Some Books

Less than 10 days until the official launch of the Decade of Drums. Still waiting for some drums, sadly.

In the meantime we've bought some books. Yay for books! Here's a run-down of stuff we hope will get us started:

Introducing Drum Kit
from the Trinity Guildhall course of studies. Basically, the house rule is this: Vee is going to do the Guildhall exams. If she completes these she gets to keep the drums. This, I hope, is the "carrot" approach rather than the "stick." She may also do some other percussion exams but we haven't decided which yet.

Trinity Guildhall Drum Kit Examination Pieces & Studies 2011-2013: Grades 1 & 2
Well there's not much to say about this book except that we're keen so we ordered it as well.

Stick Control for the Snare Drummer, George Stone

Because there's nothing worse than an out-of-control stick, let loose and rampant throughout the village, trodding upon the flowers and whatnot. Seriously, you need to keep your sticks in control, amirite? More seriously, Steve Gadd says: "This book is very important to practice every day." Steve Gadd, folks. We've made a start of it with a little rubber pad, not very well and undoubtedly Doing It Wrong. Even still, it's a start.

Modern Reading Text in 4/4: For All Instruments, Louis Bellson

This is a handy book to have in any event. I've used it back in the day with double bass. In that context it's good for right-hand pizz exercises, and really comes to life when applied to scales, arpeggios, patterns, etc. Anyhow, we'll use it to practice the drum kit. Good reading chops are crucial for hipsters like Vee and me.

Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer, Ted Reed
This only cost four quid so I threw it into the shopping basket. It was voted second on Modern Drummer's list of 25 Greatest Drum Books Ever. So it can't be that bad, right? I'm told the permutations and combinations of its usefulness are nearly limitless. So I'm told. Example here.

So far, so good. Now the last two books on the list are strictly-speaking me books rather than us books, though I'd be pleased as punch if Vee got into them.

The Art of Bop Drumming, John Riley
Took a chancer on this one. I don't know anything about it but Erskine and Nussbaum are plugging it so... I hope its good. Basically, I'm looking for something to show me the fundamentals and get me up and running as quickly as possible so that I can get to the level where I can spend a whole lot of time with this next one...

Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer - Jim Chapin: Vol. 1
As legend has it: the most important drum set book ever, EVER! Here's the Wikipedia on Chapin. This book is what's known as Paying Dues, or so I'm told.

So that's it. That's what we have in the way of books, instructional material, etc. Any drummers out there who have a good handle on some other must-haves feel free to (rather, by all means please do) leave a comment. 9 days and the Decade of Drums begins...