Odd Feelings: Drumset Book & CD

Odd meters often intimidate intermediate drummers, but Russo's systematic approach using a counting method based on Dom Famularo's pedagogy makes these signatures feel logical rather than chaotic. The eight play-along tracks transform abstract exercises into actual grooving experiences, and the multimedia disc with MP3 demonstrations and QuickTime videos means students can learn by ear and watch technique in action.

Liberating. What first reads as complicated becomes approachable through Russo's counting method, turning signatures like 7/8, 11/8, and mixed-meter combinations into grooves with actual pocket and feel. The multimedia tracks let you experience the difference between a technically correct pattern and one that truly swings.

Intermediate to advanced drummers ready to move beyond 4/4 and 3/4, whether in jazz ensembles, progressive rock contexts, or any setting where odd meters appear. This works for drummers in private study or school programs who want a structured path through unfamiliar time signatures without the overwhelm.

• Study the counting system in each chapter before tackling the grooves; internalizing how a meter breaks down will make the rhythmic feel stick faster than jumping straight to playing.
• Use the play-along tracks minus drums to lock in your timing without relying on a click track, then add the click once the groove feels solid.
• Work through quarter-note based meters first, then eighth-note and sixteenth-note chapters; this progression builds confidence and muscle memory in a logical sequence.
• Watch the QuickTime videos while learning new signatures to see hand technique and body positioning; odd meters demand clarity, and visual reference speeds up execution.

Assign it to drummers preparing for jazz combos or wind ensemble pieces that venture into odd time, or use it as a semester-long independent study project with check-ins on specific chapters. A drummer who masters this book becomes invaluable for programming contemporary works or student compositions that push beyond traditional meters.

• Reading and interpreting 18 different time signatures (5/4, 7/8, 11/8, 13/16, mixed meters, and others)
• Internalizing pulse in meters with asymmetrical subdivisions
• Translating counting systems into physical grooves at the kit
• Developing independence between hands and feet in non-standard meters
• Playing along with recordings to embed odd-meter feels in musical context