The most useful drumset instruction resource is one that is open-ended; that is one that can be adapted and used in many different ways to accomplish many different things.  Avoid “beat books” that have page after page of permutations of the same ideas.  Books with play-along components are excellent choices. Percussionists in particular can benefit greatly from video instruction because drumming is such a physical activity.  Everything is very visual, so we can take advantage of watching the great masters perform and teach on videos and DVDs.  Below is a list of some excellent books and video materials. It is just a small sample of what is available, but it is a good place to begin.

 

Books

 

Independence Study

Ted Reed                                             Syncopation

Louis Bellson                                      Modern Reading Text in 4/4

Ed Soph                                              Essential Techniques for Drumset

David   Garibaldi                                 Future Sounds

 

Brushes

Ed Thigpen                                          The Sound of Brushes

Clayton Cameron                                Brushworks

 

Fill and Solo Ideas

Rick Considine                                    Rudimental Grooves for Drumset

 

General Methods

Ramsay, John                                      The Drummer’s Complete Vocabulary

Schaefer, Sandy                                   A Student’s Guide to the Drumset

John Riley                                           The Art of Bop Drumming

John Riley                                           Beyond Bop Drumming

 

Books with play-along resources

Steve Davis                                          Masters of Time

Steve Houghton                                   Essential Styles Vol. 1, 2

Tom Morgan                                       The Jazz Drummer’s Reading Workbook

 

Afro-Cuban/Brasialian

Chuck Silverman                                 Practical Applications Using Afro-Caribbean Rhythms

Doug Auwarter                                    Essential Latin Styles for the Drumset

Ameen/Goines                                     Funkifying the Clave

 

Video Resources

 

Ignacio Berroa                                     Mastering the Art of Afro-Cuban Drumming

Kenwood Dennard                              The Studio/Touring Drummer

Peter Erskine                                       Everything is Timekeeping

Peter Erskine                                       Timekeeping II

Steve Gadd                                          Up Close

Stanton Moore                                                Take It To The Street – New Orleans Drumming

Joe Morello/Danny Gottlieb                Natural Drumming Series

Jeff Ocheltree                                      Trust Your Ears

Ed Shaughnessy/Clem DeRosa           Time, Taste, Technique and Timbre – Big Band                                                                     Drumming

Michael Packer                                    Bass Drum and Hi-Hat Technique

Ed Thigpen                                          The Sound of Brushes