The Importance of Reading By Paul Wandtke

Hey sick drummers around the world, it's Paul Wandtke here, letting you know that I'll be giving a lesson series for the next six issues of Sick Drummer Magazine!  These lessons will be packed full of material that will put your drumming metal assault up a couple notches.  Topics within my lessons will include (but are not limited to) the importance of reading, odd-meter double bass grooves, the importance of counting, dynamic double bass grooves, learning or transcribing songs faster, the art of memorizing tempos, and more.  It's important to know that learning how to read drum notation is crucial in learning how to become a badass.  Please, don't get bored — take the time to learn how to read.

Horns in the air!

 

Lesson #1

Reading Basics: By Paul Wandtke

Often times, drummers find the concept of reading boring and pointless.  I myself had felt this way, until I had the courage and discipline to try it myself.  Yes, the task was daunting and tedious, but it was well worth it, because my skills and confidence behind the kit improved so much.  Having the ability to read drum notation will enhance any drummer's skills, and it doesn't matter whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or professional.

Here are some things that reading will allow you to experience:

• Figure out grooves and fills much faster
• Lock into a metronome with ease
• More productive practice sessions
• Learn and memorize songs much faster
• Tempo memorization will be possible
• Become even more creative
• Increase your speed around the kit
• Play with more consistency
• Your confidence behind the kit will soar!

You will be building a new state of consciousness while learning how to read, because reading creates a logical awareness and a precise way of thinking.  The more aware you are of rhythm notation, the easier it will be to execute your grooves or licks.  You'll be able to recall or memorize certain grooves or fills a lot faster because you will have a definite way of thinking.  Your time will become better, especially when performing/practicing with a metronome, because you'll know how to lock in your rhythms.  Reading notation is like reading the English language.  Would you be able to write an essay if you didn't know your ABCs?

 

 

Video Lesson Series Introduction:

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The video examples below relate directly to the PDF files available for download above. Please be sure to download them and watch each video in relation to the examples in the file. All examples in the PDF files are clearly marked, so you should have no problem… 

 

Part 1 – Exercise 1:

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Part 1 – Exercise 2:

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Part 1 – Exercise 3:

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Part 1 – Exercise 4:

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Part 1 – Exercise 5:

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Part 1 – Exercise 6:

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Part 2 – Exercise 1:

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Part 2 – Exercise 2:

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Part 2 – Exercise 3:

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Part 2 – Exercise 4:

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Part 2 – Exercise 5:

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Part 2 – Exercise 6:

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