The Weaker Side
By Dom Famularo and Stéphane Chamberland
Level: Intermediate / Advanced
Item: 00-PB-0001813
$14.99
Pickup currently not available
Related Items
The Weaker Side: Drumset Book |
$14.99
|
View |
Description
This book addresses the common problem of proportionally unequal abilities between a drummer's dominant and weaker muscle sets in drumming technique. The strategic exercises are designed to develop the under-used muscles to cultivate a more balanced ability for controlled movement and a fluid and consistent sound. Organized for gradual strengthening through daily practice, the exercises can be used for both hands and feet.
The Weaker Side isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Wizdom Media
Page Count:
60
SKU:
00-PB-0001813
More about this title
About the Composer: Dom Famularo
Dom Famularo earned his reputation as a commanding presence in percussion education through decades of high-energy performances and master classes that span five continents. Trained by drumming luminaries Joe Morello, Jim Chapin, Al Miller, and Ronnie Benedict, he synthesized classical technique with contemporary approaches, blending Moeller hand work with advanced double-pedal vocabulary across jazz, funk, fusion, and Latin idioms. His landmark clinics in China broke new ground for Western drummers in that region, while festival appearances at venues like the Koblenz International Drummer Meeting, Paris Music Show, and Montreal Drumfest established him as a go-to voice for elevating drummer musicianship and control.
Beyond the stage, Famularo's gift lies in diagnosing technical imbalances and translating solutions into actionable practice routines. His collaborations with co-educators like Stéphane Chamberland reflect a commitment to addressing the physical realities drummers face in building symmetrical strength and fluency. Rather than chasing flashy technique for its own sake, his method books prioritize the foundational work that allows drummers to play with genuine command and consistency.
Why we love this
Most drummers favor their dominant hand and foot, creating a noticeable technical gap that compromises control and musicality under pressure. Famularo and Chamberland don't waste time with theory; they deliver a systematic 60-page workbook that targets exactly this problem through graduated daily exercises. What makes this approach stand out is its ruthless specificity: you're not working on "technique" in the abstract but rather isolating the precise muscle groups and movement patterns that need development to achieve genuine ambidexterity.
What to expect
The work is direct and unglamorous. You'll encounter patterns designed not to thrill but to expose and strengthen what's been neglected. As you progress through the pages, movements that felt clumsy and strained begin to feel natural; the hesitation and compensation disappear. The payoff arrives when you play a familiar groove and realize both sides of your body are delivering the same clarity and confidence.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced drummers who recognize they play more fluently on one side of their body than the other, or who experience fatigue and loss of control when switching dominant-side patterns to the weaker side. This book serves both individual practitioners seeking to eliminate technical imbalance and educators working with students who need targeted intervention in symmetrical development.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a baseline before beginning the book by playing a simple pattern with each hand and foot separately, noting what feels stiff or uncoordinated. Returning to that baseline after two weeks of consistent work will reveal progress that keeps motivation high.
- Apply the weaker-side exercises to actual musical contexts within your regular practice. Once you've worked a strengthening sequence, immediately use that hand or foot in a groove or jazz pattern so the development translates to real playing.
- Track which exercises reveal the biggest gaps in your technique. Some drummers will discover their left hand lags more than expected; others will find the left foot is the limiting factor. Personalize your daily routine by spending extra time on your true weak points.
How to use it
Assign this as a summer practice resource for percussionists preparing for the upcoming season, ensuring they arrive with better technical foundation and fewer bad habits. Integrate specific exercises into sectional warm-ups throughout the year, rotating focus between hand and foot patterns so strength builds without disrupting ensemble rehearsal time.
Skills your students will build
- Ambidextrous hand control and independence
- Balanced left-foot single and double-stroke development
- Muscle awareness and isolation for diagnosing technical imbalances
- Consistency and evenness when moving patterns between dominant and non-dominant sides
- Endurance and fluidity under longer passages without compensation or fatigue