Percussion Lessons

 

Percussion Lessons

Click Here to download the Basic Band Percussion Book

Vic Firth

Drum Video Lessons


Keyboard Video Lessons (Bells)


Scales Play-a-Longs


Additional Resources

Beginning Percussion Curriculum

Details, handouts, and music from a presentation given at the 2020 Massachusetts Music Educator’s All State Conference.


Vic Firth Video Libraries

Hundreds of videos showing different percussionists, drummers, and their instruments:


Percussion 101

Videos about how to play the bass drum, cymbals, gong, timpani, tambourine, triangle, wood blocks, drum set, and more.


40 Essential Rudiments

Videos about how to play the bass drum, cymbals, gong, timpani, tambourine, triangle, wood blocks, drum set, and more.


The Complete Percussionist

by the United States Army Field Band


Speed Note Reading Tutor

a fun game for learning notes on the keyboard & music staff.
NOTE: this requires Flash Player, a now out-dated and unsupported platform. You can still use it in Google Chrome (click on the circled “i” to the left of the web address, then Site Settings > Flash > Allow.


Recommended Books for Beginners

Famous Percussionists & Drummers

To be a great percussionist & drummer, you need to know what a great percussion sound is. Search YouTube for the names below to search for videos of them playing:

 

CONCERT
Keiko Abe
Robert Van Sice
Steve Schick
Elden “Buster” Bailey
Cloyd Duff

JAZZ VIBES
Emmanuel Sejourne
Arthur Lipner
Bobby Hutcherson
Dave Pike
David Samuels
Ed Saindon
Gary Burton
Joe Locke
Red Norvo
Stefon Harris
Steve Nelson
Victor Mendoza

JAZZ DRUMSET
Art Blakey
Ben Riley
Billy Higgins
Bob Moses
Brian Blade
Buddy Rich
Dafnic Prieto
Ed Blackwell
Elvin Jones
Gene Krupa
Horace “El Negro” Hernandez
Jim Black
Kenny Klark
Matt Wilson
Max Roach
Paul Motion
Philly Joe Jones
Roy Haynes
Steve Gadd
Tony Williams


Play-A-Long Tracks

  1. Lesson1 BasicBand.info 1:44
  2. combo1 BasicBand.info 0:24
  3. Lesson2 BasicBand.info 1:46
  4. combo2 BasicBand.info 0:24
  5. Lesson3 BasicBand.info 1:43
  6. combo3 BasicBand.info 0:24
  7. Lesson4 BasicBand.info 1:26
  8. combo4 BasicBand.info 0:19
  9. Lesson5 BasicBand.info 2:11
  10. combo5 BasicBand.info 0:19
  11. Lesson6 BasicBand.info 1:37
  12. combo6 BasicBand.info 0:22
  13. Lesson7 BasicBand.info 2:15
  14. combo7 BasicBand.info 0:30
  15. Lesson8 BasicBand.info 1:44
  16. combo8 BasicBand.info 0:24
  17. Lesson9 BasicBand.info 2:08
  18. Lesson10 BasicBand.info 2:33
  19. Lesson11 BasicBand.info 2:33
  20. Lesson12 BasicBand.info 2:06
  21. Lesson13 BasicBand.info 2:33
  22. Lesson14 BasicBand.info 2:02