My First Drum Lesson

This is the course to take before you pick up any bad habits. Harry Pope is a London-based drummer and a graduate of the Trinity College of Music jazz programme who has worked with Brit Award winner Eddi Reader, Jim Mullen, Graeme Duffin of Wet Wet Wet, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Big Band. Here he starts you right at the beginning.

You will set up the kit, learn a comfortable seated position, and get your hands and feet striking cleanly. From there Harry builds the basic beat with crotchets and quavers, then walks you through your first three rudiments: the single stroke roll, the double stroke roll, and the paradiddle, turning each one into real fills you can play along to music.

By the end you will be adding semi-quavers, the ride cymbal, and an open hi-hat to vary your grooves, with the right technique under your hands from day one rather than something to unlearn later.