Reddit reviews Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer
We found 77 Reddit comments about Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control is the original classic, often called the bible of drummingIt is the ideal book for improving control, speed, flexibility, touch, rhythm, lightness, delicacy, power, endurance, preciseness of execution, and muscular coordination, with extra attention given to the development of the weak handIncludes hundreds of basic to advanced-level rhythmsGeorge Lawrence Stone's Stick Control is the original classic, often called the bible of drummingIn 1993, Modern Drummer magazine named the book one of the top 25 books of all-time
I think he has a fantastic set to learn on as is. Learning on a simpler setup like this will reinforce his understanding of the basics and the roll of the drummer as a time and rhythm keeper, but that's just my opinion, and my opinions are sometimes stupid. As far as upgrades go, if he likes rock and metal, a china cymbal would be fun, and bigger crashes never hurt. He'll eventually want a double pedal, but I recommend getting a single pedal down first. My biggest piece of advice though is to get him a copy of Stick Control for the Snare Drummer. I "taught" myself how to play for 9 years, neglecting the rudiments, and it really, really hampered my progression as a drummer and a musician. Stick Control is a must-have if you're asking me. I hope he has fun playing!
Edit: typo
If you can spare the money I most definitely recommend finding a teacher. You will want to start with rudiments (they can be boring, but you'll be glad you did them in the long haul) and while you can pick them up from books, having a teacher giving feedback helps a lot. You don't have to stay with a teacher on the long-term, if you make it clear that you just want a solid base most teachers know what you mean and want.
If you don't have that money, these are three books I highly recommend to anybody who wants to play any percussion instrument:
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Description: This book is full of rudiments. Like ctrocks said: This book is evil. You will most likely both grow to hate and love it. Hate it for both how boring rudiments can get (to me, at least) and how hard they get. But love it for the results and seeing how all those rudiments advance your playing immensely. I suggest picking this up as soon as possible.
http://www.amazon.com/Accents-Rebounds-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343162586&sr=8-1&keywords=Accents+and+Rebounds
Description: The 'sequel' to Stick Control. This book adds accents and even more difficult rhythms. I would suggest picking this up at an intermediate level.
http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Steps-Syncopation-Modern-Drummer/dp/0882847953/ref=cm_lmf_tit_5
Description: Don't let this book fool you. It all starts out really simple. But this is one of those books that really lays down a foundation you will be very grateful for. And when you're getting to a more advanced level, you will see how you can translate a lot of these syncopated rhythms to the entire drumkit. I suggest picking this up as soon as possible.
http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-Coordination-Development-Complete-Independence/dp/0769233708/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c
Description: This book is very well named. You will want to grab this book after you got the basics down, imo. You want to work on the independence of your limbs as soon as possible, but not too soon. Yet again: rudiments. But now rudiments that require all limbs.
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Techniques-For-Modern-Drummer/dp/0757995403
Description: We're starting to get into the bigger leagues with this book. I honestly don't quite know how to describe this book except for the word: challenging. Challenging in a very, very good way. I recommend picking this up once you're starting to get into a more advanced stage.
These books are for the basics, imo and in the opinion of many fellow drummers as far as I know. But don't forget: the books are merely tools. You don't want to be only playing rudiments, you'll go crazy. I tended to go for a trade: every half out of rudiments rewards me with a half our of putting on tracks and rocking out. Resulting in one-hour sessions a day. Hope this helps!
Edit: Feeling bored so added more books and descriptions.
Do you have cymbals? Do you want lessons? Honestly I would go to craigslist and search up a full kit (look for decently kept pearl forums, tama swingstars, pacific x7, yamaha stage custom). If it comes with everything for $500 then great. You might have to spend around $100 for some new heads but that's okay. Then take that extra cash and get some lessons, stick control and a metronome.
This
If you can find a place, this is a great option because it is a low cost, low risk (like you said, what if you learn drums aren't for you and lose motivation - you don't want to be stuck with a bunch of expensive drum stuff) way to play on a decent kit. This is what I did for a long time before buying my first kit.
If you can't find a place or if you're insistent on buying you're own, I would look for a cheap used starter kit (high hats, snare drum, bass drum, maybe one tom, and a cymbal - should be able to get a decent kit for <$200) on craigslist or your local music store. I would not recommend a new kit, those will be significantly more expensive and you won't really even know what you're looking for in a kit anyway. I'm not personally a fan of electronic kits, but if you want to, try one out at a music store and if you'd like to learn drums that way, by all means do so.
Even with all this, I would still recommend that you get a couple of lessons. Even if it's just 1 or 2 lessons, it will really help you a lot to have someone to help you get started. The first time you sit down at the kit will be the hardest, and having someone to talk to and converse with will do wonders. If you can't get lessons, it will be harder but certainly not impossible. Remember that it's only going to get easier as you play more, so don't get discouraged.
Vic Firth's rudiment videos are great, though the site is a bit difficult to use these days.
All American Drummer (the Wilcoxen book) is a great way to get your chops back up to snuff. Even the first solo has challenges if you don't have your hands together.
Stick Control - I don't even have to tell you why. Do read through the introduction and practice it in the way that Stone specified.
For inspiration watch Thomas Pridgen show how he practices rudiments around the kit.
stick control if you don't have already have it
To echo what others have said, I couldn't have played drums to save my life when I first played Rock Band. I would fail songs on medium. Now I'm actually a pretty decent drummer, at least for someone who has never owned an acoustic kit.
The key is not to expect Rock Band to teach you everything, which you seem to have figured out already. Rock Band combined with independent research on actual playing techniques (grip, sticking, the parts of the kit, etc.) will absolutely turn you into a passable drummer, just as it did for me.
A couple suggestions: first, get some new sticks. Even the better Rock Band sticks are okay at best. You're not tearing them up on tour every night; you can splurge on something nicer like these. The dip is really nice if you're prone to dropping them, and the nylon tips won't wear the way wooden ones sometimes do.
Second, get a practice pad. A book on sticking patterns like this one can be valuable too but isn't crucial. A practice pad lets you practice sticking patterns. A few minutes a day playing to a metronome will make a big difference. As you improve, you can gradually raise the BPM of the metronome and train yourself to be faster.
I definitely recommend drum lessons if you can. Especially since you have no real knowledge of drumming, this will help immensely. Someone to tell him "No, hold the stick like this" will help in the long run and save him from making habits out of bad technique. This doesn't mean that he can't learn by himself, it just means he will learn quicker, and hopefully have good technique.
Yes. As soon as he starts lessons I'm sure the teacher will recommend a few good books. They aren't really textbooks, though, as much as drumming exercises. I don't know a whole lot about different books, but I have heard good things about Stick Control for the Snare Drummer. Other than that, any basic rudiments book will be fine something like this.
Interesting question. I'm not really sure how to answer this. Does he want to play hand drums or a drumset? I know when I first started I thought hand drums were dumb (My only experience was playing a djembe in a drum circle in 6th grade music class with a bunch of rhythmically challenged idiots). There was something about all the drums and cymbals put together that just made it so powerful and awesome to me. I'd say whatever he likes to play, let him play. If he falls in love with the bongos, so be it.
This is a tough one too. I've never really messed with kid's drums, but I'd say take him to guitar center and let him play the full size kits. If he can play it comfortably and is able to hit all the cymbals with a little adjusting, I'd say get a full size kit. I just wouldn't be a fan of getting a kid's kit that he'll grow out of in a couple years. If you have the extra cash, though, it'd probably be more beneficial to get the kid size drumset.
Rudiments are a good place to start learning drums, as well as some notation / music theory. Here's some free websites that I use:
http://vicfirth.com/40-essential-rudiments/
http://www.snarescience.com/index.php
Around here, every one recommends Stick Control and Jojo Mayer's Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer DVD, but I have never used them.
Music wise, I'm sure there's something you like that is approachable. A lot of Alt-rock like The Strokes, the White Stripes, Black Keys has pretty straightforward drum parts.
As for lessons, it isn't a bad idea to take even just a month of lessons to assist you in basic hand / foot technique as well as musical notation.
Good luck on your drumming journey!
Coordination and timing are big obstacles to overcome, but the more you play, the more naturally it comes. I never took lessons until I could get college credit for them (roughly 5 years after I started playing), and most of that was so I could learn to read music and maybe pick up on a few things. The biggest help for me was the fact that I could learn by ear, so if I heard it enough and tried it enough, I could figure out pretty much any song I wanted to play.
I would definitely invest in Stick Control, even if you can't read music. It's easy enough to read and it's really helpful in breaking habits when you have to think about what hand you're supposed to be striking with.
Really, the most important thing is just keep playing. Tap along to the radio. Tap along to everything. The more you play, the faster you'll break yourself from coordination/timing issues and the better you'll be. /u/crabjuice23 suggested trying different genres of music. I 100% agree. Play along to anything you can. If you hear something you like but can't quite stick it, slow it down in your head and keep playing it until it's comfortable and you'll have it full speed at no time. Patience is huge.
I don't play double bass much so I haven't tried it, but I would imagine that stick control would work just as good with your feet as it does with your hands
This, these, and one of these will get you started for $53.10
Or if you want to go nuts, one of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
$10.79 @ Amazon. You can probably get it for $6-7 from random book resellers on Google. If you approach this book with discipline, the return for your $ will be immense.
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
The only thing you really need in the beginning is a practice pad like that one, this book and a pair of sticks.
If you can bear practicing like this without giving up because of the boredom that is learning the fundamentals, a second-hand e-drum kit is an inexpensive and space-saving way of getting into playing on a whole set. It also means you won't annoy your neighbors too much.
rudimentary technique book, one of the standards.
another rudimentary book, another one of the standards.
first metronome i pulled up under 20$. essential.
DVD by Jojo Mayer, who has (imo) one of the best stick techniques in the business. Really great video examples of proper stick grip, and various techniques regarding rebound and bounce.
edit: me not word good. changed #4 around for redundancies.
I'm a self taught drummer also, but I think the main thing to remember is you never want to stop learning new stuff. Start with the basics and move up from there. Like others said YouTube has great tuts. Every new drummer wants to play fast, but speed is nothing without control. Your job is to keep time, that's the main thing to remember, I sometimes forget that! This is probably one of the best books to help you: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1892764040/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Lawrence Stone's Stick Control & Master Studies by Joe Morello
Great books to utilize while simultaneously working your sheet music skills. Good luck
Marching snare player here!
I would recommend learning the 40 P.A.S. Rudiments
By Matt Savages Book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0757902251?pc_redir=1412330082&amp;robot_redir=1)
I know Matt Savage personally and he's a great guy with a lot of experience in marching percussion.
Also buy the book stick control (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1892764040?pc_redir=1413605838&amp;robot_redir=1)
Those two books should get you started with marching percussion because they lay down the basics for everything that you will end up doing.
This book is great for better stick control http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1892764040/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
You can learn from books if you the type of person that likes to
Play through Stick Control ^you ^own ^Stick ^Control ^right?
with your feet. After you get that down try left foot-right hand or left hand-right foot while keeping a quarter (or half or etc...) pulse with the unused hand. Play with a metronome, start slow and have fun.
http://eric.frap.net/sa/bible/profsound.shtml - drum tuning bible
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040 - classic book, endless applications
remember to stay loose and relaxed.
www.vicfirth.com has technique videos
My advice is don't use more force than you have to and play pick closer to the bridge, there's more tension there and the resistance of strumming the string is more consistent when you start.
I personally recommend starting with pretty thin picks, but try different thicknesses to find if there is a gauge that feels better.
One of the big aspects is that you have get very good at muting strings with your left, or fretting hand when playing since you can't really mute strings while holding a pick.
For dexterity take some exercises from a drumming a booking like this one, but instead of alternating right and left hands alternate down strokes and upstrokes at low speeds and then slowly speed up. Then start to incorporate plucking string next to each doing down strokes on one and up strokes on the other. The best one to start with is paradidle (RLRRLRLL), or Down-Up-Down-Down-Up-Down-Up-Up. The goal when doing this type of practice is to make each stroke even and full.
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
Syncopation and Stick Control are books you will never grow out of and are a must have for any drummer in my opinion. You can use these exercises around the kit as well as implementing feet.
If you want something like drum set notes it very much depends on what genre you are interested in.
keep it up dude! Seeing as you are a young drummer, I want to offer some advice for you to improve. You seem to lose some stick control throughout the song . I would highly recommend you work on improving your technique by going through books such as Stick Control for the Modern Drummer. You can use this as a warm up and play like 4 lines perfectly multiple times or something similar. This book is only a suggestion, there are many ways to improve technique. You just have to make a conscious effort to work on it. A good mixture of practice vs playing will keep you engaged and feel great about improving at the same time.
When I was your age, I spent a lot of time focusing on different patterns and independence and didn't really work on technique until a bit later, and I can say from experience that even though I was practicing a lot, I wasn't practicing near max efficiency because I didn't make technique a priority early on. Working on your rudiments and having great technique makes basically anything easier to learn and makes it sound 1000 times better.
I hope you find this helpful. I use to teach mainly beginners and intermediate players and if you ever want some advice or guidance feel free to shoot me a pm. Keep drumming!
edit- I looked through some of your other videos. I think your stick control was a lot better in some of them. You definitely have talent and I hope you keep at it and keep improving!
How about spending some time working through a book?
I have been working through both and am enjoying them! Another thing that has really helped me is transcribing drum parts and learning to play them that way. I did this with a Tool song and it was unbelievably illuminating. Really makes you think about what the drummer is doing.
PS: Nice username :P
Practice pad, metronome, sticks and "Stick Control" by George Stone. That's where you should start.
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040
Stick Control is probably the best book for building up chops and, well, stick control. https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
Also, get this rudiment book according to my drum teacher. It is called "Stick Control: For The Snare Drummer" and teaches you essential rudiments ($10 shipped). https://www.amazon.com/dp/1892764040 and watch rudiment videos online. I am just learning rudiments but he showed me how important they are to learn.
Non-mobile: book
^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble.
Here's my disclaimer: if you don't have access to a drum and at least one other person to practice playing clean with, you're already at a disadvantage. No pad feels exactly like a drum and when it comes down to the wire in an audition, what determines who makes the line is usually who can play clean consistently no matter where he is in the line.
Buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040
No matter where you want to march, it will be your ultimate tool. It will lay the foundation of your playing, and it will give you amazing facility on the drum. Play through all of it. Play through it at every dynamic. Play five lines and crescendo the whole thing. Do whatever you can to essentially turn the thing inside out on itself so that you get as much experience playing things your hands have never felt. The key here is repetition. You want to shed layers so that your hands become so refined that anything you're asked to play is practically second nature.
Once you've played through the entire book ten times, buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/Accents-Rebounds-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764067
Repetition, repetition, repetition. Variation, variation, variation. If something sounds disgusting, practice it until it's beautiful. You need to dedicate substantial time to practicing, and you need to always practice with a metronome. I advise against most phone metronomes, because they tend to be inconsistent. I recommend practicing for 90 minutes and then taking a 30 minute break. Practice consistently. Don't do eight hours one day and then take a week off. Two or three hours a day is ample practice time. You've got to be deliberate and take your practice time seriously if you want to make it. If you're unsure about whether or not you want to march, I'd advise against auditioning because the people who really want it are usually the ones who make the line.
Get on YouTube and check out some different lines from the past maybe three seasons. Listen to as many as you can and see which lines really pique your interest. Then get on Google and look for audition materials (either from past years or current materials). A lot of corps require you to buy their audition materials so if that's an issue for you, you could try another corps. Or you could step up your game, get back on YouTube, try to find some videos of the drumline warming up, and figure out their exercises on your own. Be wary though; that's a pretty significant undertaking.
My best advice is to take initiative, and to try harder than you want to. You'll have to do both of those things if you spend a summer with a corps anyway, so it's better to start now. Best of luck to you.
One half of drumming is the learning to control 4 limbs at once thing. I guess some might call it coordination.
One of my favorite ways to practice or work something out is to sit in a chair and play on my legs with my hands. Pick some songs that have grooves that you like and try to work out the parts for each limb and tap away.
Costs $0 and you can play anywhere all the time...
If you want to build speed and practice rudiments there is no better place to start than Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer. If you can make it through this book, you are well on your way!
I've been a drummer since I was 8. Quite rusty right now as a lot of things have kept me from practicing (moving to apartments for years, etc.). Honestly, it's never too late to start. Are you going to be playing Carnegie Hall in a year? Wildly unlikely. But as long as your expectations are grounded in reality, that learning anything takes time and practice, you should be good.
As for practice and sense of tempo/timing: it is imperative that you buy a good metronome and practice with it regularly. You don't necessarily need a Dr. Beat, though I have one, and it is useful at times. But you do need some kind of click to play off of.
Can you read music? If so, there are some really good technique books out there that I'd recommend that are classics. Most people hate grinding technique, but I find it oddly relaxing. Here's some good books:
The first two books are probably where you should start. With all of these, start the metronome at molasses level slow - like 60 bpm or maybe even slower if you're not accurate at that speed. Get comfortable with that speed - maybe 15-30 mins at that speed without any mistakes. Then bump the timing up slightly 2-4 bpm and repeat. At no point should you be tensing up. If you are, you need to stop immediately, shake out your arms, and back down the tempo a bit.
Make sure that you're making more use of your fingers than your wrists. Wrists can be good to start the stroke, but your fingers should be doing a lot of the work.
There's a lot of other technique stuff that you can do, but the above alone could take you 5-10 years of solid daily practice if you're being thorough.
Good luck!
So far everyone has replied with an incorrect answer.
The correct answer is
STICK CONTROLLLLLLLLLLL
If you own stick control I would recommend going through that while doing quarter notes with your left foot and hitting 1 with your kick.
There are many ways to do this, but this is how I started and I thought it worked well. You can also just incorporate your left foot into any rudimental stuff you are playing on the snare or around the kit. For example, try playing a paradiddle. If you can do that, then try to keep time with your left foot on 2 and 4 while doing it. Then try hitting all the downbeats with your left foot. Then try eighth notes, etc. . . .
If you practice this enough, eventually you will forget about your left foot entirely and it will just be second nature!
You should buy Stick Control.
It'll help you with the basics. The first page in the book is one of the most useful pages in any drum book ever.
The guy who suggested rudiments is absolutely correct.
Proper technique is hugely important, so reading up on or watching some videos about that will help you immensely, if you haven't already.
I would also suggest finding and practicing some stick control exercises. Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone is a great book filled with really helpful exercises.
Listening to, watching, and playing jazz can be a great help as well.
Source: percussionist for ten years
First you're going to want to start by focusing on your stick grip. Learn how to hold the sticks and whenever you play always pay attention to your form and grip. At least at the start.
Next, go for rudiments. they can help you get your chops up while get you better at reading snare music.
After that, get some snare solos and try them out. Remember to concentrate on your grip and form.
Also this is a great book. One of the best snare books out there:
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
And remember, practice makes permanent, so make sure you're holding your sticks in a way that won't hinder your playing and make you have to relearn it all later on. Have fun!
My advice would be to pick up a copy of ‘Stick Control for the snare drummer’, and practice the exercises in the book for half an hour each day. When I was in my highschool marching band, this was THE book for improving speed and control.
Edit: you will also want to work on practicing the exercises at different speeds and volumes.
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=for+the+modern+snare+drummer&amp;qid=1570196885&amp;sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
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Most drummers forget about the rudiments that make up the grooves. These will give you patterns to go off of and tighten up everything you do around the drum set. Doesn't need to just be done on a snare. Practice on the snare, snare+tom, Hi-hat + snare, etc. Come up with some cool stuff, and help you understand the building blocks that make the groove.
Get lessons if at all possible. You'll progress much more efficiently that way.
Also get Stick Control and practice the patterns to a metronome.
Not OP, but check out Stick Control by George Lawrence and The New Breed by Gary Chester.
These two books helped me get over the hump of knowing what I wanted to play, and actually being able to play it effortlessly and cleanly.
YouTube lessons can be helpful, but almost certainly never as helpful as an instructor. YouTube lessons can't see you making mistakes and can't correct them. You can't talk to YouTube lessons. They're alright for beginners but I would definitely recommend getting some one-on-one advice, even from people who aren't professional teachers.
There's this amazing book called Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer (https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040 ) and it's full of great practice exercises that can help both you and your son. It's not a full kit book, but it's meant to strengthen your sense of rhythm and technique, and can help with speed aswell if you use a metronome. If you don't want to buy the book, I'm sure there's a .pdf somewhere, but the book is always better in my opinion.
Don't waste your money on Drumeo and Drumeo Edge. The whole Drumeo program is basically watching somebody else play drums and trying to mimic it. I can't speak for other online drum lesson services as I don't have much experience with them.
Find some music you like on YouTube, and use the speed feature to slow it down and really listen to what the drummer is playing. You can start slow and break it down and slowly increase the speed until you're playing it just as fast as the drummer in the song. It's a great way to teach yourself how to learn songs.
Learning drums takes a lot of patience (and can be quite expensive!) so I'd advise you to take great care in how you hit your drums. Drumsticks aren't very expensive and neither are drum heads, but when you're nailing them so hard you break one a day, it adds up quickly. Same goes for cymbals, but those are quite expensive aswell.
When you buy the second kit, I'd advise you to invest in a mid-range kit, not too great, but not garbage either. When you listen to songs and then your drums sound crappy, it's quite discourage. Get some mid-range cymbals as well, Paiste offers some pretty good beginner's cymbals.
Daily practice- never forget it! Also, Syncopation as mentioned below is very good, and I would also recommend this. They're both great books.
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1472953106&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=stick+control
Just want to echo that 30 minutes a day is more than enough. Of that time, I would spend 10 minutes on rudiments and the rest on whatever you want.
>What all will I need to get started? Practice pad, sticks, kit, metronome?
If you buy an electronic kit, I wouldn't worry about practice pads. I'd recommend picking up Stick Control, learning the rudiments, and an introductory book such as Fast Track or Tommy Igoe's beginner DVD. Once you feel more comfortable, I'd recommend picking up Groove Essentials and New Breed.
For stick, I generally recommend starting with Vic Firth 5B hickory sticks. Of all the sticks I've tried, those are the most absolutely average. Weight, balance, size, etc. From there you can move into thinner (5A, 7A) or thicker (2B) as you want, but 5B is a good starting place, hickory is the best wood to learn with (and play with forever, imo, but that's debatable), and Vic Firth is fairly consistent.
Vic Firth's stick size comparisons. The standard sizes used by the majority of drummers, from smallest to largest, are 7A, 5A, 5B, 2B. Everything else is just incredibly minor tweaking that some people like.
Stick Control. Most drummers will say it's best to start with this book but I'll be honest- it's not fun. Don't expect to be wowed by drumming with this book. It's meant to build good form/technique and other solid fundamentals that are very important to drumming.
Either way, if you're looking for something a bit more exciting, I'd say search youtube for beginner lessons on the kit and/or your pad.
Good luck!
The classic book is George Stone's "Stick Control".
Some web resources:
http://www.freedrumlessons.com/articles/drum-rudiments.php
http://www.rudimentaldrumming.com/
Do you teach with stick control?
I'd say get the book Stick Control, maybe a cheap metronome and do exactly what it says. Buy a good drum pad. These things will improve your playing to a new level, not to mention decrease fatigue. Drumming behind a drumset isn't all there is to playing drums. Dig it.
Hope this helps somewhat.
That should read Stick Control and Syncopation for the modern drummer. I believe these are what the OP was referring to.
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1344616777&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=stick+control
http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Steps-Syncopation-Modern-Drummer/dp/0882847953/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1344616777&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=stick+control
The biggest thing I can think of is for you is to practice musically and not just straight forward notes. Throw accents in, change up the dynamics.
Here is a prime example from Jojo Mayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTM7khtBeXc
I can also suggest to you some books.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1892764040/temancom
This is possibly the best drum instruction book on the market, it will do wonders for your playing.
http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Steps-Syncopation-Modern-Drummer/dp/0882847953
And this book too, work your way through these books and you can do anything.
These for if your school doesn't have gauntlets (whole line will need them).
These are pretty handy if you don't have one, they do everything drumline related.
These are great for practicing, they're heavier than your average sticks.
People say this is the best book ever in terms of learning.
Everyone should use a metronome when practicing.
Exercises as in technique exercises? That's a very broad question. Working on the rudiments to a metronome is a tried and true method, you could also get yourself a copy of stick control and work through that to a metronome.
Stick Control George Lawrence Stone
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040
Awsome drumming. Like the Bonham tat!
Grab this book and a metronome. You'll be a frekin beast!
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374124701&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=modern+snare+drum+techniques
It's not just for snare drumming, but chops over all and it's pretty fun.
The bible - http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040/
Work them up to - http://www.amazon.com/Accents-Rebounds-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/0984329315/
For your more advanced students, this will also help you with your reading. - http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Breed-Development-Creativity/dp/1423418123/
Of course you don't have to keep them doing everything on the snare, get them to move the exercises around the kit.
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
Get it
Stick Control and Syncopation for the Modern Drummer
Two of the greatest.
I would pick up a copy of Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer. Even working on just the first page with a metronome for a few minutes a day will make a huge difference.
For this stuff I would start with stick control ( http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040) but apply techniques as seen in Jojo Mayer's Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer. He has the definitive insight into how a stick can be held and controlled. Coupled with Stone's book there are infinite ways to build your technique and maximize speed and comfort without injury.
I would suggest buying the Jojo DVD and the Stone book, but there are bits and pieces of both all over the google / YouTubes.
No, it's never too late to start something that you could love doing until the day you die! Drumming is THE BEST, and drummers get the hottest girls anyways haha. If you've always wanted to give it a shot, do it!!
You could actually make a lot of progress being 18 with more focused practice than kids that start "playing" at 6 or so. Don't let age dictate anything regarding music, seriously.
Get a practice pad, some sticks, grab a copy of Stick Control and you're well on your way to drumming.
I'm willing to bet your college has a music program, yes? Students can usually get a discounted rate taking lessons from one of the instructors on campus, and you might be able to get access during off hours to a drum room. We had that at UMass when I went there years ago, so I would bet yours has it to.
Seriously, play the drums. It's one of the greatest decisions I've made in life.
Stick Control was written by George Stone. One of the most influential rudimental books every written.
George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control
I use that book daily, along with a good drum pad like this
I just received this book in the mail yesterday:
https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040
I just went through the first 9 exercises last night before my usual practice session that consists of me rocking out to some random song list on spotify.
Hoooooly crap was I doing the thing. Only after one session I already felt more "on" than I have ever been.
I should note that I was in School band in 6th and 7th grades on snare, quit for 8th after I got a set, then stopped playing drums altogether when I went to college for lack of playing space. Saved up and bought an electric kit for my apartment this January, and have been slowly trying to get to "Where I was" since then. Yesterday was the first day I actually felt like I was playing stuff I'd always had trouble with before. Again, after ONE session.
Good luck dude. And don't let your girlfriend guilt you into selling your Jet Black 96 Pearl Export series with drum rack and double bass pedal for 500 bucks when you're 25. Even if you haven't played in years. God I miss that set.
If you're able to have a book with your pad; this book is and/or should be a staple in every percussionist's diet. Such a good daily routine for every skill level. It's pretty much accepted as the best option to keep up your chops and versatility!
Depends how deep you want to go.
First of all, always use a metronome. Your rudiments will sound exponentially more clean and solid if you develop a solid time feel.
If you really want to create a strong foundation, start with Stick Control. As the book says, practice each line 20 times with a metronome. Play only on the snare drum and make sure all of your strokes are perfectly even. Start practicing at 80bpm, then work you way up to you highest tempo in increments of 5bpm (play each line 20 times for each tempo). If you have any issues with timing or evenness, practice the line another 20 times at the same tempo. This method will give you an incredibly solid sense of rudiments, but it is fairly boring and quite time consuming.
If you just want to jump straight into the kit, then watch the Thomas Pridgen video mentioned by /u/flavenstein. There are tons of Youtube videos out there about applying rudiments, so really just find the ones that sound the coolest to you and learn them.
> Is taking on a drum student and saying something like "This means I need to learn to play kit!" really fair to the student?
Maybe not... but I've played kit before in bands (when the drummer takes a break from his throne for a pit stop at the porcelain throne...) and always been complimented on my timing. I just don't have the rudiments across different drums, so I feel like I should learn that. I've no aspirations to become a percussion instructor or put it on my business card, but it is music, and that one has always been on my card :-)
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> How you teach little techniques (holding the stick, hitting cymbals, foot technique) will affect the student for the rest of their playing career.
Yes, and I've seen people learn technique on a variety of instruments that hindered their playing forever. Even (especially?) if they learned from a teacher with a music-ed degree. Seems that's always a risk, particularly when people don't shop around for teachers. But I totally get where you're coming from, esp as a trained musician yourself. I will say a couple of things to that, and I will avoid being defensive. If any of this reads as such, try to find a different voice in it.
First, even to my cello students, I don't just teach cello; I teach music, and I tell them this. For other students I teach music, theory, and composition. For this student, I told his parents that I'm not a kit drummer, but I can teach him music; and if he can play music, he can play music on drums [insert list of self-taught drummers here?]. I have experience with hand percussion (professional, if you count using a cello as a cajon... ¡kek!), but I don't call myself a percussionist or drum teacher. I do say I have a drum student, though, which gets a laugh from some colleagues. I've coached for other instruments and ensembles, all the way up to conservatory level especially for audition prep. I wish I auditioned for Curtis and Julliard when I was a teenager, but no, I had to feel cool and go to Berklee instead. (Big mistake; hindsight is 20/20, right?)
Secondly, this student was taking lessons with a teacher at a store last year and quit. His parents encouraged him to try a different teacher and I'm working on getting him excited about music. I can't force anyone to learn who doesn't want to... but I can show him good music, watch his reaction to find what music actually moves him, then get him to stop "practicing" and start "playing!" I always say that doctors practice for a living; musicians get to play :-) When he started with me he brought Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer and explained why he hated it. Fair. I hate it too! So we work on other stuff. Should I teach him traditional grip or match? French grip? Open handed instead of cross? Open handed traditional so the right hand holds the stick underhanded?? I'm gonna find what works best for me and teach him that way. Gotta be careful because I'm ambidextrous & do some things left handed (golf, soccer, snow and skateboard goofy-footed, use tools in either hand, etc). More likely I'll find a way that works for him and teach him that way. He'll be self-taught with a coach. Does that sit any better with you? ^(this isn't personal, but I genuinely appreciate this feedback, it's useful self-reflection!)
Couple things that'll help you overcome some barriers you are facing with moving forward.
Practice by sight reading and playing stick control books, like the infamous SCV Stick Control or the classic George Lawrence Stone's "Stick Control" book.
You can purchase GLSSCB it here, https://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-George-Lawrence-Stone/dp/1892764040/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=George+Lawrence+Stone%C2%B4s+%22Stick+Control%22+book.&amp;qid=1565023832&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-1
The book itself has very basic, to intermediate, to high level rudiments.
Practice with the first few pages of the book. Master the movements, and you will pick up with speed. It's the basic rudiment patterns that will help you succed in playing the rest of the book.
The key is controlling your arm movements, stick, height, as well as tempo and fulcrum placements. Always practice with a metronome.
You will get better, it takes time. Set your frustrations aside and simply just start over.
If you want to lower the tone of the criticism you receive, invest 10 bucks into that book and you'll see praises then.
Happy drumming!
http://www.amazon.com/Stick-Control-For-Snare-Drummer/dp/1892764040
it's this book.