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Patrick Abdo

The drum path is the ultimate guide for drum enthusiasts. The student will get to learn everything he/she needs to know from the very basics of handling the drums to advanced drumming techniques through which he/she will be able to perform on stage professionally and with confidence. The aim of this course is to provide the most adequate learning experience a future drummer needs.

This course is book based, meaning, the course follows "The drum path from zero to advanced" book method for it to be that well structured. The student can buy the book after buying the course but it is not mandatory.

Read more

The drum path is the ultimate guide for drum enthusiasts. The student will get to learn everything he/she needs to know from the very basics of handling the drums to advanced drumming techniques through which he/she will be able to perform on stage professionally and with confidence. The aim of this course is to provide the most adequate learning experience a future drummer needs.

This course is book based, meaning, the course follows "The drum path from zero to advanced" book method for it to be that well structured. The student can buy the book after buying the course but it is not mandatory.

The book will be needed after the student completes the course if he/she ever decides to teach the drums, because he/she will need it as their drums program.

This course is divided into eight parts:

- Course Introduction

- Interviews with Students That Took This Course

- From Zero to Beginner

- From Beginner to Intermediate

- From Intermediate to Advanced

- Rudiments

- Genres and Songs to Play

- Drums Challenges

In The drum path, the student will learn about:

- The drum kit components

- The right posture on drums

- The music notation from A to Z

- All exercises that a student needs to follow to become an advanced drummer in order

- The first 25 Drum Rudiments

- The drummer's favorite genres and songs to play along

- The challenges to develop independence

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • The student will be able to perform live on stage professionally for free and money.
  • The student will be able to teach drums from zero to advanced.
  • The student will play songs from all music genres after practicing the set of songs explained in detail in this course.
  • The student will learn the role of every part of the drum set, all the drum techniques, the drum notation from a to z and all the drum rudiments.

Syllabus

Course Introduction
Introduction to The drum path from zero to advanced
What's Inside?
Guidelines
Read more

Play Along: 40 BPM to 300 BPM

Play Along: 40 BPM to 250 BPM

Play Along: 40 BPM to 220 BPM

Play Along: 40 BPM to 180 BPM

Play Along: 40 BPM to 160 BPM

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a structured learning experience, guiding students from the basics of handling drums to advanced techniques needed for professional stage performance
Covers a comprehensive range of topics, including drum kit components, posture, music notation, rudiments, genres, and independence-building challenges
Includes interviews with past students, offering insights and encouragement for new learners embarking on their drumming journey
Follows a book-based method, which may require students to purchase the book separately for teaching purposes after completing the course
Explores music theory concepts such as notes, symbols, tempo, and rests, which are essential for understanding and playing drum rhythms and fills
Features play-along exercises at various tempos, allowing students to practice and develop their timing and coordination skills across different drumming elements

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Reviews summary

Complete drumming course for beginners

According to learners, this course is excellent for complete beginners, truly starting from scratch and breaking down drumming into easily digestible steps. The instructor is clear and thorough, with a logical structure. Students find the exercises effective and appreciate the focus on music notation early. While highly recommended for novices, the initial pace may be slow for those with prior musical experience. Some students also felt later sections on rudiments and advanced techniques were less detailed. Overall, it provides a solid foundation.
Exercises build skills progressively and effectively.
"The exercises build progressively, and the play-along tracks are a great way to practice timing."
"The exercises are challenging but achievable."
"The exercises are well-designed for practice."
"The exercises build confidence."
Instructor explanations are clear, structure is logical.
"The instructor is clear, encouraging, and explains everything thoroughly."
"The progression feels logical."
"The instructor's passion is evident, and his explanations are very clear. The structure is brilliant, building skills layer by layer."
"The instructor's method is easy to follow... The structure is logical."
"The explanations are crystal clear. The exercises build confidence."
Starts from absolute zero, perfect for novices.
"This course is absolutely fantastic! It breaks down drumming into easily digestible steps, making it perfect for a complete beginner like me."
"The 'From Scratch' aspect is true - it assumes zero prior knowledge."
"Excellent course for absolute beginners. It starts with the very basics like holding sticks and sitting correctly."
"Truly complete for a beginner. I went from never touching a drumstick to playing basic beats and reading simple music in just a few weeks."
"I'm an adult learner with zero musical background, and it felt completely accessible."
Audio mix on some play-along tracks needs improvement.
"My only minor complaint is the audio mix on some of the play-along tracks felt a bit off, making it hard to hear the guide drums clearly."
May feel slow if you have prior musical background.
"I felt it moved a bit slow through the initial stages. I have some prior musical experience (not drumming)... Good for total novices, maybe less so if you have any musical background."
"As someone completely new to music, the pace felt just right for me."
Advanced topics & rudiments could use more depth.
"Some sections could be a bit more detailed, especially the rudiments part, felt a little rushed compared to the beginner sections."
"I found the later sections on Rudiments and advanced techniques less detailed than I hoped, perhaps requiring the book for full understanding?"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Complete Drums Course From Scratch - For All Ages with these activities:
Review 'Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1'
Reinforce foundational drumming concepts by studying a well-regarded beginner's drum method book.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Alfred's Drum Method, Book 1'.
  • Work through the first few chapters, focusing on notation and basic rhythms.
  • Compare the book's approach to the course's 'From Zero to Beginner' section.
Create a Drum Notation Reference Sheet
Solidify your understanding of drum notation by creating a comprehensive reference sheet.
Show steps
  • Review the 'Music Notation from A to Z' section of the course.
  • Create a document or spreadsheet listing all the drum notation symbols and their meanings.
  • Include examples of how each symbol is used in a drum part.
  • Organize the reference sheet for easy access and quick reference.
Review 'Stick Control for the Snare Drummer'
Enhance hand technique and control by working through exercises in 'Stick Control for the Snare Drummer'.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Stick Control for the Snare Drummer'.
  • Start with the basic exercises and gradually increase the difficulty.
  • Focus on maintaining consistent strokes and evenness.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Rudiments with a Metronome
Improve timing and coordination by practicing drum rudiments with a metronome.
Show steps
  • Set up a practice space with your drum kit or practice pad and a metronome.
  • Choose a few rudiments from the course's 'Rudiments' section.
  • Start slowly with the metronome and gradually increase the tempo as you improve.
Practice with Other Drummers
Improve your skills and learn from others by practicing with fellow drummers.
Show steps
  • Find other drummers in your area or online.
  • Schedule regular practice sessions.
  • Share tips, techniques, and song ideas.
  • Play together and provide constructive feedback.
Compose a Simple Drum Solo
Develop creativity and independence by composing a short drum solo incorporating rudiments and rhythms learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Review the rudiments and rhythms covered in the course.
  • Experiment with different combinations and patterns.
  • Structure your solo with a beginning, middle, and end.
  • Practice your solo until you can play it smoothly.
Record a Drum Cover
Apply learned skills by recording a drum cover of a song from one of the genres covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Select a song from the 'Genres and Songs to Play' section.
  • Practice the drum part until you can play it comfortably.
  • Record yourself playing the drum part along with the song.
  • Share your drum cover with others for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete The Complete Drums Course From Scratch - For All Ages will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Drum Instructor
A drum instructor guides students in learning to play the drums, covering techniques, rhythms, and music theory. This course directly helps a future drum instructor through its structured approach, following "The drum path from zero to advanced" book method, and its comprehensive coverage from basic handling to advanced techniques. The course's focus on learning how to teach drums, from zero to advanced, makes it an ideal resource for anyone looking to become a drum instructor.
Professional Drummer
A professional drummer performs live or in studio settings, often within a band or as a session musician. This course is designed to help musicians become professional drummers, providing a path from the basics of handling the drums to advanced techniques, that allow a student to perform on stage professionally with confidence. The course covers the necessary skills, including drum kit components, music notation, and exercises, providing the experience needed for professional performance.
Private Music Tutor
A private music tutor provides one-on-one instruction to students in their homes or at a studio. This course directly applies to a private music tutor as it provides a structured approach to learning the drums, and all the material needed to teach drums. The course's structure from basic to advanced and emphasis on teaching others to play makes it an ideal resource for a private music tutor.
Session Musician
A session musician plays drums for various recording sessions and live performances, often with different artists and bands. This course helps a student build a solid drumming foundation, moving from basic handling to advanced performance techniques. The course is particularly useful for a session musician with its detailed look at drum kit components, music notation, a variety of exercises, and playing various genres, all of which enable a musician to perform in diverse environments.
Band Member
A band member performs as part of a musical group, often requiring a solid grounding in instrumental technique and musicality. This course helps a band member who plays the drums, giving them the skills to perform with confidence, and a methodical understanding of drum kit components, music notation, and exercises. This course is particularly applicable to a band member as its structure progresses from zero to advanced, ensuring confidence in performance.
Music Teacher
A music teacher instructs students in various aspects of music, including theory and performance on instruments. This course may be helpful to a music teacher, because it provides a structured approach to teaching drums, following "The drum path from zero to advanced" book method. The course material covers music notation, exercises, and techniques which would be valuable for a music teacher to understand and pass along, even if their primary focus is not the drums.
Percussionist
A percussionist plays a variety of percussion instruments, often within an ensemble or orchestra. While this course focuses on drums, it does build a robust foundation in rhythmic understanding, music theory, and the physical mechanics of playing. These are all elements which can transfer to the broader study of percussion. This course may be useful for a percussionist as a base in understanding rhythm.
Music Program Director
A music program director manages and oversees music programs within schools, universities, or community organizations. A music program director may find this course useful, as it provides a structured path for learning and teaching drums. The course's detailed syllabus, which includes the drum kit components, music notation, and exercises, gives a music program director a better understanding of the fundamentals and approach to teaching the drums.
Music Director
A music director oversees the musical aspects of a performance or production, often in theater, film, or television. This course may be useful to a music director in that it provides a detailed understanding of the drum kit, its components, and how they fit within the scope of music theory. The course also provides a thorough understanding of drum techniques and rhythms. This is helpful for a music director as the role often requires an understanding of the instruments in an ensemble.
Music Therapist
A music therapist uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. This course may be useful to a music therapist, particularly the structured approach provided by following "The drum path from zero to advanced" book. Understanding the fundamentals of drumming can be beneficial in therapeutic settings, such as rhythmic movement therapy. Having a clear understanding of the fundamentals of drumming and technique can be beneficial for a music therapist.
Songwriter
A songwriter composes music and lyrics for songs, often requiring a strong understanding of rhythm and musical structure. This course may be useful indirectly to a songwriter since it provides a thorough understanding of drum rhythms, music notation, and exercises. These are elements which can contribute significantly to the overall structure and feel of a song. A songwriter can use this understanding to create more compelling and varied songs.
Audio Engineer
An audio engineer records, mixes, and edits audio for various media, including music. This course is helpful to an audio engineer as it provides a comprehensive overview of the technical aspects of playing the drums. This allows the engineer to better understand the nuances of recording drums and understand what a drummer must do in order to deliver a strong performance. Knowing the different parts of a drum set, how they are played, and how to notate them may prove helpful to an audio engineer.
Music Journalist
A music journalist writes articles and reviews about music, artists, and performances. A music journalist may find this course helpful to understand the nuances of a specific instrument. The detailed exploration of drum techniques, music theory, and genres provided in this course can help a journalist to cover drum-related topics with deeper insight and accuracy. The thorough structure of the course, from zero to advanced, could also help in producing informed music criticism.
Music Arranger
A music arranger creates arrangements of music for various ensembles or instruments. While the course emphasizes drumming technique, a music arranger could find value in taking it as it provides a deep dive into rhythm and percussion. A music arranger may find it useful to study a detailed guide to drumming technique. Gaining an understanding of drum rhythms, notation, and exercises would inform a musician's approach to writing arrangements.
Drum Technician
A drum technician maintains and repairs drum equipment, working closely with drummers to ensure optimal performance. While this course does not focus on maintenance of drums, this course may still be valuable to a drum technician. It enables technicians to work more effectively with drummers as it includes detailed knowledge of drum kit components and drumming techniques. The course introduces a drum tech to the perspective and challenges of a drummer.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Complete Drums Course From Scratch - For All Ages.
Classic resource for developing hand technique and control, which are crucial for drumming proficiency. It provides a comprehensive set of exercises that can improve speed, accuracy, and endurance. While the course covers basic techniques, 'Stick Control' offers a more in-depth approach to hand development. It valuable reference for drummers of all levels and is widely used in drum education.
Provides a solid foundation in drum notation and basic rhythms, which are essential for understanding the course material. It covers similar ground to the 'From Zero to Beginner' section of the course, offering a different perspective and additional exercises. Using this book as a reference can reinforce the concepts taught in the course and provide extra practice material. It is commonly used as a beginner's textbook for drum students.

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