Introduces the essential techniques used in today's drumming styles.  Includes the basics of playing rock, Funk, Blues, Jazz and other popular styles.  Contains valuable exercises for developing independence between all four limbs, along with a lesson on how to play in a band.

LESSON 1

• Understanding the drum kit
• Sitting position
• How to hold the drum sticks
• How to read the music

LESSON 2

• Note and rest values
• The whole note, the Whole rest
• The Half note, the Half rest
• The Quarter note, the Quarter rest
• Building a drum beat

LESSON 3

• The Eighth note
• Rock beats
• The Eighth rest
• Snare drum control
• Bass drum control

LESSON 4

• Playing fills
• Using the crash cymbal
• 12 bar blues

LESSON 5

• The triplet
• Bass and snare drum variations
• Fills using triplets
• The shuffle rhythm
• Notating swing rhythms

LESSON 6

• Sixteenth notes
• Fills using sixteenth notes
• Two handed funk
• Sixteenth note variations

LESSON 7

• Accents
• Accents using different surfaces
• The paradiddle
• Dynamics
• Dynamic independence
• Ghost notes

LESSON 8

• Using the left foot
• Jazz beats
• Side stick
• Playing the open hi hat

LESSON 9

• The three four time signature
• The twelve eight time signature
• Swinging sixteenth notes
• Solo in twelve eight time

LESSON 10

• Playing with a band
• Working with a bass
• Working with a guitar
• Guitar, bass and drums
• Musical form
• Understanding music
• Melody and scales
• Treble clef and treble staff
• Harmony and chords