Drum Class Method, Volume II: Snare Drum Book

Heim's approach to snare drum instruction balances systematic rudiment work with genuine music reading from the outset, so students never feel like they're practicing in a vacuum. The class method format means you can move a heterogeneous group forward together without sacrificing individual pacing, and the writing is clear enough that students can reinforce lessons at home.

Working through these pages feels methodical without being dull. You're building vocabulary one piece at a time, and the progression gives you real wins as patterns click into place and stick control deepens.

This book serves beginning snare drummers in middle and high school band programs, as well as percussion instructors who need a structured yet flexible curriculum for mixed-ability classes. It's equally useful for private lesson teachers who want their students to develop reading fluency alongside technique.

• Stagger your students' introduction to new rudiments rather than moving the entire class through each one at the same pace; some players will lock in faster than others, and that's by design.
• Use the staff lines as a kinesthetic reference point when teaching grip and stick height; students who can visualize where the notes live play with better consistency.
• Record short passages so students hear what they're aiming for; even a basic phone recording transforms how they approach dynamics and control.
• Pair reading exercises with actual percussion ensemble warmups to show students why this method matters beyond the lesson book itself.

Integrate this as your primary snare drum text during the first two years of percussion study, running it parallel to full ensemble rehearsals so students can apply new rudiments to ensemble literature. It also works well as a summer preparation tool for students entering the percussion section, setting a common baseline before the school year begins.

• Single and double stroke rolls with consistent rebound
• Reading standard percussion notation on the grand staff
• Grip and stick control fundamentals
• Flams, drags, and other essential rudiments
• Dynamic control and articulation
• Rhythm reading across varying time signatures
• Ensemble coordination and listening skills in class settings