1 comments about Podemski's Standard Snare Drum Method.

1. This is the finest snare drum method book I have ever used. The notes are inverted to begin teaching the beginer how to read upside down, as fellow drummers will know you will do alot of this type reading when you play the drumset. I only had to buy a new copy because I wore my 20 year copy out. I highly recomend this for the intermediate to advanced drummer.

5 comments about Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich.

1. The Buddy Rich story had to be told, and on the whole Tormé does it with honesty and humour. His writing, however, suffers from a number of bad mixed metaphors, and there is a dreadful editing mistake when the lead in quote to one of the final chapters is dated as being at Rich's birthday party in 1988. He died in 1987. These qualms aside, the book is easy reading, with many funny anecdotes. The view of the jazz scene is predictably white and cronyish, but the main interest is Rich's extraordinary life and talent.



2. A great story, but.... The Buddy Rich story had to be told, and on the whole Tormé does it with honesty and humour. His writing, however, suffers from a number of bad mixed metaphors, and there is a dreadful editing mistake when the lead in quote to one of the final chapters is dated as being at Rich's birthday party in 1988. He died in 1987. These qualms aside, the book is easy reading, with many funny anecdotes. The view of the jazz scene is predictably white and cronyish, but the main interest is Rich's extraordinary life and talent.



3. 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?)



4. I have been in awe of Buddy Rich's musicianship since hearing him live at "Lennie's on the Turnpike" in MA back in the sixties. He could 'suggest' a melody during his solo's better than any drummer I've ever heard (in 62 years). Mel Torme's biography is just fine at portraying Buddy Rich.
   Read it and judge for yourselves!



5. Torme was a close friend of Buddy Rich, knew much of his life story at first hand, and as a musician himself had access to dozens of Riches colleagues. Mel was a professional writer as well as a musician and it shows in the clarity of his prose. If you've gone so far as to read this review then you will for sure like the book.

No comments about Bass Drum Control.

1 comments about The Accidental Drum Circle: A General Music Success Story.

1. The information contained was an interesting read. I could have used a little more material. This is a good first primer for those considering entering the field of drum circle facilitation. Mark presents the material in a fun way. Thanks for sharing your story.

No comments about Mel Bay Drum Lessons for Kids of All Ages book/CD set.

5 comments about Funkifying the Clave: Afro-Cuban Grooves for Bass and Drums (with CD) (Manhattan Music Publications).

1. Combining traditional Latin claves with a funk backbeat. I bought this book / cd combo to improve my bass playing and drumming. (Yep! I play both.) I enjoy Latin / rock type music and wanted to become more familiar with the various styles and rhythms of this music. This book is awesome! It is also not fot the beginner or the timid unless you are dead serious about your playing. This will not only improve your playing, but your reading as well. The CD's start with a group of songs performed by the band. Then they break into LOTS of examples of ALL different styles of Latin music. Once you think you have it all mastered, the songs you heard at the beginning of the cd are there without drums / bass depending on which cd you want to play along with. Yes there are 2 cd's. One for drums, one for bass. By the way, all the songs on the cd have studio grade charts in the back of the book for you to follow. If this book doesn't keep you busy for a long time, you must already be a seasoned studio professional. Even if you are, there's probably something in here for you. ENJOY!



2. This book is essential if your a non-latin drummer trying to understand this percussive language. Clear, concise, this book will occupy you for months, even years.



3. An essential book for any drummer serious about understanding and playing Afro-Cuban grooves on the drum set.



4. Ok I will spend hours with this, lots here to learn, I understand you might be able to find the old VHS of this as well. Lots of fun end enjoyment for a bass player....



5. First find a good drummer, that is interested in playing latin. (I mean a "good" drummer!! Cause he will have a hard time on this one) Than you start excercising together through this book. For a rock bass player, it feels like starting from zero again. Latin timing is unique and not "spontaneous" if you are not born in Africa or the caraibian region, but this book provides a step by step introduction from the basic clave structures to the more advanced slapping latin rhitmes. Great fun, improving instrument control a lot, but hard work. (Take your time for this one)
   The songs at the end are perfect exercises to test your progress in latin timing.

2 comments about Green Day Book & Play Along CD (Drums) (Ultimate Drums Play-Along).

1. I'm not a huge Green Day fan, but there isn't much sheet music for learning the drums and this is a pretty fun way to pick up some punk drumming. The transcriptions are easy to read and accurate to my ear. All the songs are fun to play although beginners should be warned that some have very fast tempos that can be challenging. My only complaint is the CD that comes with the book has a VERY loud click track that can be extremely distracting. I prefer the way the Hal Leonard play along series have the click drop way back in the mix for silent portions and go away all together when the band is playing on the music minus one portions.



2. Wow wonderful book in great condition once it arrived expected it a bit earlier but boy it was worth the wait, very good cd and informative book great to actually have the proper words for the songs.
   Thanks
   Mary

5 comments about The Dynamic Drum Major.

1. The Dynamic Drum Major (although written in the mid eighties) is the know all guide to being a drum major. It is very extensive and very down to earth! It caovers everything about being a drum major from marching to conducting to leadership to even the mindset of a drum major!! Parks to this day instructs Summer camps and he still uses the book and says it needs no update! If want to know how to be a drum major or are interested in improving your skills, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!



2. George N. Park's is my idol, and when I read this book (cover to cover in one sitting) I was amazed. He starts off with a trip back in time to what the art of drum majoring is all about, then slowly brings you to now with tips and tactics on everything you need to know. From conducting, to commands, to whistle use, even down to how to wrap a mace, Parks has it all. From the book alone, you learn how to be the best drum major you can be. With one of his Drum Major Acadamy experiences (2 years for me and running) it's a perfect way to become one of the best. All I can say is, EYES WITH PRIDE!!!



3. George Parks is an inspiring leader, teacher, and musician. His book really depicts the pride that he feels when anyone talks about being in a marching band. I've been to Mr. Parks' Drum Major Academy to become a drum major in my marching band and this book was originally intended only for those students who went to his program to help them with their conducting, mace work, and leadership skills. But in adition to just teaching aspiring drum majors about their job, Mr. Parks instils a sence of pride in anyone who reads this book. He is able to create a sence of awe about any marching band, and any drum major. He has much experience leading bands through high school and college, and currently he is the director of the UMass Marching Band. He is an inspiration for any musician and anyone in general wanting to make a little more out of life. The book brings into play technical aspects of leadership like conducting and macework, but also how each person should feel about a band or really any oraganization and how to relay that positive feeling onto others. His book trains competant, powerful, and confident leaders. He is an inspiration to us all.



4. I loved it, but I was looking for a more in-depth guide.



5. I absolutely love this book. It is very informational, and though the book may be old, it still applies to current drum majors. The content of this book goes extremely well with the content provided at the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, and has helped me grow as a drum major. George Parks knows what he's talking about and is an extremely inspirational teacher. This book can help any drum major who wants to improve and provides new ideas to incorporate with your band to help them improve as well.

No comments about Comprehensive Band Method, Drums & Mallet Percussion, Book 1 (Standard of Excellence).

3 comments about 66 Drum Solos for the Modern Drummer: Rock * Funk * Blues * Fusion * Jazz.

1. It's my first review on a book and I decided to post it as an obligation to the writer, for the excellent work he has done.
   (I play drums for about 8 months with previous long experience on keyboard (self taught) so I write the review from this point of view).

   Each one of the 66 solos in this book is 12 bars long, for a duration of about 30 seconds, 1 solo per page. The solos begin from solo 1 very easy, but soon they become of medium difficulty and some are of high difficulty, especially if played at the same speed as on the included cd.

   The solos are just awesome, even the simple ones. The score on each page is in a very readable form, even from 3 feet away (I have placed it just in front of the drums in a music stand and I read it while I practice).

   The included cd demonstrates each solo in a very clear awesome sound. I use the cd to choose my next favorite solo to practice and then I use the score on the book to learn the solo.

   It's true, the solos are "excellent exercises" for technique, independence and for improvement of your improvisational skills. Also, every new solo I learn from the score It improves my reading ability and after the 4th or 5th solo, reading the next one becomes piece of cake!

   It includes: 8 Pop Rock solos, 6 warm-up solos, 6 Funk Rock (16nth note based), 6 Funk Rock (8th note based), 2 6/8 solos, 2 7/8 solos, 6 Rock Fusion, 4 Rock Fusion (accented upbeats), 2 Rock Fusion (quarter note based), 4 Hard Rock, 5 Jazz, 3 Shuffle and 12 Jazz fusion.

   In short, this is the book that will make you a better drummer FAST, and you can also use it when you want to practice without getting bored!




2. I love this book! It is great for practicing any thing you want in easy to read format. The solos are also fun to play and change every page.



3. I have been drumming for a few years now and consider myself a desent drummer. My major problem was that I had no discipline, I would play just improvised and not really keep count of measures or anything. I would play and whenever I felt I would throw in a drum fill. Some drum fills would go a little over. With this book It made me really sit down and play with structure. The concept of the book is simple,but it is NOT drum solos. Drum solos is like most believe is just showing off speed and technique. While this book is just measures of drum beats followed by drum fills. It is more or less like for songs. It would have an intro then the beat then the fill then beat and so on. What I really love about the book is that it gradually gets harder. So you just start with one and work your way up to 66. Trust me you cant go wrong with this book.