Jazz Combo+ Drum Set Book 1: Drumset Method Book

Each chart has its own personality. You move from the familiar groove of "Blues & Other Hues" to the modal landscape of "Cold Canyon," the rhythmic playfulness of "Rhythm Bee," and the progressive ambition of "Prog Pacific." The music swings, and the drum set sits at the center of making that happen.

Drummers in grades 3 and 4 who are ready to play functional jazz and learn through real repertoire rather than exercises. This works for jazz combo students who want to understand comping, time feel, and solo construction from models played by accomplished musicians.

• Study the transcribed solos first in their easier version, then work toward the demonstration recording. Notice how the drummer voices the comping and solo lines across the kit.
• Use the play-along tracks for each part to lock in your time and feel before running the full combo arrangement. Pay attention to how your part interacts with the horns and bass.
• Practice the blues and other straightforward charts first to internalize the comping vocabulary, then tackle the more rhythmically complex pieces like Prog Pacific.
• Record yourself soloing over the minus-drums tracks to build confidence in your improvisational voice before performing with the full ensemble.

Build a jazz combo curriculum around these six charts across the school year, programming one or two at jazz festival or concert events as your students master them. The range of styles and difficulty keeps interest high and shows audiences the real work drummers do in small ensemble settings.

• Jazz time feel and swing comping across multiple chart styles
• Transcription and interpretation of recorded solos
• Accompanying horn lines and bass players with responsive, responsive comping
• Blues and modal groove vocabulary
• Solo construction and phrasing over jazz changes
• Reading and executing flexible instrumentation scores