Cumann Buidhean Píobaire na hÉireannCumann Buidhean Píobaire na hÉireann

IRISH PIPE BAND ASSOCIATION

Begin

Drumming

Foundation Course

Page 2

Index

Page 4 Holding the Sticks

left hand - right hand

Page 5 Beating Position

Page 6 Notes & Rests

Page 7 Time Signatures ( simple time)

Page 8 Monotones

Page 9 Many Notes from One Stroke

Page 10 Singles

Page 11 Doubles

Page 12 Sight Reading in Different Time Signatures

Page 13 Irregular Groups / Dot & Cut

Page 14 Triplets

Page 15 Paradiddles

Page 16 Accented Paradiddles / Monotones

Page 17 Monotones / Simple Scores

Page 18 Roll Development

Page 19 Introductory Rolls / Simple Scores

Page 3

Introduction ‘Begin Drumming’ is a tutor led booklet, to help people develop and master correct

stick technique for the snare drum, as well as introducing fundamental skills in reading music. The text is easy to read and takes the learner through the basics of music theory as well as learn-ing the correct hand positions, stick control and funda-mental rudiments of drumming music. All practical work is conducted on a Drum Pad with quality Snare Drum Sticks. On the practical side, students will strive to master, singles, doubles, triplets, paradiddles and correct roll technique. Theory instruction will focus on clef signs, bar lines, beat notes, repeat signs, time signatures, note and rest duration, table of relative values etc. There is a strong emphasis on ‘monotones’, which helps with the rhythm pattern of a given piece of music. At the end of the course, the student should be confident in sight reading basic drum scores, with the ability to compose, write and read basic rhythm patterns.

‘Begin Drumming’ has been designed for ease of use and is a useful tool for anyone who

wishes to learn more about a musical instrument, which is played world-wide and an introduc-tion the phenomena that is Pipe Band Drumming. Having completed the exercises and perfected both theory and practice, the student will be ready to undertake the Foundation Certificate recognised by the Irish Pipe Band Association. Practice makes Perfect There is no shortcut to master snare drumming, it takes hard work and patience. Every practice should have a clear goal and to be successful a student has to practice every day. Good technique and timing needs good concentration. When learning something new, break it down into smaller sections and this will help you perfect the whole. Only through concentration and practice will you achieve your goals.

Page 4

the left hand the right hand

Page 5

Beating Position

Tip…………….

make a V shape

with your sticks, pointing towards the centre of the

drum pad.

Page 6

How to read drum music In drum music we use signs or symbols written above or below a horizontal line, to tell us which hand to use, and whether it is a tap or a buzz. Later we use signs which tell us whether we should play loud or quiet. The signs or symbols below are called notes and rests. Notes tell us when to play and rests tell us when to keep quiet.

The length of a note is called Duration

Before We Begin The horizontal line, shown below, is called a stave and it tells us which hand to use Right Hand - above the line Left Hand - below the line. The sign at the start of the stave is called a Treble Clef.

The short up and down lines are called Bar Lines and they do two things 1. Bar Lines divide the music into equal portions.

2. They tell us when the strong accent is / directly after the bar line.

Clef Sign

Bar Line Bar Line Bar Line

Time Signature

Time Signatures The fraction like sign at the start of the piece of music is called a Time Signature The top number tells us haw many beats in the Bar - in this case 2 beats in a bar. The bottom part tells us the value of the beat note - in this case a crotchet (1/4 note)

1 1/2

1/4

1/8

1/16

1/32

Page 7

Time Signatures (Simple Time)

Monotones are the building blocks for sight reading,

playing and writing drum music.

Monotone 1

Tap your foot while you play the

music below.

Time Signatures

Accents S W S W

Above: Time Signature 2/4 2 beats in a bar - beat notes are 1/4 notes - crotchets - accents S W

Accents S W W S W W

Above: Time Signature 3/2 3 beats in a bar - beat notes are 1/2 notes - minims - accents S W W

Accents S W M W S W M W

Above: Time Signature 4/4 4 beats in a bar - beat notes are 1/4 notes - crotchets - accents S W M W

1 2 1 2 1 & 2 & 1 & 2

1 2 & 1 2 1 & 2 1 2 &

1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 & 1 2

1 a n d 2 & 1 a n d 2 a n d 1 a n d 2 1 a n d 2 &

1 a n d 2 1 & 2 a n d 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 a n d

Page 8

Monotones incorporating rests

1 2 & 2 & 2 1 2 & 2 & 2

1 2 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2

1 & 2 a n d 1 a n d 2 a n d 1 2 & 1 a n d 2 &

1 2 1 & 2 1 a n d 2 & 1 & 2 &

1 & 2 a n d 3 & 1 2 & 3 1 & 2 3 & 1 a n d 2 3

1 2 3 1 2 & 3 1 a n d 2 3 1 & 2& 3

1 a n d 2 & 3 & 1and 2 and 3 1 a n d 2 3& 1 2 3 &

1 & 2 3 & 1 and 2and 3 1 2 3 & 1 a n d 2 & 3

Monotone 2

Monotone 3

Page 9

Many Notes from One Stroke

One of the really important techniques you need to master is how to properly strike the drum. Your Tutor will demonstrate to you the correct technique of striking the drum. Copy this exactly. When playing as a group everyone should look exactly the same, holding the sticks in the same man-ner and lifting them to the same height. As you progress through the rudiments, you will master the technique of hitting the drum with a one stroke motion but allowing the stick to bounce to create many more notes. This is achieved by using your fingers on your right hand and thumb on your left hand. To master this technique, which will help you play the faster movements, it may be a good idea to

practice one hand at a time.

Page 10

Note: Right Hand - above the line Left Hand - below the line Tap your foot while you play the music below

Singles

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Page 11

Doubles

3 beats in a bar - beat

Tip……………. Count Aloud !

Tap Foot !

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Page 12

Sight Reading in Different Time Signatures

We now look at different Time Signatures in Simple Time.

> shape is called a strong Accent and you play a note with this by striking the

pad harder.

Page 13

Irregular Groups

So far all our beats (which in our case have been a crotchet in value) can be divided by an even number – 2 quavers , 4 semi quavers, 16 demi-semi quavers.

Sometimes however we like to split out beat into 3 notes (Triplets) or other uneven numbers. In Simple Time we call this an Irregular Group.

Irregular Groups in simple time are easy to find. We place an Arch over the group of notes

and in the case of a Triplet, write the number 3 inside.

Reading Triplets in Simple Time

Dot & Cut A dot placed after a note increases its value by half. examples A dotted crotched is equal to a crotchet + a quaver i.e 3 quavers

Cutting just means—adding a tail to a note i.e. decreasing its value by half.

Reading Dot & Cut in Simple Time

1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 i d 2 1 i d 2

1 2 & 1 i d 2 i d 1 & 2 & 1 i d 2

1 & 2and 1and 2 1 & 2 & 1and 2

1and 2and 1 a n d 2 1 a n d 2 & 1and 2

Page 14

Triplets

Triplets

1 i d 2 i d 3 i d 4 i d 1 i d 2 i d 3 i d 4 i d

Accented Triplet

Moving Accents

Page 15

Paradiddles

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Page 16

Accented Paradiddles

Monotones are the building blocks for sight reading, playing and writing drum music.

Monotone 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Monotones

Page 17

Monotones

Monotone 5

Simple Scores

7 7 7 7 7 13 7 7 7 7 7 13

7 7 7 13

Page 18

Roll Development

Each exercise below is divided into four sections Bar 1 Primary Rhythm Bar 2 Open Roll Bar 3 Pulsed Buzzed Roll Bar 4 Writing Abbreviation (how we write it in a score) Your tutor will demonstrate how to get a good buzz sound

with your sticks

5 Stroke Roll

13 Stroke Roll

7 Stroke Roll

Primary Rhythm Open Roll

Pulsed Buzzed Roll Abbreviation

Primary Rhythm Open Roll

Pulsed Buzzed Roll Abbreviation

Primary Rhythm Open Roll

Pulsed Buzzed Roll Abbreviation

Page 19

Introductory Rolls

Simple Scores

Primary Rhythm

Open Roll

Pulsed Buzzed Roll

Abbreviation

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 13

7 7 7 7 7 13

Stephen Creighton is the Lead Drummer with St Laurence O’Toole PB,

winner of the World’s Best Drum Corps on numerous occasions.