Rudiments 1: Single Stroke Rudiments to start

Percussionists have a whole arsenal of instruments to learn at the back of the band. The first and most important to develop is Snare Drum technique. Developing single stroke rudiments with good technique for classical percussion (usually recommend German grip, palms down, gripping between the thumb and first knuckle of the pointer finger, space between fingers 1 + 2 on the stick, then back 3 fingers on the stick) is a good foundation for the rest of the instruments.

Which rudiments to start with? The single most important rudiment any percussionist will learn is single strokes with even stroke heights. I’ll say it a little louder for those at the back SINGLE STROKES with EVEN STROKE HEIGHTS. Yes. That is it.

Now we must practice single strokes with full strokes; Beginning and ending in the same starting position. The starting position height is the determining factor for dynamics. Big stroke = big sound. Small stroke = small sound. The challenge is that playing smaller strokes takes a lot more effort and work than playing large strokes. Practicing single strokes in lower dynamics should be a regular part of practice.

Many of the Cirone etudes have dynamics, where many Wilcoxon solos will not. Why the difference? Classical players are trained to read and execute what is asked for on the page, where rudimental drummers have a tradition to “play to the music” dynamically. Learning to play to the music is a skill learned over time, and reading a dynamic is much easier for everyone, now isn’t it?

So for the first rudiment week, I recommend that students start working on single strokes, single paradiddles, double paradiddles, and triple paradiddles. Once those have begun to take shape, I will introduce the flam with caution, as this NEEDS to be a single stroke from each hand.

How to teach a flam?
One hand high, one hand low, let the wrists go.

To get the smaller stroke of the flam, try tapping with the small stroke hand 3 times — 1 2 3 — then let both wrists go allowing only a single stroke from each. Switch hands and tap the other low hand 3 times, 1 2 3, then let both wrists go getting a single stroke from each. Slow and precise will build the skills needed for great sounding flams!