1 comments about England's Child: The Carillon and the Casting of Big Bells.

1. I love this book not because its subject--bells, their manufacturing process, their transformation into the musical instrument, carillon--is something I have ever even thought much about. I love it because I have never, in my 50-plus years of being an avid book reader, encountered comparable sublime writing. There is a rhythm, an almost transcendental pulse running through the pages--you cannot put the book down. The story--both the elegantly interwoven author's and her father's personal and professional one--is so tantalizingly well written, orchestrated like a grand symphony. Before you realize it, even the somewhat esoteric subject grabs you and you end up knowing and understanding an entire area of facts and figures, a whole landscape of intricate elements that were heretofore secrets. For anyone interested in creative writing at its absolute pinnacle, this book is a MUST READ.

2 comments about It's Your Move.

1. Dom Famularo is very serious about techniques development who has studied with Jim Chapin, Al Miller, Joe Morello, Colin Bailey and etc. Buying his book will give you a glimpse of how he teaches his students. It consists of more than 20 exercises Dom has come up since he first started teaching many years ago. It will not only help you with your chops but also develop your style, drum vocabulary, coordination, precision... in your own performance need. Dom's advice in the book: Seek out an instructor.
   
   This book is separated into two sections: Technique--The Foundation and Performance Exercises.
   
   In section 1, Dom shows you the 2 kinds of stroke that will revolutionalize your chops--the Free Stroke and the Moeller Stroke. It comes with exercises, detail explanation, many clear illustrations and a "flipbook box" in which you can "watch" the stroke in action by flipping the book quickly.
   
   In section 2, Dom talks about the skills that are essential to drum set performance. Look at the table of content below to find out more.
   
   Table of Content
   
   Section 1: Technique--The Foundation
   General Technique
   The Free Stroke
   Ex. for the Free Stroke
   2 to 50 Warm-Up Ex.
   Power Stroke
   Moeller Stroke
   Pumping Motion
   Upstrokes and Downstrokes
   
   Section 2: Performance Ex.
   Drumset Key
   Conbination Ex.
   Drumistic Form
   From Flam to Groove
   Some Ruff Ex.
   Flam Facility
   Intervention of Flams
   Time Test
   Slight of Hand
   The Weaker Side
   Set Up the Single Stroke
   Shiffle the Four-Stroke
   Severn-Note Grouping Using 16th Notes
   Odd Feelings
   Precision Test
   Shuffling the 16ths
   The 4-stroke Ruff
   Groove Facility
   
   Also check out Dom's video lesson on VicFirth (Sorry, can't post URL according to guidelines)



2. This book literally revolutionized my playing. I tell people that the first 30 pages alone can do this. This is because it is a culmination of the great historic hand technicians (Moeller, Stone, Morello, Chapin) and much more -- More specifically, it is about the concepts (free stroke and moeller included) that can bring your playing to the level of utmost control, speed, power and control of your hands -- and goes into great depth in text about them, its benefits and also includes helpful pictures. Dom not only brings it altogether (hand technique) via the aforementioned, but adds to it by putting his own development for modern playing (half and full moeller). Years ago, Dom studied with both Morello and Chapin.

   Explanation of ergonomic concepts such as efficiency, economy of motion, effectiveness and relaxation are also very helpful. The text also includes practice tips and interesting history. I used this book as the basis for a state conference presentation on hand technique. For me, this is the bible of hand technique.

   What's great is the same ideas in this book can be applied to, and are very useful for the feet. I look forward to using the rest of the book as the whole book contains concepts you can keep developing over and over for the basis of our playing.

3 comments about The Heart of the Circle: A Guide to Drumming.

1. This book primarily deals with those of you who are interested in drumming for personal reasons rather than for an audience. Personally I drum in a band and also I drum to myself for relaxation. Holly Blue Hawkins explains her reasons for drumming and teaches how one goes about solving lifes problems and answering questions over a drum session. No matter how long you have had a drum or how often you play, this book will change the way you pick up your drum and the way you treat your drum and most importantly you will learn what drumming means to you.



2. This is a great book for those interested in using drumming in personal meditation or ritual type situations. It focuses on the more spiritual aspects of drumming, connecting with your drum, and has several examples of dedication and personal meditation rituals within the book. It includes a basic primer on drum types and rhythms but does not include much in the way of 'hands on' type information. The book also mainly focuses on Native American drum information and (unless this has been updated since the last publication) the retailer websites listed in the appendix are mostly out of date. However, this book would still be an excellent addition to a larger drum instruction library, particularly for those interested in developing a spiritual dialogue with drumming.



3. This is a nice little book,a quick, and easy read.However, I thought it would talk about drumming for health.I was a bit dissapointed that it didn't.The overall tone of this book is very spiritual,which surely is not a problem,but I had assumed that it would cover topics related to how using a drum for healing can benefit one's mind and body.....Not just their spirit. I have ordered something else, which I hope will deal mostly with the medical aspect of the drum.Again,if you are really looking for a great "spiritual" drum book, this one will work well for you!

1 comments about Art of Tambourine and Triangle Playing.

1. I must say, I haven't read this book, but I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a clinic with Mr. Grover and it was great! I learned an incredible amount, the handouts were great, and his own line of instruments is very high quality, so I can only believe that this book would be up to the same high standard.

1 comments about Practical Guide to Percussion Terminology.

1. Amazon lists Anthony Cirone as the author of this excellent little reference book. Actually, despite Cirone's valuable contributions, the principal author is Russ Girsberger, until early 2006 the ensemble librarian of the New England Conservatory in Boston.
   
   I own a lot of percussion reference books, but this is the one I always reach for first. It's hard to beat.
   
   David Daniels

No comments about FastTrack Drums Songbook 2 - Level 2 (Fast Track).

1 comments about Songs of the '60s: The Decade Series.

1. 
   I 'do' own this book and have played from it for many years now.
   
   The selection of 60's tunes within is broad and fresh.
   
   When it comes to playing songs on the piano I am always happy with the Decade Series songbooks.
   
   ***
   Complete Contents:
   
   Alley Cat
   As Long As He Needs Me
   As Tears Go By
   By The Time I Get To Phoenix
   California Dreamin'
   Can't Help Falling In Love
   Chapel Of Love
   Dominique
   The Exodus Song
   Ferry 'Cross The Mersey
   Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
   Georgy Girl
   The Girl From Ipanema (Garota De Ipanema)
   Goin' Out Of My Head
   Green Green Grass Of Home
   Groovin'
   Hang On Sloopy
   Happy Together
   Hello Mary Lou
   Honey
   I Left My Heart In San Francisco
   I Want To Hold Your Hand
   If I Had A Hammer (The Hammer Song)
   If I Were A Carpenter
   It's My Party
   It's Not Unusual
   King Of The Road
   Little Green Apples
   Love Is Blue (L'amour Est Bleu)
   Monday, Monday
   More (Ti Guardero Nel Cuore)
   My Coloring Book
   My Cup Runneth Over
   Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
   One Tin Soldier
   Our Day Will Come
   Paper Roses
   Please Please Me
   San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)
   She Loves Me
   She Loves You
   Strangers In The Night
   That's Life
   Things
   Those Were The Days
   Try To Remember
   Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)
   The Twist
   Up, Up And Away
   Watch What Happens
   What Kind Of Fool Am I?
   Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
   A Whiter Shade Of Pale
   Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
   Wooden Heart
   Yesterday, When I Was Young (Hier Encore)
   Downtown
   People
   Cabaret
   Daydream
   
   ***
   I recommend this 60's song collection to you!

2 comments about Turn It Up & Lay It Down (Book & CD).

1. If you own the play along cd volume 1 and are looking for ideas to use with the bass lines, then look no further. Multiple example grooves for each track with beginner, intermediate and advanced beats. Loads of examples and excellent sidebar references. Highly recommended for any level drummer.



2. The Book is great, offering multiple approaches to every song, including multiple basic beats, intermediate and advanced, along with 30 sec samples of most approaches on the CD. WHich is great.
   What I also expected, based on the description, was the actual full songs of the Vol 1 CD of Turn it up, Lay it down. However, you still have to buy the actual CD for the complete song tracks in addition to this book/CD.
   However, it's still worth it, as this book/CD delivers way more than $20-25 worth of instruction.

No comments about Modern Mallet Method, Book One".

2 comments about Inside Out: Exploring the Mental Aspects of Drumming.

1. Most drum books contain lessons, or, at least some lessons and some text. This book is all text, and some "life lessons". Billy Ward gives you the up-front and frank discussion maybe-nobody-ever-gave-you about "making it", practicing, "the business", playing with a clear head (and maybe not so clear band-mates) and more.
   
   I don't think this book will change your drumming life, BUT, if you don't usually read stuff like this I feel sure you will find it interesting. Certainly a lot of little tid-bits of knowledge from the game of "life" as experienced by a musician and drummer who has been in the game a while.
   
   Whay not five stars? Not really sure. I fee like something is missing, but I don;t really know what it is...



2. I'd been looking around for drum books that tapped inside the minds of great drummers. I already own a lot of method books and wanted to improve my mental side of drumming. This book looked like it was exactly waht I wanted. I got it, and spent 2 days before I finished it. I must say, it's very easy reading and each chapter is short so it feels very fast.
   
   However, honestly speaking, its more like just talkiing to Billy Ward. I did get a few things out of this book that changed the way I saw things when I drum, but I guess for the price I paid, I was expecting a little bit more.
   
   This book is inspirational, but don't except to be blown away by it.