Drumming! plus Hummin' a Tune: Drum Set, Methods, Book (LUDWIGMASTERS)

This book solves a real problem for developing drummers: how to build solid rhythmic vocabulary while staying musically engaged. Pairing 32 short solos with recognizable melodies keeps students motivated and gives them immediate musical context for the patterns they're learning, making practice feel like performance rather than drill.

Playful and unpretentious. These solos invite the drummer to be both accompanist and soloist simultaneously, creating a miniature musical experience that feels complete on its own. The familiar tunes make each page feel like a musical conversation rather than a technical exercise.

Developing drum set players in their second or third year of study who benefit from motivating, melody-driven material. Teachers seeking short, focused solos that build technique without requiring a full ensemble or accompaniment will find this particularly useful for individual practice or student recitals.

• Hum or sing the melody audibly while playing the drum part to maintain clear connection between the two; this reinforces melodic awareness and prevents the drumming from becoming purely mechanical.
• Lock into the tempo of the tune early, especially if working without accompaniment; starting with a steady internal pulse makes the coordination between voice and hands more natural.
• Pay attention to the rhythmic patterns in each solo and notice how they relate to the melody's phrasing; this awareness transfers to all ensemble playing where drums support rather than override the band.

Use individual solos as performance pieces in percussion recitals or as part of a pre-concert warm-up that showcases different rhythmic styles. The variety of styles and lengths makes these ideal for student recital programs where you want to feature multiple drummers or give one player multiple short pieces rather than one extended solo.

• Coordination of melodic singing with rhythmic drumming simultaneously
• Reading and executing diverse rhythmic patterns (including swing rhythms)
• Maintaining steady tempo while managing two independent musical tasks
• Applying learned patterns to repertoire that varies in style and character