DVDs + books for the beginner

[AveyTare]

hello

i'm playing drums for some time, but i want to start it once again, but properly. i know i should find some teacher, but i'm also interestec in DVDs and books that can help me achieve the proper technique. i ordered last JoJo Mayer DVD as well as Steve Smith's DVD, Jef Queen's DVD + book and Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials. i also own Dom Famularo's it's your move.

so... what do you think about DVDs and books? should i order something else?

best regards

[Class A Drummer]

Back to basics by Dave Weckl looks great, and Dave Weckls "natural evolution" looks like it is great for learning good technique. There are plenty of youtube videos online so you can check what its all about.

[fourstringdrums]

I have Mel Bay's Complete Modern Drumset, Carmine Appice's Realistic Rock (just the book/cd, not the one with the DVD), Funky Primer (I forget the author) and Ted Reed's Syncopation. I'd put those on the list of must have books for beginners.

For DVD's, I second Dave Weckl's Back to Basics DVD (I've got the VHS *lol*).

[AveyTare]

what about "Stick Control"? i've heard it's the best book with exercises you can get. is that true?

[aydee]

Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone and Groove Essientials by Tommy Igoe would be my basic book reccos, and the best thing to do on DVDs s to surf the youtube.com for drum lessons/instruction/concepts etc, and find the DVDs that work for you.

[joeybeats]

Groove Essentials is A+, particularly when combined with the play along book of charts he came out with. I've spent much time learning the grooves and then playing along with the MP3's that come with it. Almost a complete course in what a drummer needs to learn the basic grooves in many of the genres. I played samba and variations on samba tonight for an hour ... quite the workout. And, when you get it, it is really quite satisfying. I now warm up just going from the start of the GE chart until the end. His jazz stuff taught me how to get a grip on independence. Can't say enough about it from a newbie point of view.

The others you mention are great too, but this one really helped me move forward AND allows for a bit of fun. The Steve Smith DVD is fabulous, just not as spoonfed as the Groove Essential series. I've never heard more melodic drum solos than those served up by Smith ... great to watch slowed way down and then copy and play. LOL Joey

[lochday]

Groove Essentials is A+, particularly when combined with the play along book of charts he came out with. I've spent much time learning the grooves and then playing along with the MP3's that come with it. Almost a complete course in what a drummer needs to learn the basic grooves in many of the genres. I played samba and variations on samba tonight for an hour ... quite the workout. And, when you get it, it is really quite satisfying. I now warm up just going from the start of the GE chart until the end. His jazz stuff taught me how to get a grip on independence. Can't say enough about it from a newbie point of view.

Joey

The Tommy Igoe poster and DVD are great! May I nevertheless suggest that it might take a long time before a beginner be able to play the grooves which are on his poster, and playing them all doesn't mean one is necessary well versed in every style. Mastering a style may actually take months and even years of practicing it and playing it with other musicians. Also can a drummer be proficient in every style? Yes and no because more often than not drummers who do play every style finallly choose a favourite one and they generally stick with it because this is what they do best. I'm not saying practicing TI's poster is bad but one has to be aware that if one is a beginner, other things have to be considered as well, such as taking lessons with a non-virtual teacher, practicing technique, etc. I personally just use the TI poster as a reference book, (the musical applications on the dvd are helpful but I prefer using authentic music) and it is hanging on a wall in my practice room.

[AveyTare]

Groove Essentials is A+, particularly when combined with the play along book of charts he came out with. I've spent much time learning the grooves and then playing along with the MP3's that come with it. Almost a complete course in what a drummer needs to learn the basic grooves in many of the genres. I played samba and variations on samba tonight for an hour ... quite the workout. And, when you get it, it is really quite satisfying. I now warm up just going from the start of the GE chart until the end. His jazz stuff taught me how to get a grip on independence. Can't say enough about it from a newbie point of view.

The others you mention are great too, but this one really helped me move forward AND allows for a bit of fun. The Steve Smith DVD is fabulous, just not as spoonfed as the Groove Essential series. I've never heard more melodic drum solos than those served up by Smith ... great to watch slowed way down and then copy and play. LOL Joey

they'll arrive to my house in four of five days and i can't wait to see it!

[percusboy]

hello

i'm playing drums for some time, but i want to start it once again, but properly. i know i should find some teacher, but i'm also interestec in DVDs and books that can help me achieve the proper technique. i ordered last JoJo Mayer DVD as well as Steve Smith's DVD, Jef Queen's DVD + book and Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials. i also own Dom Famularo's it's your move.

so... what do you think about DVDs and books? should i order something else?

best regards

You have to get the Igoe's Groove Essentials dvd AND the BOOK. It's the book that really makes it so special. The best thing i've ever done for my playing. Amazon has a combo pack for like 26 bucks or something ridiculously cheap. That's where I got mine.

[AveyTare]

You have to get the Igoe's Groove Essentials dvd AND the BOOK. It's the book that really makes it so special. The best thing i've ever done for my playing. Amazon has a combo pack for like 26 bucks or something ridiculously cheap. That's where I got mine.

yes, i'll get both next week.

[lochday]

You have to get the Igoe's Groove Essentials dvd AND the BOOK. It's the book that really makes it so special. The best thing i've ever done for my playing. Amazon has a combo pack for like 26 bucks or something ridiculously cheap. That's where I got mine.

Very interesting. I didn't know there was a book. I only have the poster and the DVD. Is there anything in the book that is not already on the Groove Essentials poster?

[joeybeats]

Yes, quite a bit more in the Groove Essentials - The Play-Along book.

Long play-along versions of all grooves, together with charts of all. So, instead of playing along from a poster of two measures, you play for a page or two and learn to read, and blend in with other musicians. Most importantly, it has 2-5 variations of all grooves he teaches.

If you plan to purchase a copy off of the net, go to http://drummerworld.com/drummers/Tommy_Igoe.html and scroll down and you will find the link. Purchasing it this way helps support the Drummerworld site and can be your contribution to the high cost of maintaining the servers for all of the great photos of sets and all the other awesome info provided here. Plus, it is cheap at $16.47.

I started playing with absloutely zero information ... purchased many books and DVD's. For playing along from scratch, in my opinion, the Igoe material is the best out there. It isn't a technique manual, it isn't a how to hold you sticks manual, it isn't Stick Control type book ... it is an introduction to many grooves that are used in drumming, and it will get you reading and playing along. It is the number one reason I can site read at all. ( You will still require a teacher and hours and hours of lessons and practice if you want to be really good in this fabulous hobby. I am an old cranky guy who just wanted to play the drums and give myself a new mental and physical challenge in a new hobby. If I was in my teens and was interested in drumming, I'd be the first in line for band class.)

Once you understand the basic grooves, you have a birds-eye view of some of what is out there. Once you appreciate the possibilities, say New Orleans second line drumming, or a 2+3 clave Samba or a 3 +2 clave Bossa ... you see the world of music open up and reveal the percussion side of things. Remember, I didn't know anything about drumming, except the fact that my foot was always tapping along and I could find the basic beat. But I didn't know for sure what the heck a beat was. I thought you guys just had drums in the garage and figured it out. LOL Yes, I've taken a few lessons over the past year, yes, I have Dawson's and Stick Control, I have plenty of books and dvd's. Still, in my opinion, the Igoe publications, the DVD, book and poster, is the best out there for a basic intro into the many different styles of percussion grooves. Joey