Drums & Percussion

Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone and Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer by Ted Reed remain the workhorses of drum instruction. Dave Black's Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1 is another perennial favorite, offering a methodical path for snare drummers and early drumset students. Teachers who work with rock and funk drummers often reach for Charles Dowd's A Funky Primer for the Rock Drummer and John Riley's The Art of Bop Drumming, both of which bridge technique and real musical application.

Recent additions include Let's Play Bongos by Jerzy Bartz, a new bongos method with recorded accompaniment, and two percussion ensemble works: Chorale for Percussion by Dmitri Volkov and Chester Biscardi's Trasumanar. Vic Firth's Snare Drum Method rounds out the newest instructional materials for students focused on solo snare technique.

Dave Black is a percussionist and composer whose work dominates the method book space. His training in percussion performance at California State University, Northridge, combined with decades of touring and recording experience, shapes his teaching materials. Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1 remains one of the best-selling percussion instructional titles, and Black's prolific output (47 titles in this collection) reflects a deep understanding of what students and teachers actually need at each level.

Anthony J. Cirone brings another voice to snare drum pedagogy with 34 titles in the collection. His Portraits in Rhythm is widely adopted, particularly by teachers building intermediate technique and sight-reading skills.

John Cage's 28 titles here represent his work in percussion and ensemble composition. His Living Room Music and other pieces offer teachers unconventional approaches to percussion study and ensemble collaboration.