Drum Books: Beginner Students

THIS IS NOT A LIST OF BOOKS FOR EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND BUY.  

I'm putting them here so that when I tell people about a book, they can check here and easily find the right information. I don't pile students up with books, but sometimes they're useful.  I'll let people when they need to get a book.
In this post: Essential Elements, Alfred's Drum Method Book 1, Fast Track Drums Book 1

These are the books I have used with Beginner Students.

Essential Elements
Wollongong students. If you are using this in a school band, we will use it in lessons. If not, we might not. It's a good progressive collection of exercises and pieces and it's good to have a direct connection between rehearsals and lessons. This is also good for Tuned Percussion. There are TWO of these books, make sure you have the right one.



Title: Essential Elements 200: Comprehensive Band Method (Percussion Book 1, or book 2)
Authors: Tim Leutzenheiser, John Higgins, Charles Menghini, Paul Lavender, Tom C. Rhodes, Don Bierschenk, Will Rapp.
Publisher: Hal Leonard
 
Accent on Achievement
Ashbury PS students. This is similar to Essential Elements in that there is a method book used by the whole bands, which we can use in lessons. There are two books, and we use the "Combined Percussion" versions which have tuned percussion and drums together.

 

  











Title: Accent on Achievement - Combined Percussion
Authors: John O'Reilly and Mark Williams
Publisher: Alfred Publishing

Alfred's Drum Method
I use the Snare Drum Book 1. Be careful because there are similar books: Alfred's Drum Method Book 2, and Alfred's Beginner Drumset Method. 

Title: Alfred's Drum Method (Book 1)
Authors: Sandy Feldstein, Dave Black
Publisher: Alfred Publishing

Fast Track Drums
Again, there are a few books in this series so make sure you have the right one. I use the Book 1 Method Book, there is also an accompanying book/CD of songs which I have sometimes used, it's good for easy playalongs without drums on the recording. 

 

Title: Fast Track Drums 1

Authors: Blake Neele and Rick Mattingly

Publisher: Hal Leonard

The Syncopation Book
Aka Progressive Steps To Syncopation
This is a classic and one that I've used a fair bit with students at various levels. I would put this one in the "essential" category.

 

Title: Progressive Steps to Syncopation For the Modern Drummer

Author: Ted Reed
Publisher: Alfred Publishing

Primary Handbook for Snare Drum
Snare Drum and Multi Percussion pieces / exercises we use as reading exercises and studies.  Also used in Grade 3 Percussion exams. 

Title: Primary Handbook for Snare Drum
Author: Garwood Whaley
Publisher: Hal Leonard

Primary Handbook for Timpani
We use this for sight reading exercises and studies on Timpani. Used in Grade 3 Percussion exams. 

 

Title: Primary Handbook for Timpani

Author: Garwood Whaley

Publisher: Hal Leonard

Yamaha Band Student

This is similar to the Essential Elements and Accent on Achievement books listed above, which can be used for group instruction.  We use it mostly because the AMEB Grade 3 percussion syllabus includes pieces from this book. I only use Book 2 in this series, Combined Percussion.

 

Title: Yamaha Band Student: A Band Method for Group or Individual Instruction. Book 2, Combined Percussion

Authors: Sandy Feldstein and John O'Reilly

Publisher: Alfred Publishing