Vic Firth Beginner Lesson Series with
MARK WESSELS

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. From gripping the sticks properly to learning the essential rudiments, Mark Wessels uses excerpts from his popular method, A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum to provide a solid foundation for successful drumming skills.

Even if you're a skilled percussionist, we recommend that you take the time to view the lessons from the beginning and put into practice the concepts that Mark establishes from the beginning. Building upon the very basic skills, each new lesson will logically progress to higher levels of technical and reading abilities, introducing new exercises and rudiments along the way. Test your mastery along the way using the prescribed exercises, rudiments at the tempos required for each lesson.


NEW!  You can now download the lessons from iTunes for playing on your ipod or computer!    
Band Directors: Now you can use the videos in your percussion class!
It's a great way to justify the purchase of a new video ipod or appleTV to your administration!

 

SELECT A LESSON:

Lesson Topics Covered
Introduction Setting up and tuning the snare drum, Gripping the sticks (using the matched grip), Rebound Stroke
Lesson 1 8 on a Hand, Single Stroke Roll. Double Stroke Roll, Stick Control Exercises, Essential Musical Terms
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 2 Quarter Notes and Quarter Rests, Bounce Stroke, Multiple Bounce Roll, Downstroke
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 3

Double Stroke Exercise, 8th notes in quarter time signatures, Upstroke, 5 Stroke Roll
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!

Lesson 4 Isolated Double Stroke exercise, Single Stroke 4, Half Notes and Rests, Single Paradiddle (Step 1), 8th Notes and 8th Rests in eight time signatures
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 5 Tap stroke, “Mr Freeze” exercise, Single Paradiddle (Step 2), 9 Stroke Roll, 8th Rests in quarter time
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Graduation Test:1 Recap of all essential skills learned in Lessons 1 - 5
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 6 Rudiment Breakdown, "Bucks in Three" and "Extended Doubles" exercises, 16th notes in quarter time signatures, 13 Stroke Roll
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 7 The Flam, Two Drum Etude, Dotted Half Notes in quarter time, 16th notes in eight time signatures
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 8 Whole Note, Flam Tap, New rhythm: "1e&" (two 16ths/8th), Round for Two Players
NEW!  Accompaniment tracks in slow, medium & fast tempos are available here!
Lesson 9 "Alternating Accents" exercise, Single Stroke 7, Flam Paradiddle (step 1), Duet, New rhythm: "1 - &a" (8th/2 16ths), Two Drum Etude
Lesson 10 "16th Note Timing" exercise, Flam Paradiddle (step 2), Duet, New note value: Dotted Quarter, Rudimental Etude
Graduation Test:2 Recap of all essential skills learned in Lessons 6 - 10
Lesson 11 Double Bounces, Counting Quarter Note Rolls, Double & Triple Paradiddle, Rudimental Etude
Lesson 12 "Grid Diddles" exercise, Counting Half Note Rolls, Review Quarter Rolls in 8 time, Flamacue-Step1
Lesson 13 "Flam Control" exercise, Duet using Dynamic Markings, 8th Note Rolls in Quarter Time, 2 Drum Etude, Flamacue-Step2

Teachers: We welcome your comments and suggestions. Click here to send an email to Mark Wessels.


BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Here are some of the products Mr. Wessels recommends in order for you to have the best chance of success possible:

SD1 General
Perfect for most beginner's hands. Pitch paired and weight sorted and designed for perfect balance. The world's best selling concert snare drum stick!
L=16 3/8", Dia.=.635"
SD1 Jr.
A scaled down version of our SD1 General. Perfect for a younger student's hands.
L=15 9/16", Dia.=.615"

Heavy Hitter Exactopad (HHPPE)

The Heavy Hitter Exactopad is the perfect teaching tool for the player who is conscientious about stick angles and bead placement on the drum. Moveable rubber guide pads can be adjusted for different stick angles and also give the player the ability to perfect the placement of sticks.

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A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum

A logical approach for developing rhythmic reading abilities, rudimental technique and musicianship on the snare drum. One of the world's most popular selling books for the beginning percussionist!

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"A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum"