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• The Drum Trainer is a practice book with 2 play along CDs for easy and playful learning of the drum technique
   
• Part one contains exercises of the basics that can be played with CD
   
• In the second part of the book you will find polyphonic percussion exercises for playing in a group. They serve the rhythmical training (introduction percussion)
   
• The Drum Trainer is the ideal supplement to any kind of drumschool

• The playing of drum exercises with the, especially for young people composed grooves, motivates both beginners and advanced students to practice the basics. Practising at home becomes fun!
   

• The play along with the CD supports the basic rhythmical training (time keeping) as well as the playing together in a group already at the beginning of learning.
   

• The CD tracks with appropriate times are selected by the tutor and will prevent a premature, unclean practising with either too fast times or too long dwelling on a slower time.
   

• Practising the exercises with sight reading facilitates playful reading of music at an early stage. Counting units on top of most exercises as well as occasionally noted time phrases support the learning process.
   

• Flexible use of the Drum Trainer prevents stagnation with advanced students (i.e. better control of the drum sticks or decisive time development)
   

• The early and meaningful integration of percussion instruments in a group lesson promotes fun and variation.

• Depending on the level of individual progress, a variety of percussion steps and songs can be played with every basic exercise. Percussion steps are mere percussive grooves, designed in progressive tempo (three steps at a time), all through which the time of the songs remain unchanged. example: >percussion step   example: >song
   
• The teaching material is built up in a flexible manner, the teacher decides which CD tracks are played to each basics exercise. An overview of the combination possibilities can be found in the attachment.
   
• Suggestions regarding training units for the first 12 – 24 months are offered on the internet (teachers' site).
   
• The clicks aid proper introduction: with 4/4 time each 4 clicks (= 1 bar), 3/4 time each 6 clicks (=2 bars). With 5/4 there are 2 bars at a time with corresponding rhythm.
   
• Many basic exercises can be combined (mainly right-left alternations), played in a row without repetitions (i.e. exercises 1 – 4 or 8 and 9).
   
• A minimum of 3 drummers are required for meaningful rehearsal of the percussion exercises (part 2). Detailed instructions can be found on the page "Introduction Percussion". Depending on individual requirements, selected basic exercises can also be played with the percussion exercises (this is particularely recommended with more than 5 drummers).

• The Drum Trainer makes varied and motivating lessons possible.
   
• During mutual playing of the drum exercises to the CD tracks, the teacher can correct single students with regards to stick posture and stick guidance without letting the class "fall apart".
   
• In class, various exercises (with or without CD accompaniment) can be played simultaneously (i.e. exercise 11 + 25). This promotes polyphonic ensemble playing at an early stage.
   
• The Drum Trainer enables a clearly, feasibly and meaningfully portioned allocation of tasks. The teacher can design the practising units to match his ideas of time requirement and degree of difficulty. Now and again, empty lines for self made exercises are provided.
   
• The very small steps in which demands are increased give the teacher better control of the learning curve and provides the beginner with direct feedback on his learning progress.
   
•  If essential, homework can be adjusted to fit the varied learning progresses within the class (i.e. by selecting a faster or slower CD track).
   
• The Drum Trainer can also be applied for warm ups and rhythm care at all levels.
   
• Further useful tips for use are available on the internet, including experienced teachers' exchange of information (teachers' site)

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last update: 07.03.04