First Division Band Method, Part 1: Drum Book

This percussion book maintains the same trusted pedagogical scaffolding that has made First Division the standard across thousands of programs. Drummers progress through fundamentals at a pace that matches their wind and brass peers, ensuring the rhythm section develops alongside the full ensemble.

Starting on snare drum and bass drum, students discover how rhythm anchors the band. The straightforward presentation builds confidence quickly, and early success with basic patterns motivates continued practice and participation.

Beginning drummers joining a concert band program need a method that matches the pacing and content of their wind and brass colleagues. This drum book pairs with the full First Division Band Method series, allowing percussion students to learn fundamentals in lock step with the ensemble.

• Establish a steady pulse from the start. Use a metronome or backing track to reinforce tempo consistency as students move through basic rhythmic patterns.
• Coordinate snare and bass drum parts early. Have students work these voices separately before combining them to avoid common rushing or lag issues.
• Encourage proper grip and posture from the first lesson. Bad habits formed in Part 1 compound quickly, so consistent attention to technique pays dividends throughout the method.

Assign this as the primary text for beginning percussionists in your fall rehearsals. The 28-page format moves briskly through early concepts, so students stay motivated while wind players work through equivalent material in their books.

• Reading whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes in simple meter
• Coordinating snare drum and bass drum on the same staff
• Maintaining steady tempo with a metronome
• Playing basic rhythmic patterns with proper stick grip and posture
• Understanding rests and their relationship to rhythmic values
• Transitioning between single and double strokes on snare drum