Solo in Style: Six Drumset Etudes for the Beginning to Intermediate Performer
Six Drumset Etudes for the Beginning to Intermediate Performer
By Mark Powers
Item: 00-PB-0001870
$7.99
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Description
Solo in Style is a collection of beginning to intermediate drumset etudes focused on various styles. Each of these short, 32-bar solos focusses on time-keeping and fills within a specific style of music, expanding the student's drumming vocabulary and musicality. To prepare the player for each solo, a full page of short exercises that are essential for the performance of that respective piece are included. Lists of popular songs in each style are provided in order to give ideas for listening and play-along practice. Solo in Style will provide the student with a fun way to explore a variety of musical styles while simultaneously developing reading skills, coordination, and a library of drumset rhythms and fills. Great for school solo and ensemble repertoire!
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
28
SKU:
00-PB-0001870
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Powers
Mark Powers is a percussionist and educator whose work spans performance, teaching, and curriculum development across North America and internationally. His experience teaching students of all ages, combined with his work as a facilitator of rhythm-based programs in schools and correctional facilities, informs his approach to pedagogy and ensemble building.
Beyond the classroom, Powers contributes to percussion publications including Modern Drummer Magazine and Percussive Notes, co-authored Alfred's Drumset Method: Book 2 and The 2-in-1 Drummer, and maintains an active presence through video lessons at DrumItInAMinute.com. His endorsements include Tycoon Percussion, REMO, SABIAN, and Vic Firth, and additional details about his work can be found at PowersPercussion.com.
Why we love this
This collection bridges a genuine gap in drumset pedagogy by pairing style-specific solos with the exercises that make them playable. Rather than asking students to suddenly perform in a new idiom, Powers scaffolds each piece with a full page of targeted preparation work. The included listening lists turn each etude into a gateway for musical exploration, transforming technical practice into genuine style absorption.
What to expect
Each etude opens a small window into a different groove world. The solos sit comfortably under the fingers while the styles remain distinct enough that the student feels genuine musical growth with each page turned.
Who it's for
Beginning to intermediate drumset students who need stylistic vocabulary and focused technical building blocks. This works equally well for school solo and ensemble competition preparation or for private lesson curriculum development.
How to get the most out of it
- Spend time with the preparatory exercises before tackling the solo itself; they're engineered specifically to address the rhythmic and coordinative demands of each piece.
- Use the suggested song lists as play-along material during practice sessions to internalize the pocket and phrasing of each style beyond what the etude alone can teach.
- Record yourself performing each solo and listen back with fresh ears; this develops the self-assessment skills that separate functional timekeeping from musical drumming.
- Attend to the stylistic nuances (ghost notes, dynamic shaping, cymbal choices) as seriously as you would the sticking patterns; these details are what make the difference between reading a solo and owning one.
How to use it
Assign individual etudes throughout the year to match your concert themes or curricular focus. A single etude makes an accessible solo and ensemble entry point, while the complete collection serves as a semester-long exploration of contemporary drumset styles.
Skills your students will build
- Time-keeping and pocket awareness within specific styles
- Fill construction and voice independence between hands and feet
- Reading coordination across a full drumset
- Recognition of stylistic markers in jazz, funk, rock, Latin, and contemporary genres
- Self-directed listening and transcription skills through suggested play-alongs