Introduction to the Drum Set: Familiarize students with the different parts of the drum set (bass drum, snare drum, toms, hi-hat, cymbals, etc.). Teach proper drum set setup, drumstick grip, and posture. Introduce basic drum terminology and drum notation.
Rhythm Fundamentals: Teach students basic rhythm notation and counting. Introduce drumming rudiments, such as single stroke rolls, double stroke rolls, and paradiddles. Practice rudiments on practice pads or snare drum.
Hand and Foot Coordination: Focus on developing coordination between hands and feet. Teach basic bass drum techniques (heel-toe, slide) and coordination exercises. Introduce coordination patterns between the hands and bass drum or hi-hat.
Drum Set Grooves: Introduce basic drum set grooves, such as rock, pop, and funk rhythms. Practice playing grooves with a metronome to develop timing and consistency. Explore different hi-hat patterns and accents within grooves.
Introduction to Fills: Teach basic drum fills to transition between different sections of a song. Practice incorporating fills into drum grooves. Explore different fill patterns and learn to create your own fills.
Music Styles: Explore different music styles (e.g., rock, jazz, blues, funk). Study characteristic drumming patterns and styles within each genre. Play along with recordings to develop a sense of musicality and groove.
Basic Drum Notation and Reading: Introduce drum notation symbols and reading drum sheet music. Practice playing simple drum beats and fills from sheet music. Develop skills in sight-reading drum music.
Dynamics and Control: Focus on dynamics and control, varying the volume and intensity of drumming. Teach techniques for ghost notes, accents, and rimshots. Practice playing drum patterns with different levels of dynamics.
