Rhythm by the Numbers: Drumset Book & DVD

Humphrey's approach flips the script on drumset rudiment books by teaching rhythm as a language rather than a collection of exercises. The DVD demonstrations make abstract rhythmic concepts immediately tangible, and the method's flexibility means students can apply these tools across jazz, funk, rock, and any style they encounter.

Engaging and methodical. Each chapter opens up new rhythmic possibilities rather than adding routine exercises, and the DVD elements make the learning feel collaborative rather than prescriptive. You finish each session with actual tools you can build on, not just technique you checked off.

Drumset students who are ready to move beyond rote patterns and understand rhythm conceptually. This works for intermediate students seeking to develop creative independence and for any drummer wanting a systematic approach to rhythmic vocabulary across multiple styles.

• Work through one chapter at a time and spend time with the DVD demonstrations before attempting the exercises. Seeing how Humphrey applies each concept transforms your understanding of what the written notation actually means.
• Apply each rhythmic pattern to multiple surfaces of the drumset (snare, kick, hi-hat combinations, toms) before moving to the next chapter. This builds genuine vocabulary, not just isolated technical facility.
• Loop individual patterns at different tempos and dynamics. The method's strength lies in how these rhythms adapt across speeds and styles, so test them at slow and fast tempos.
• Use the rhythmic vocabulary from early chapters as building blocks for later ones. Mark connections between concepts as you progress so the learning compounds.

Assign this as foundational material for drummers in jazz ensemble or contemporary music settings where independence and stylistic flexibility matter. It also works well as supplementary study for band drummers aiming for greater creative control over their parts, particularly in the years leading up to auditioned ensembles.

• Reading and internalizing rhythm notation across multiple metric spaces
• Applying single rhythmic vocabularies across different note values and tempos
• Building independence between hands and feet through concept-based practice
• Developing creative adaptability within style and tempo constraints
• Translating written patterns to the drumset across various surface combinations