This is a new version of the classic book, Al Miller's 1,000 Solos for the Drum Set, Vol. 1, from legendary drum teacher Al Miller. The book contains triplet variations to be practiced as fills around the drums as well as with limb independence in a jazz style (snare drum, bass drum, and combined). Each of the 10 routines are demonstrated in video files by Matt Miller, who has restored his father's books series. Terry Branam provides audio tracks that also demonstrate various examples from the book.
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Al Miller shaped generations of drummers through his systematic approach to drum set fundamentals. His pedagogical philosophy centered on building independence and control through carefully sequenced exercises, making complex rhythmic concepts accessible to students at all levels.
Why we love this
Few books have proven as durable or effective as Miller's 1,000 Solos series, and this triplet-focused volume deserves a place in every drummer's routine work. The pairing of video demonstrations with audio tracks removes guesswork from execution, letting students hear exactly how these patterns should sit rhythmically and swing. The restoration of this material by Matt Miller honors the original while making it genuinely usable for today's learners.
What to expect
Swinging triplets demands a different kind of attention than straight sixteenths. These solos capture that elastic, bouncing quality of jazz swing while keeping your limbs honest about what each one is doing independently.
Who it's for
Beginning drummers building independence and triplet fluency will find these 10 routines essential daily work. Jazz drummers at any level benefit from the limb coordination challenges Miller presents, and ensemble drummers strengthening their chops will appreciate the fill vocabulary embedded throughout.
How to get the most out of it
Start each routine at a tempo where triplet subdivision feels natural in your hands, then gradually increase speed only after the sticking pattern becomes automatic.
Record yourself playing through one complete routine and listen back for evenness across the three notes of each triplet; uneven timing often masks itself in real time.
Isolate the bass drum and snare drum patterns separately before combining them, paying special attention to how the kick drum locks underneath triplet figures.
Use the video files not just to check your sticking but to observe Matt Miller's wrist and arm motion; the mechanical efficiency visible in his playing transfers directly to your own technique.
How to use it
Add this to your drummer's pre-rehearsal warm-up routine or assign one routine per week as focused practice homework. Jazz ensemble directors can pull fill ideas directly from this book to customize parts for specific tune arrangements.
Skills your students will build
Triplet subdivision and swing feel
Limb independence between kick drum, snare drum, and sticking hand
Jazz drum fill vocabulary and application
Reading and executing coordinated single, double, and combination stickings
Rhythmic precision and evenness across extended patterns
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
