recommend that ALL composers, arrangers, authors of pedagogical studies and drummers read, digest and use this long-awaited standard of drumset notation. Norm Weinberg has done contemporary music a great service with this book..."

Here's what Ron Spagnardi (founder of Modern Drummer) said about the book: "After much research, Norm Weinberg has carefully refined and clarified the current, most common methods of drumset notation. If everyone who writes for drumset adopts these guidelines, the ambiguities inherent in much current drumset notation can be alleviated."

Here's what Joe LaBarbera (one of Jazz' top composers and arrangers) said about the book: "This book is a must for all arrangers and orchestrators. I wish this text had been around years ago when I was trying to make sense of the collective, 'hand-me-down' drum notation of the day. Let's have a big drum roll for Norm Weinberg!"

Here's what George Gaber (percussion performer, educator, and PAS Hall of Fame recipient) said about the book: "Authors, publishers, composers and performers are now liberated to communicate in a common notational language. What a triumph to release us from the 'medieval' practice of slash marks with the term ad lib."

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Product Description:
One of the biggest challenges for anyone attempting to notate a drumset part is that there is no absolute "standard" in terms of what makes up a drumset. Through this book, the Percussive Arts Society provides guidelines to aid performers, teachers, students, composers, arrangers, orchestrators and music engravers in producing clear drumset parts for a variety of uses. These guidelines cover the majority of situations and provide basic principles to help people arrive at logical solutions to unique circumstances. Topics covered include: general notation, drums, cymbals, noteheads, voicing, improvisational notation, and more.

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Practical Guide to Percussion Terminology Review

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(More customer reviews)Amazon lists Anthony Cirone as the author of this excellent little reference book. Actually, despite Cirone's valuable contributions, the principal author is Russ Girsberger, until early 2006 the ensemble librarian of the New England Conservatory in Boston.

I own a lot of percussion reference books, but this is the one I always reach for first. It's hard to beat.

David Daniels

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Product Description:
Confused with the growing list of percussion instruments and terms? This new Meredith publication provides both definitions and an artistic interpretation of how each term is applied to the literature. A great source for conductors, composers, performers and students.

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Gene Krupa Drum Method Review

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(More customer reviews)The Gene Krupa Drum Method, published in 1938, was an important book when it comes to understanding the history of drum set playing. As Gene Krupa studied with Sanford Moeller, the Gene Krupa Drum Method brought valuable insight into the "Moeller Technique". The present edition of Gene Krupa Method contains detailed explanations with photographs of stick grips as well as instructions for the Upstrokes and Downstrokes specific for the "Moeller Technique". There are also sections on drum rudiments, especially rolls and paradiddles, and drum set playing. However, in this reprint on Alfed Publishing, almost half the original book has been excluded, meaning the military beats in the original edition, such as The Three Camps and Downfall of Paris, as well as swing classics like Sing, Sing, Sing. If this reprint is the only Krupa book you can find, and you are interested in drum history and the "Moeller Technique", I recommend it. However, if you can get hold of a copy of the original book from 1938, so much the better! Tormod Kayser, M.Mus, Norway

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This method features transcriptions from the video Gene Krupa: Jazz Legend. The first section of the book presents Krupa's drum method which combines individual snare drum techniques with basic drumset applications. The second section contains transcriptions of Krupa's performances from the video.

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Advanced Concepts (Manhattan Music Publications) Review

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(More customer reviews)This great book by the co-chair of New York's Drummers' Collective, Kim Plainfield, is a well-organized excursion into more advanced drumming concepts.With sections on incorporating rudiments into fills, building limb independence through linear grooves and world rhythms, and numerous suggestions for using basic "source rhythms" as launching pads for soloing or grooving ideas, Plainfield's book will likely broaden your drumming horizons, as it has mine.The book comes with two CDs in which Plainfield demonstrates the various techniques and exercises, and at the same time displays his remarkable drumming skills.

The book is intended for serious players who yearn for greater skill--so, while intermediate players will likely find more immediate applications of the book's contents, relative beginners who are willing to think should find the book helpful in generating ideas beyond commonplace Rock figures, while more advanced players may discover some new perspectives on various techniques and feels.Advanced Concepts ably points the way to more intelligent, smoother, eye-opening drumming, and will aid any drummer in becoming a much better musician.

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Product Description:
This is the first book that deals with the necessary drum techniques and practices for today's music. With this 93-page book and 90-minute recording comes an eight-page pull-out chart of additional exercises. An outstanding value!

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FastTrack Mini Drum Method - Book 1 (Fast Track Music Instruction) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the book used in my Beginning Drums course, and it is a very good tool to use in a teacher/student environment. It's not a lot of fun if you want to learn by yourself. If you want to learn by yourself, I suggest you start with "Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Drums, 2nd Edition". Otherwise, a very fine deal.

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Product Description:
Designed for musicians on the move, this compact book helps you learn music notation, riffs and licks, syncopation, rock, blues and funk styles, and improvisation. Method Book 1 includes over 75 songs and examples. The CD includes full-band demonstrations of every song and exercise with the option of isolating the drum part.

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Contemporary Drummer + One (Manhattan Music Publications) Review

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(More customer reviews)Classic Weckl - great practice for intermediate set players of all styles. This book/CD needs to be updated and re-issued for download - both sheet music & audio.

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Product Description:
An incredible audio/book/charts package which features an all-star band including Dave, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, John Patitucci, and Steve Lukather. A studio chart is included for each of the nine songs, plus a detailed book in which Dave describes his grooves and fills, and his analysis of each chart.

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