Suitable for both individual and group tuition, the book (now with CD) contains carefully programmed material from absolute beginner to intermediate level. The skills that are covered, including drum rudiments and sight-reading, will enable the student to play in all of these styles: Orchestral, Pop, Rock, Latin and Swing. Throughout the book there are helpful tips and illustrations.



Each of the 12 units in the book:

*Presents new material clearly, step by step
*Introduces new drum basics, gradually increasing a student’s knowledge of specific drumming techniques
*Contains short, easy-to-understand exercises, enabling students to develop new skills and styles of playing
*Contains progressive reading exercises to improve sight-reading


Learn As You Play Drums New Edition is based on current best practice in teaching and embodies the principles of the UK’s seminal teaching scheme, A Common Approach.


LEARN AS YOU PLAY DRUMS and its sister volume LEARN AS YOU PLAY TUNED PERCUSSION & TIMPANI (ISMN: M-060-08098-2, ISBN: 0-85162-049-3) can be used together: there are many pieces and exercises which can be combined to give students experience of ensemble playing. Together, the two books can make the absolute beginner into an all-round drummer!


Chris Barron is an experienced percussion teacher, performer and composer, working as a teacher and lecturer of percussion and composition in the city and county schools of  Coventry and Warwickshire, England, and at the Coventry Centre for the Performing Arts. Chris has many years’ experience as a freelance percussionist in both the classical and
light entertainment spheres, and as a composer has written music for both Boosey & Hawkes’ educational and recorded music catalogues, as well as orchestral music and music for theatre, radio and television.