The Level System: A Natural Drum Technique Method for Developing Control of Accents and Dynamics
A Natural Drum Technique Method for Developing Control of Accents and Dynamics
By Jeff W. Johnson
Item: 00-PB-0001841
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Description
This book is an overview of the level system as taught by George Lawrence Stone and Joe Morello. Use of this method will allow the performer to transition instantly between accented and unaccented notes. The level system is unlike most other methods of drumming because the hands always prepare for the upcoming note one stroke in advance by utilizing full strokes, downstrokes, upstrokes, and taps. This allows the drummer to perform within an extreme dynamic range while remaining free of tension. The Level System will prove to be a valuable aid to the drummer who has experience on the instrument but wishes to further develop a natural technique. It can also be an important tool for the beginning student first learning the techniques and rudiments of drumming. Drumset players will benefit from both the hand exercises and the drumset exercises in the last chapters.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
52
SKU:
00-PB-0001841
More about this title
Why we love this
Johnson captures the pedagogical essence of Stone and Morello's approach in a format that actually works in the practice room. The level system has quietly shaped generations of drummers, and this method makes that lineage explicit and accessible without oversimplifying the mechanics. You get both the conceptual framework and the exercises that prove it works.
What to expect
Working through the level system feels like learning to speak a language your hands already partially understood. The exercises build efficiency rather than speed, and the payoff is a kind of effortless command over dynamics that sounds both powerful and relaxed. You discover that control comes from preparation, not from muscular tension.
Who it's for
Intermediate and advanced snare drummers seeking to refine their technique through a systematic approach to dynamics and control. Beginning students will also benefit from the foundational exercises, though the method's full power emerges once you have basic facility. Drumset players who want intentional hand technique beyond what they've picked up casually.
How to get the most out of it
- Prioritize the preparation stroke before each note. The entire system depends on this anticipation; your hands must know what's coming next before the current stroke completes.
- Build the full stroke, downstroke, upstroke, and tap sequence slowly enough that you can feel the difference in height and tension. Speed comes naturally once the motion is honest.
- Notice where tension accumulates in your shoulders and wrists, then use the level system to eliminate it. The goal is freedom, not faster hands.
How to use it
Use this as your primary snare drum technical curriculum for intermediate students moving into higher-level ensemble work. The method pairs well with repertoire that demands sudden dynamic shifts or precise accent control, so it complements any pieces requiring nuanced phrasing. Assign the hand exercises as part of regular practice routines year-round, then transition students to the drumset applications once they've internalized the fundamental strokes.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic control across a wide range while maintaining consistent tone quality
- Preparation of strokes one note in advance using full, down, up, and tap motions
- Tension-free technique through proper stroke mechanics
- Instantaneous transitions between accented and unaccented notes
- Foundational drumset hand technique
- Consistency of rebound and stick control