Deeper into the Art of Drumming: Drumset Book

Kaufman's approach cuts through the clutter of generic rudiment collections by pairing technical work with genuine musical purpose. The endorsement of players like Elvin Jones and Roy Haynes signals that this book speaks the language of working jazz drummers, not just pedagogues, which means your students are learning from someone who understands what real playing demands.

Structured and purposeful. Kaufman doesn't waste your time with exercises that don't build toward something real. The music feels grounded in actual jazz practice, with the kind of logical progression that makes improvement tangible rather than abstract.

Drumset students who have moved past basic independence and rudiments and are ready to develop a more sophisticated command of jazz phrasing, comping, and conversation with other musicians. This book demands the maturity to understand that good technique serves musicality, not the reverse.

• Isolate the coordination exercises before applying them to full drum set contexts. Kaufman's progressions are designed to build muscle memory systematically, so rushing to the kit before you've internalized the patterns defeats the purpose.
• Pair the written exercises with listening. Jazz vocabulary only sticks when you can hear it in the playing of masters; use recordings alongside the book to anchor what you're practicing.
• Work through the material at slower tempos with precision before increasing speed. The exercises reveal their logic at moderate speeds, and accuracy always comes before velocity.
• Revisit earlier sections as you advance. Jazz drumming is cumulative; a concept that seemed straightforward at chapter two often opens new possibilities when you return to it with more experience.

Assign this as the core method book for your serious jazz ensemble drummers or advanced private students. It works especially well for students preparing for jazz combos or looking to develop the independence and sensitivity needed to participate in jam sessions.

• Jazz comping patterns and vocabulary
• Drum set independence (hands and feet coordination across multiple surfaces)
• Reading and executing swing interpretations
• Dynamic control and touch differentiation
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated contexts
• Coordination across different jazz ride cymbal patterns