4 comments about The Way of Taiko.

1. This is a small 7x7inch high quality gloss paper bound survey of Taiko. It presents a nice forward by Sensei Seiichi Tanaka, a brief history and sections on the culture and "way" of taiko.
   
   There are many high quality color photos that convey what cannot be conveyed in writing. Taiko is EXCITING!!
   
   I liked the sections on the connections with the spirit and nature, as an artistic community I think we need to emphasized these elements more in practice and performance.
   
   The Taiko Glossary filled in some data gaps for me - however, I would think that any practicer with more than 2 or 3 years experience would or should know these terms.
   
   I think there should have been more on the "songs" how they are taught and the culture or practice of what groups get to perform what songs. - there is no copyright per se but there is an informal (read no lawyers - yet) means of giving permission to perform certain songs to groups.
   
   All in all this is a good book for beginers and novices or anyone interested in an introduction to taiko. There is so much more that I hope to see in the follow on book to this one.
   
   It's curious that while Sensei Tiffany Tamaribuchi is acknowledged that her group the Sacramento Taiko Dan is not mentioned either in the book it self or the list of "Senior Taiko Ensembles" - hopefully this omission will be corrected in later editions.



2. The Way Of Taiko by Heidi Varian is the translation of information that will enable American readers to understand and enjoy (even participate in) the sacred art and practice of ethnic Japanese drum music known as "Taiko". Providing a wealth of general information documenting "Taiko", The Way Of Taiko engagingly informs the reader of many of the great intricacies in this specialized music, and is inclusive of many expressive and artistic pictures to give the reader an accurate idea of what "Taiko" truly is. The Way Of Taiko is very highly recommended to all enthusiasts of the eastern philosophies and arts, especially those musically inclined, as well as students of Japanese culture.



3. I only had this paperback book for a couple of days when pages began falling out as I read it. The information, pictures and writing were great, but even with very careful handling, the binding was not adequate to hold the pages intact. This was disconcerting, of course, and my attempts to contact the publisher - Stone Bridge Press - to complain of the problem failed. They never responded.
   
   I returned the book to Amazon, who refunded the cost of the book minus shipping. This is one of the very few returns I have ever had to make to Amazon.
   
   I would never buy another book from Stone Bridge Press without seeing it and handling it before hand.



4. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the art of taiko...a lovely little gem of a book.

1 comments about Mel Bay presents Inside The Big Band Drum Chart.

1. Excellent Big Band Method!!! CD and DVD are a fine addition to the book!! If you watch the DVD first it pumps you up to want to learn this style of music!!! Being wire bound is another excellent feature of this product!!! If you are a fan of Big Band Music or want to learn this style!! This book is an absolute must!!!

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

3 comments about Drum Techniques of Led Zeppelin.

1. I decided I wanted to study John Bonham's drumming, so I bought a number of books, including this one and "The Best of Led Zeppelin Drums." When my order arrived, I was disappointed in this book. It turns out that both of these books are from the same publisher, Warner Bros. Publications Inc. This book, however, turns out to be only a sub-set of the other book.

   At this time, there's a lack of information on the product page about the contents of this book, so let me describe its contents. It contains drum transcripts to: "Black Dog," "Dazed and Confused," "D'yer Mak'er," "Good Times, Bad Times," "Heartbreaker," "Immigrant Song," "The Ocean," "Stairway to Heaven," "What Is and What Should Never Be," and "Whole Lotta Love." The other book is only slightly more expensive, yet it contains eight (8) more transcripts, plus all of these ones.

   There's no compelling reason to buy this book. I returned mine and kept the other.




2. Compared to other sheet music books, this one had a nice plus - the commentary by the author in front of each Zeppelin album, giving some insight as to what Bonham did, how you might think of styling the piece, etc... Not alot of words, one paragraph per song, but I found it useful.
   
   The transcriptions show alot more notes than I remember hearing, so I went back and listened to alot of the songs and I conclude that the author really took care in being careful to get as close to possible as to what was recorded. This is the second edition, it seems, revised in 2005.
   
   Fwiw, I am not a pro drummer by any means.



3. This is a high quality and well written book. I have a feeling the author went above and beyond to make this book as accurate as possible. One thing I will say though is that if aren't a really good drummer you may get lost in spot's. John Bonham was one of the greatest after all and his style is not easily duplicated. Meaning you should have a few years of experience in drumming before purchasing! Recommended!

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.

No comments about Sittin' In With The Big Band Jazz Ensemble Play-Along (Book & CD) - Drum Edition.

2 comments about Drum Circle Facilitation: Building Community Through Rhythm.

1. Arthur Hull's books are clearly written, packed with practical and useful information, and presented in a kind and humorous style that makes the material easy to digest. That would be enough positives for anyone interested in drumming, drum circles, music education, or music therapy to give this book a read-through. The kicker is that the book's content has broad applications beyond drums and percussion. To my ear, what makes a drum circle work is sensitive listening, unselfish playing, high energy and enthusiasm, and a certain amount of serendipity and risk. Anyone who cultivates these qualities becomes a better improviser on whatever instrument they happen to play; so the ideas in this book are very valuable for saxophonists playing jazz, guitarists in jam bands, or chamber music string players seeking a tighter sound. These qualities also make for coordinated work groups in areas beyond music altogether; there are reasons that corporations have drum circle events at their meetings. Drum Circle Facilitators "serve the circle;" they are the alchemists who help bring out the musicality in a group of random drumming strangers by doing the minimum activities necessary to raise the level of the group's listening, and then getting out of the way so the main method of the group's learning is by doing. In this book there are dozens of anecdotal descriptions of what can go right and what can go wrong when leading drum circle events, mainly from Arthur Hull, but also from a selection of other experienced leaders in the Village Music Circles organization. The concepts are presented within an overall system of "triplicities," a means of balancing three coordinated aspects of each leadership skill. This book also introduces a shorthand symbol system for keeping track of the events that take place in drum circle events. This system is tremendously valuable for music education; in the organization Music for People (teaching improvisation on all instruments), Hull's books are required reading in the training, and the symbol system has been used and extended to cover tonal instruments. To wrap things up and get out of the way here, this is a five star book that is a good read and it has much to offer all musicians, all music teachers, and educators and trainers who want their charges to function with harmony, rhythm, and high energy.



2. This is a book but actually can be used as a manual. A tool that if you are on DC facilitation you will want to have at hand. Tons of information and insights available...just to read and re-read, then you will find out there was much more than you thought. Thank you Arthur!

4 comments about Drum Basics, Steps One and Two Combined (The Ultimate Beginner Series).

1. I had absolutely no musical background, but I learned basic rock drumming by using this book together with the video guide Drum Basics Step One and Two by Sandy Gennaro. The authors' instructions are easy to understand and follow, and you don't have to know how to read music to start playing. I would strongly recommend using these materials with a Yamaha DTXpress, and practice, practice, practice.



2. This is an excellent beginners and improvers book for budding drummers and percussionists, providing a comprehensive introduction to rock and blues drums. Written by Sandy Gennaro, an experienced session musician, and accompanied by a most useful practice CD, it will provide knowledge and confidence for all tomorrows drummers.



3. I started drumming about 2 months ago with a basic set, Tommy Igoe's 'Getting Started on the drums' dvd and this book. The book is endless pages of exercises that gradually builds in difficulty. It's great. Each new pattern gets you using all four limbs, and are easy to modify for more practice (open/closed hi hats, crash vs hi hats, etc). It's got sycophated patterns, drum fills, and stuff on establishing a 'groove' with a band/bass player. Not the end-all of drum books, but perfect for beginners.



4. I actually bought this back in 1995 after I had played in a garage band for about a year. I had "played by ear" and never learned to read music. I picked this up with intentions of expanding our band and then put it aside as life got in the way and the drums went in storage. So, fast forward to 2008 and the kit is out of storage and set up with some new hardware. THIS BOOK IS AWESOME! It lays down the basics in an easy-to-follow format and then converts that to sheet music... I CAN READ MUSIC NOW! I was able to get through the entire book in less than 2 weeks and am proficient at fills and grooves, I never did that after 3 years of playing by ear. The CD tracks are great and easy to follow. The lead-out counting gets the beat in your head before the sticks even move. The ONLY suggestion I'd make with this book is to get a good quality metronome to play along with. I'd couple this with another book, "picture yourself drumming" which is a bit more extensive in the descriptions and methodology. Another great choice would be "All about drums", again, great teaching method and some real sheet music and examples of popular songs in that. No complaints here, just order the book and get practicing!

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 Rockin' Bass Drum.

1. My son had taken some time off from drumming and when he recently got back into it his teacher recommended this book, amongst others. It has been a very helpful tool!



2. This is one of my favorite drum beat books. Once you've mastered basic beats with eighth notes on the bass drum this books presents the logical next step. It uses a very easy to read notation and shows most beats twice, it two different notations. It is a great if you are trying to learn on your own. It progresses from simple sixteenth note bass drum patterns and ends with some advanced poly-rhythms. I demonstrate a handful of the beats contained in this book in two of my youtube lessons. [...]



3. This is a good book, no doubt, but I did find it to be almost like a subset of "Drummer's Cookbook". It has lots of variations of the basic 4/4 beat. It waits until the second half of the book to move the snare off of 2/4, where Drummer's Cookbook does that almost right away. For someone just starting, this book may be less intimidating, but besides that, I'd recommend going straight to DC and bypassing this one.



4. There's better books on the subject out there then this one. I was disappointed when this book arrived, primarily because the notation is so poorly presented in the book that it is completely distracting. That is my first and biggest complaint about this book. The notation and presentation of beats is written for complete beginners and is very distracting and annoying for someone who can actually read drum notation (how hard is it anyway to read drum notation?). For instance, there are two beats on each page where there could be twenty.
   
   Secondly, the meat of the book isnt quite there. Once you go through this book, sure, it will make you a little stronger, but you will be thinking, thats it?
   
   My opinion is, skip this book and pick up a copy of Colin Bailey's bass drum book. Or if you must pick this up, dont expect it to be extremely through on the subject, rather a starting point.



5. I'm a teacher and I've started using this book to teach "advanced 8th note rock" beats -- what I mean are drum beats in 4/4 where the bass drum also hits in-between the 8th note hi-hat hits. At first, all students are timid about how to read the beats on this page, but students quickly grew confidence and drastically advanced in their drum-beat vocabulary. I now only use this book for students having a hard time improving their drum beats, which is a good majority of the students I get the opportunity to teach!
   
   If you're a beginner looking to DRASTICALLY improve on your drum beats, this book is extremely valuable. But just like every other book, what is most important is that you know HOW to practice the book. This book develops very well, and it now makes sense to me why so many GREAT drumming instructors teach from it. My advice for people looking to improve on their drum beats, is to go find a drum teacher that uses this book and learn how to practice with it. :)