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Elements: Drumset Book & CD

$19.99 USD
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Elements: Drumset Book & CD

A Comprehensive Guide to Improving Your Drumset Vocabulary

By John Favicchia

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Item: 00-37007

$19.99
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Description
With Elements, drummer John Favicchia presents a comprehensive system to improve your drumming vocabulary and improvisational skills. After presenting the elements---one-beat variations of basic sixteenth-note and triplet rhythms---Favicchia shows you how to execute accent figures in any place in the measure, play accents in any desired position combined with double-stroke rolls, orchestrate all your ideas in more creative ways around the kit, improvise with much more freedom, recognize and execute any given ensemble figure encountered on a chart, solo around the hits while playing with a band (no matter where the hits fall), and more. Included is an MP3/data disc jam-packed with examples from the book and play-along charts.

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Sample Pages

Sample Audio
1 01-Opening_Solo --:--
2 02-16th_Note_Improv --:--
3 03-16th_Note_Rolls_Improv --:--
4 04-World_Time_ll_Solo --:--

01-Opening_Solo

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Additional Details
Series: Wizdom Media
Publisher: Wizdom Media
Page Count: 120
ISBN10: 0-7390-7618-3
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-7618-7
UPC: 038081409115
SKU: 00-37007

More about this title

About the Author: John Favicchia

John Favicchia

John Favicchia stands out among New York's most adaptable drummers, having recorded and performed alongside everyone from fusion innovator Steve Khan to rock legends Charlie Daniels and Eddie Money. His career spans jazz clubs, rock venues, international drum festivals, and world-class music conferences, a range that reflects his commitment to musical fearlessness across genres. His own projects, including the fusion ensemble Dharma All Stars and his solo releases World Time and Dharma, showcase a player equally comfortable with melodic sensitivity and explosive energy.

Favicchia approaches drumming as a philosophical practice, balancing intellectual rigor with raw physicality. He describes his philosophy simply: music comes from the mind, for the mind, yet it remains deeply visceral. Whether coaxing nuanced tones from cymbals or driving hard into a solo, his teaching reflects this same duality, emphasizing both technical precision and musical intention. He remains an active clinician and educator, leading drum workshops internationally.

Why we love this

Favicchia builds drumset facility through genuine musicality rather than mechanical drilling. The systematic approach to sixteenth-note and triplet variations, combined with real play-along charts on the included disc, keeps players engaged with actual ensemble contexts from the first page, making the work feel immediately applicable in band settings.

What to expect

Methodical yet musical, this is drumming study that respects your intelligence. You're not memorizing patterns; you're learning the grammar of rhythm so thoroughly that you can improvise with confidence and speak fluently in any ensemble situation.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced drummers ready to move beyond basic vocabulary into genuine improvisation and ensemble flexibility. Whether you're learning to navigate complex chart hits with a working band or developing your own voice in fusion and jazz contexts, this book addresses the gap between technical skills and musical application.

How to get the most out of it

  • Start with the foundational one-beat variations slowly, isolating each element before combining them. The building-block approach only works if you internalize each piece cleanly.
  • Use the play-along tracks to lock in before attempting to improvise over them. Listen to the examples first to hear how each concept translates to real time.
  • Practice accent placement in different metrical positions around the kit, not just on snare. This orchestration work is what separates competent time-keeping from creative drumming.
  • Record yourself soloing over the provided charts and listen back for clarity. You'll hear when your phrasing lands or when you're still searching for the pocket.

How to use it

Assign this to drummers who need to strengthen their foundation before stepping into the band's drum chair or jazz ensemble. The systematic nature makes it ideal for individual practice, while the play-along tracks provide real-world application that transfers directly to rehearsals.

Skills your students will build

  • Sixteenth-note and triplet rhythm variations and their manipulation
  • Accent placement in different metrical positions around the kit
  • Double-stroke roll integration with accent figures
  • Drum kit orchestration and voice independence
  • Improvisation over ensemble charts and fixed hits
  • Sight-reading and execution of rhythmic figures in unfamiliar positions
  • Soloing around written hits while maintaining ensemble cohesion

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