Beginning Drum Set Curriculum
Everyone learns a little differently, but there are some fundamentals that all drummers should understand.
My step-by-step curriculum turns aspiring musicians with no experience into musicians comfortable with music fundamentals, basic drumming techniques, and performing on stage. Each block is flexible where needed, and I always meet my students where they are in their musical journey!
Students learn level-appropriate songs as they work through each block, applying their new knowledge with the music they’re playing!
Block 1
Learn the names of the drums/cymbals
How to hold the sticks, strike a drum, and operate the bass/hi-hat pedals
Hearing and identifying a pulse/beat in music
Stick rebound
Matching rhythms/introduction to the metronome
Learn your first beat and play your first song!
Block 2
Introduction to music notation
Measures & time signatures
Quarter notes/rests
Song form/structure
2-way hand coordination
Block 3
8th notes/rests
Rudiment: single stroke roll
Basic sightreading
Parts of the drum set on the staff
8th note based rock/pop groove
Rudiment: alternating flams
Block 4
Using the ride cymbal
Intro to accents
Intro to dynamics
8th note rhythms on the bass drum
Basic ear training (transcription)
Intro to drum fills
Block 5
Rudiment: Buzz Rolls
Rudiment: Double strokes
Opening the hi-hat w/8th note based rock grooves
Introduction to 3/4 time
Block 6
Introduction to 16th notes/rests
16th note accent patterns (1, 2, and 3 note groupings)
Rudiment: Applying double strokes to a 16th note grid
Block 7
Common groupings of 8th & 16th notes (1, 2, and 3 note groupings)
Rudiment: Single paradiddle
16th note based fills
16th note bass drum rhythms (1 and 2 note groupings)
2-handed 16th note hi-hat grooves
Block 8
Rudiment: Flam Taps
Introduction to shuffle/swung 8th notes
Introduction to triplets
Rudiment: Flamadiddle
Block 9
Introduction to 6/8 time
Basic 6/8 grooves
6/8 accent patterns
1 measure 6/8 rhythms
Fills in 6/8