Alfred's Beginning Drumset Method: Drum DVD

This DVD cuts through the waiting period that discourages beginning drummers. Students play an actual beat in their first lesson rather than spending weeks on grip and posture fundamentals, which means they hear themselves making music immediately and stay engaged. The dual-style approach (Rock and Jazz) gives drummers realistic context for the coordination patterns they're learning, and the visual format lets instructors pause, slow down, and replay sections in ways a live demonstration cannot always achieve.

Practical and encouraging. The approach respects students' desire to sound like drummers from day one, pairing accessible instruction with the satisfaction of playing recognizable beats. You're not learning in isolation; you're learning how drums actually fit into the styles you hear on recordings.

Beginning drummers (any age) who learn best through visual demonstration and immediate musical payoff. Instructors using this DVD will find it particularly useful for students who respond to video-based learning or who have limited access to frequent in-person lessons.

• Watch the hi-hat and bass drum coordination closely before playing. The relationship between these two voices defines the pocket in both rock and jazz styles.
• Start with the rock section if you're new to drumset. Jazz cymbal patterns require more independence and will feel more accessible once you've built comfort with basic rock coordination.
• Pause and isolate individual limbs after each demonstration. Rewind to watch hand and foot motion separately, then combine them gradually rather than trying to execute everything at once.

Use the Rock section as the foundation for beginning ensemble drummers in their first semester, reinforcing the independence and listening skills they need for percussion sectionals. The Jazz section becomes relevant once students have internalized basic four-on-the-floor coordination, making it ideal for introducing stylistic variety in year two or as enrichment for advanced beginners.

• Rock beat coordination (hi-hat, snare, bass drum patterns)
• Jazz cymbal independence and ride cymbal technique
• Hi-hat opening and closing with foot pedal control
• Bass drum and snare relationship across two distinct styles
• Listening to and replicating cymbal voicings in context