The Block Curriculum

there are some fundamentals that all drummers should understand.

The Block Curriculum turns complete beginners into musicians that a strong foundation of music fundementals, basic techniques, and tools to be self-sufficient learners.

Students learn level-appropriate songs as they work through each block, applying their new knowledge with the music they’re playing.

About Lessons
Sign Up Now
 
 

  • 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!

  • Introduction to music notation

  • Measures & time signatures

  • Quarter notes/rests

  • Song form/structure

  • 2-way hand coordination

  • 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

  • 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

  • Rudiment: Buzz Rolls

  • Rudiment: Double strokes

  • Opening the hi-hat w/8th note based rock grooves

  • Introduction to 3/4 time

  • Introduction to 16th notes/rests

  • 16th note accent patterns (1, 2, and 3 note groupings)

  • Rudiment: Applying double strokes to a 16th note grid

  • 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

  • Rudiment: Flam Taps

  • Introduction to shuffle/swung 8th notes

  • Introduction to triplets

  • Rudiment: Flamadiddle

  • Introduction to 6/8 time

  • Basic 6/8 grooves

  • 6/8 accent patterns

  • 1 measure 6/8 rhythms

  • Fills in 6/8