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Vic Firth Beginner Lesson Series
with 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 |
| 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:
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