On the Beaten Path: Beginning Drumset Course, Level 2: Drumset DVD

This DVD transforms drumset instruction by grounding every lesson in the actual playing of influential drummers. Rather than abstract exercises, students learn double-stroke rolls, buzz rolls, and ghost notes by studying how Steve Jordan, Chris Layton, Max Roach, and Buddy Rich applied them in real songs. The combination of authentic beats paired with video demonstration creates accountability and context that keeps students engaged.

You're sitting in a master class where legendary drummers show you exactly how they built their grooves. The beats feel alive because they're extracted from songs you recognize, and watching the hands and feet move in sync makes the mechanics click in a way that notation alone cannot.

Beginning drumset students who have completed Level 1 and are ready to tackle blues and jazz vocabulary with greater depth and independence. This course works well for students aged 10 and up who are motivated by learning from real recordings and understand the connection between listening and playing.

• Watch the demonstrations multiple times before attempting each beat or fill. Pause to isolate hand and foot technique rather than trying to match tempo immediately.
• Use the recorded examples as your metronome while learning. Match the pocket of the original drummer before speeding up or slowing down.
• Practice the ghost notes and accents separately from the main beat pattern. Once those articulations sit solidly in your hands, layer in the kick drum coordination.
• Record yourself playing each beat and compare the recording to the DVD. Listen for clarity in the hi-hat and the pocket of your kick drum.

Use this as the core curriculum for a beginning to intermediate drumset studio or group class. Pair it with the Level 2 book for students who need both visual and written reference. The blues and jazz focus also makes it an excellent companion to a band or jazz ensemble rehearsal, giving students a foundation in the pocket and phrasing of the styles you're performing.

• Double-stroke rolls and buzz rolls with control and speed
• Nine-stroke roll technique and applications
• Ghost notes and accent placement on the snare
• Rim clicks and their use in contemporary grooves
• Dynamics (crescendos and decrescendos) on the drumset
• Blues and jazz beat vocabulary from 50+ authentic grooves
• Call and response phrasing and reading drum cues
• Basic improvisation over blues and jazz frameworks
• Coordination of kick drum with hi-hat and snare patterns