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basics is a thorough instruction book teaching the fundamentals of drum playing.

Detailed explanations give parents the chance to support their child at home, even if they can’t play music themselves.

basics is the result of 30 years of teaching experience with all kinds of students in the field of drums and percussion and covers all the theoretical and musical items available, so it is neither a rock book or a jazz book nor a drum corps book. It gives the student the opportunity of playing in a band of any style or even in an orchestra in the future.

“ If you're teaching elementary percussion, that's the ticket! ”

Leigh Howard Stevens

“ Basics is a clear and colourful method to make a drummer a good musician. ”

Pete York

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VOLUME 1

ISBN 979-8796889541

Note values up to eighth notes/sixteenth notes combinations, dotted notes, ties, pickup measures, time changes, the dynamic levels 'forte' and 'piano'.

  • 18 Snare Drum Exercises
  • 2 Snare Drum Duets
  • 4 Play-Alongs
  • 5 Drum Fill Lab Tracks
  • 2 Drum Set Duets
  • 5 Drum Set Solos

The snare drum exercises that provide new material can be played several times, each time emphasising a different musical aspect.

This way the student doesn't have to worry about too many things all at once and it's easy to compose practice routines that suit the abilities and the needs of the respective student.

VOLUME 2

Eight note triplets, upstroke/downstroke, the flam, crescendo/decrescendo, accents, the rim click, the stick shot, the open hi-hat sound.

  • 13 Snare Drum Exercises
  • 4 Snare Drum Duets
  • 2 Snare Drum Solos 
  • 4 Play-alongs
  • 5 Drum Fill Lab Tracks 
  • 3 Drum Set Duets 
  • 5 Drum Set Solos
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Prepatory exercises precede each drum set solo.

Composing own bars consolidates the knowledge of music theory.

Exercises from the drum fill lab supplement the student's practice routine. They help develop timing, understanding of form and creativity.

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VOLUME 3

Quarter note triplets, the closed roll, alla-breve-measures, the tap, ghost notes, tempo changes.

  • 13 Snare Drum Exercises
  • 6 Snare Drum Duets
  • 2 Snare Drum Solos 
  • 6 Play-alongs 
  • 7 Drum Fill Tracks 
  • 2 Drum Set Duets
  • 5 Drum Set Solos

A lot of the exercises can be played with music at various tempos.

All second voices of the duets are available as play-alongs.

VOLUME 4

Sixteenth note triplets, 32nd notes, the double stroke, the ruff (drag).

  • 13 Snare Drum Exercises
  • 2 Snare Drum Duets
  • 3 Snare Drum Solos 
  • 7 Play-alongs 
  • 6 Drum Fill Lab Tracks 
  • 4 Drum Set Duets 
  • 4 Drum Set Solos
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This method is suitable for children from about 6 years of age

Adult beginners can work through this method almost autonomously because of the detailed practice guidance provided

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VOLUME 5

Quintuplets, the paradiddle, swing-coordination.

  • 13 Snare Drum Exercises
  • 3 Snare Drum Duets
  • 3 Snare Drum Solos
  • 6 Play-alongs
  • 8 Drum Fill Lab Tracks
  • 3 Drum Set Duets
  • 6 Drum Set Solos

THE AUTHOR

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Harald Genau was born in Münster, Germany in 1963. He first studied drums with Wolfgang Basler and continued his studies in both classical and jazz percussion in Detmold, Amsterdam, Brussels and at the Drummer's Collective in New York City.