Whether we are aware or not, all professional musicians are entrepreneurs. Being a pro musician is the same as being a business owner. We teach music, play gigs, compose and arrange songs, practice, work with clients, hire others, and a thousand other tasks. Thinking of ourselves as not only musicians but business owners might sound strange, but it has the power create positive change for our careers.

Being a self-employed entrepreneur is tough. Without the security of working for a large business, there is a lot to be covered alone. Almost all musicians are responsible for their own taxes, health insurance, debt collection, research and development, and operating/material costs.

Needless to say, it’s tough out there for musicians. But if we can realign the way we think about our business, it can get easier. However, running a business might not come easy to many musicians. We think of ourselves as artists first and usually handle the business side of things later. Maybe there is a better way.

The Power of Books

One easy way for a musician to grow their non-musical skills is by reading a few books. Reading someone else’s words can help give a completely new perspective on a topic. The topic of entrepreneurship and business has been covered to death, and you might think you’ve heard it all before. However, reading grants us a new perspective, and there is a lot of material to draw from.

Musicians are good at practice and repetition. Learning new skills is in our blood. What we have built as musicians will only make what we read even more powerful. By combining our skills and dedication to music with the knowledge contained in a great book, we have the opportunity to not only become better musicians, but to create a thriving business that can support our love for the arts forever.

This may force you to take your eyes off your music method books for a bit. They will still be there when you come back. I promise. The skills found in the books below are essential for your success as a well-rounded musician, and you should take the time to practice other aspects of your career.

Below I have compiled a list of non-music books that I have found very useful in changing my mindset from strictly music to entrepreneurship.

The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

Every musician has experience the pain of feeling stuck with their art. We plateau, we get lazy, and it feels like we can no longer produce music that used to flow so easily. Steven Pressfield’s masterpiece, The War of Art addresses these very issues by placing them under an all encompassing persona: resistance.

Pressfield identifies and personifies resistance, then reveals how to eliminate it. his words are heavy and convicting, but are essential to hear for every artist. If you’re looking for an illuminating glance into your own artistic mind, I’d start with The War of Art.

I actually revisit The War of Art a few times every year. No matter where I am in my journey as a musician, I always get something different out of every read. If you choose one book from this list, let it be this one.

The Obstacle is the Way – Ryan Holiday

Coming from one of my favorite modern authors is The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph. This book goes very well with The War of Art and is a guidebook for how to turn obstacles into advantages. Musicians know a lot about obstacles.

Written by Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle is the Way could be considered a philosophical text more than anything. Holiday draws heavily from the writings of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Stoic philosophy. Examples of war generals, world leaders, record breaking pilots, and business magnates are found as case studies for how to win over tough situations.

I have found myself feeling stuck with my career choices plenty of times. No matter what I try, at some point, a big problem always gets in the way. At first, it’s easy for me to think that this problem is the end and that it’s time to move on. However, after reading The Obstacle is the Way, I’ve began to change my thinking.

As the chairman of the X-Prize Foundation, Peter Diamandis says, “a problem is a terrible thing to waste”. Seeing opportunities in problems is an essential skill for every musician. Something in our lives/careers will eventually go wrong and we need to be prepared for it. Even better, we need to start thinking of obstacles as a guide for what to do next.

For more of the writing of Ryan Holiday, I also recommend some of his other books, Ego is the Enemy, and The Perennial Seller.

So Good They Can’t Ignore You – Cal Newport

You have already heard that a successful career starts with you following your passion. The advice is so common, you’ve probably given it to someone else. But is passion really what creates lasting musical careers? Or is it actually hard work, consistent practice, and building skills?

in So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Cal Newport dispels the myth of passion by revealing that a love for what you do is earned and not simply stumbled upon. In order to earn your passion, you need to be as Comedian Steve Martin puts it, “so good they can’t ignore you”.

Newport’s writing is humbling and will cause you to look at your music career with a new set of eyes. By using concepts like career capital, and deep work, Newport makes the case for hard work and dedication being what fosters passion. None of us knew immediately that we wanted to be musicians, but the idea was built up over the years of practice that we put in.

As a drummer, there are many times when I think to myself, “why am I still doing this?” Sometimes it’s after 5 hours of getting nowhere during practice, or the long and exhausting gigs that only pay $20. No matter what, these dark days will inevitably come. However, So Good They Can’t Ignore You provides an excellent blueprint for keeping yourself on the right track and reshaping why we do what we do.

If you can’t get enough of Cal Newports writing (I definitely can’t), then I would highly recommend his book Deep Work, which discusses how to focus and get things done in a distracted world. Something everyone needs.

This is Marketing – Seth Godin

If musicians are entrepreneurs, then it’s time to start acting like we run a business. And based on the hundreds of ads we see everyday, for a business to be successful, their marketing has to be good. This is Marketing by Seth Godin is a fantastic guide for how any business (or musician) should approach the topic of marketing.

If you’re thinking that marketing doesn’t apply to musicians, think again. When someone looks you up for a potential gig, when a friend hires you sub for them, or when other musicians are saying your name, marketing is at work.

This is Marketing approaches the topic in a completely new way. Rather than a step by step guide, Godin’s focus is on reframing the way we think. His approach is ethical, empathetic, and emphasizes producing good work instead of trickery and sales tactics.

All musicians should know how to market themselves. At least a little bit. Whether or not we know it, we are selling ourselves as a product. Choosing what story we tell about ourselves and our music is important. Someone could be looking you up right now, and if you don’t know what they are going to see, you could be losing potential work.

While I would consider This is Marketing to be a complete collection, Many of the same ideas can be found in Seth Godin’s other books: Purple Cow, and Tribes, which I would also recommend.

Atomic Habits – James Clear

Would you be surprised if I told you that we have very little control over what we do from moment to moment? Or that every day of our lives are run by a series of cascading habits moving on autopilot? According to Atomic Habits by James Clear, this may be the case.

You probably haven’t noticed how you brush your teeth the same way every day, or how you put the same leg first into your pants each morning. How many times have you been driving to a gig only to arrive and think “I don’t remember how I even got here”? One after the other, our habits unfold and subconsciously guide us throughout the day.

Atomic Habits is an illuminating look into our habit systems and how they can either make or break us. As James says, “we don’t rise to the level of our training, we fall to the level of our systems”. And like it or not, if our systems are not set up for success, we are doomed to fail.

Atomic Habits is about breaking bad habits, replacing them with good ones, and eventually improving ourselves. James makes the case for how tiny habits are the agent for massive success if we can only gain control of them.

Musicians should be seeing the potential for Atomic Habits immediately. Imagine if you could reprogram yourself to practice an hour every morning. How about habitually sitting down to compose every afternoon without fail? I highly recommend Atomic Habits to every musician out there. It’s easy to understand, practical to implement, and can make you feel near superhuman.

Since reading Atomic Habits, I have started to put better systems in place for myself. I now write and practice drums more than I have in years. The best part is that while my productivity has been steadily increasing, I almost haven’t noticed. These new routines have become a part of my life. A habit if you will.

Jab Jab Jab, Right Hook – Gary Vaynerchuk

If you don’t wake up at 3:00am, call everyone “bro”, and charge through the day like you have an IV of cocaine dripping directly into your bloodstream, you may not relate to Gary Vaynerchuk. He’s a man on 10 at all times, is known to be abrasive, and will inevitably make you feel like you are never enough (Read this hilarious VICE article for a better look into Gary’s world). But Gary’s got something only a select few of us have: non-stop hustle. While this sort of dedication to “getting stuff done” is near impossible to live up to, it can produce a book that might help us normal folk learn something.

Say what you will about Gary Vaynerchuk, but his book Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook does an excellent job of covering a topic every musician should at least be aware of: social media. Someone is going to look you up on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, and it helps to to know what they are going to see.

It might not be essential, but for those of us that use social media as a form of marketing, it’s important to get a decent grasp of what’s going on. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook can be used to help craft your online identity.

Vaynerchuk’s strategy revolves around providing constant and free value to your audience with hopes of asking for something from them later. Inside the book, Vaynerchuk provides loads of examples from both large companies and smaller independent creators using social media both the right and wrong way.

Think about when you are on Facebook and that one guitar player will not stop posting about his gig next week. does their continual posting make you want to be in attendance? Probably not. So how can we ask things of our audience without alienating them? Questions like this are answered in Vaynerchuk’s book.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is a solid guide for how you should be using your social media accounts. Whether or not you find social media to be a strong point of your marketing as a musician, it is still helpful to understand the various ways the platforms can be used to increase your exposure.

Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert T. Kiyosaki

I can hear some of you rolling your eyes already, but let me explain. How many times have you heard a musician say that they are destined to be poor? If only I had a nickel for every time I’ve said it…

Money isn’t everything, and using wealth as a gauge for success can be damaging. I know many incredible musicians that don’t make much money at all. Are they successful? Absolutely. However, considering how skilled they are as musicians, the fact that they can’t even afford to pay their rent or repair their instruments is sad.

The idea that musicians are poor is a stereotype that refuses to be broken. But this doesn’t have to be the case.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki isn’t the most detailed of finance books, but for any musician interested in gaining control over their finances, it is a great starting point. The reason is because Kiyosaki makes the case that financial success is really about mental state more than anything else.

According to Kiyosaki, those that are financially successful view and interact with the world in a fundamentally different way. Their viewpoint is what guides every decision they make and turns the act of generating money into a breeze. Kiyosaki explores the concept of multiple income streams, which all musicians today should be very aware of. For a musician, there is no such thing as one single income stream anymore. The sooner we catch on, the better.

Rich Dad Poor Dad was the first book on finance that I ever read. I might disagree with how Kiyosaki’s insists on calling people “losers”, however his book made me believe that I had a chance to defy my negative thoughts and be financially savvy. Since reading this book, I’ve read many other books on finance, eliminated my debt, have savings built up, and invest regularly.

Having financial security is an amazing feeling. I may not be rich by any measure, but the fact that I know I’ll be able to pay my rent next month is a huge comfort. I wish for every musician to quit thinking they are destined to be poor and to begin taking control over their financial life.

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle – Tom Venuto

Diet and exercise is something that needs to be taken very seriously. Heart disease is the world’s biggest killer and is still on the rise. We have a lot to worry about in our lives, but without our health, it is all pointless anyway.

Musicians are not usually the most athletic. We are artists that dedicate our free time to practicing our craft. However, practicing music usually requires staying in stasis for long periods of time, and hopefully we all know that being still for too long is awful for our bodies.

Exercise can be intimidating if we don’t know what to do. But considering the alternative of poor health and injuries, I’d say it’s worth learning a little about it.

Personally, I don’t care which book on exercise you read, just read something. But if you’re looking for a good starting point, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto is a fantastic read. Venuto (An award winning bodybuilder) creates an inspiring case for how anyone can gain control over their body through a detailed look into the fundamentals of fat loss, muscle gain, food, supplements, and of course exercise.

I started reading Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle in my early 20’s. At the time I didn’t care about “working out”. I was young and blessed with a speedy metabolism. However, I read the book on a whim and was immediately inspired to change how I thought about my body.

Today I do some form of exercise daily, attempt to eat healthier, and in general, feel amazing. I rarely get ill, have never had a drumming injury, and most importantly, feel good about myself.

Everyone should live a long and happy life, but it has to begin with our body. You don’t have to be in incredible shape, but being in good health can make life much more enjoyable. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle is very informative, detailed, and best of all will inspire you to take your health seriously.

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These books are just a starting point. As entrepreneurs, musicians need to start taking the other aspects of their business seriously. Being the best player in the room might seem important, but without a good handle on many other aspects of our lives and business, we may never realize our full potential.

What non-music books have helped you build your career? Leave a comment down below with some of your favorites!

I’m willing to admit that I watch a lot of YouTube. I don’t pay for Netflix or even use a friend’s password. I also don’t own any video game systems. This leaves me with little options for digital entertainment other than YouTube’s free services. Thankfully the site has a lot to keep me occupied.

If I’m not careful, I can waste huge amounts of time doing nothing on YouTube. As a way to combat my tendency to go down unproductive YouTube rabbit holes, I started watching drum videos. Drum videos act as a more “constructive” way for me to waste my time. From what I’ve found, some of YouTube’s drum channels are good, and some are not.

If you’re a new drummer, you’ve probably spent some time cruising the internet for drum tutorials and lessons. This is an awesome (and affordable) way to get some really great information. Unfortunately, if you’re new to drumming, you also have no idea whether or not the information found is any good.

So what are the best drum-centered channels on YouTube? Below is a list of the channels that I regularly watch and find to be the top of free drumming entertainment and information on YouTube. Let’s check it out!

1. Sounds Like a Drum

Drum tuning is the worst! Well not actually, but I’m sure a lot of drummers out there feel that way. After watching countless hours of drum tuning videos, it’s safe to say that Sounds Like a Drum is by far and away the best channel on YouTube regarding the subject.

Designed for drummers and sound engineers, Sounds Like a Drum features videos that go in-depth with regards to drum tuning. There are dedicated videos for each individual drum as well as plenty of tips and tricks for achieving any type of drum sound.

The tutorials on Sounds Like a Drum are not too long, are easy to understand, and the information is exceptional. I’ve referenced their snare tuning videos several times. I highly recommend the sections on bottom head tuning, as I have learned things that have never been mentioned to me before.

2. Drum Center of Portsmouth

Buying drum gear is the worst! Well not actually, but it is a totally over-marketed and confusing world to enter. People ask me all the time what sort of drums they should buy. I ask myself all the time what sort of drums I should buy. There is a lot out there to know and research, so it’s important to get your information from quality sources.

The Drum Center of Portsmouth is definitely my favorite YouTube drum channel when it comes to the retail side of drumming. Located in North Hampton in New Hampshire, the videos come directly from the floor of the drum center itself. These guys carry a shocking amount of gear. They also don’t appear to have strong allegiances to a specific brand, so their videos cover a wide range of available kits and cymbals without being to “sale-sy”

Drum Center of Portsmouth’s videos are highly detailed and come with a lot of audio and visual representation. They cover drums, snares, and cymbals, and review many of the rare boutique drum companies. They have a huge backlog of videos, and chances are they have reviewed whatever drum gear you’re currently interested in. Keep an eye out for their fun shootout videos comparing similar drums head to head.

The guys at The Drum Center of Portsmouth are hard workers, know their stuff, and are decent drummers. I highly recommend Drum Center of Portsmouth’s YouTube channel for all of your drum retail needs.

3. Mike’s Lessons

Learning to play drums is the worst! Definitely not true, but it’s probably the most covered drumming subject online. If you’re new to drumming, finding solid learning material is overwhelming and the bad info might only make things worse. I see students all the time that have used free YouTube videos that have all sorts of holes in their playing.

On the other hand, go to the right sources, and you’ll find yourself with a wealth of golden drumming information. Mike’s Lessons by Mike Johnston is one of those solid sources. I love this guy! I love his drumming and I love his positive attitude.

What separates Mike Johnston from other online instructors is the fact that he is currently on the ground teaching. Many of the internet’s current “drum gurus” have never actually taught a lesson to a real person before. This creates untested information that may or may not be effective. Mike teaches hundreds of students every year, and that feedback is sent straight back to you in the form of his videos.

Mike is a positive guy who genuinely wants drummers to learn something. His YouTube videos are not necessarily for beginners, although I’m sure you can find plenty of great courses available on his website. Lastly, the content that he puts up is extremely high quality, so if you just want to watch some sweet hi-definition drumming, Mike’s your ticket!

Lastly, if his videos aren’t enough and you just need more Mike Johnston in your life, I highly recommend The Modern Drummer Podcast featuring drum talk with Mike and Modern Drummer Magazine editor Mike Dawson.

4. Drumeo

If you’ve ever spent time around the YouTube drumming world, you have most likely already seen a Drumeo video. These guys are everywhere! With over 1000 videos on their YouTube channel alone, they dominate a pretty large chunk of the educational drumming market.

Drumeo is run by Jared Falk, who can be regularly seen giving lessons on the channel. However, because of the size and budget of the company, they are able to land top notch drummers and have filmed quality content over a huge range of styles and topics. The amount of free content that Drumeo offers is insane. They also offer even more lessons on their website.

The only downside to the Drumeo channel is that due to its size, it can take a while to find a video or topic that you are really searching for. But the good news is that almost all of the content they publish is high quality and has valuable information. In terms of free drumming education, you really can’t get much better than Drumeo.

5. Jeff Randall

I first met Jeff Randall back at the University of North Texas. His drumming would always amaze me. He was known for his pocket and groove, and his performances never disappointed. Since then, I’ve seen him grow his social media presence to big numbers and now he’s quite the well known influencer in the online drumming community.

Jeff’s YouTube channel has grown into a solid collection of helpful drum tutorials. He covers topics on classic drum fills, grooves, staying in the pocket, and drum maintenance. All his videos look slick, have great information, and are totally worth a watch.

One of the best things about Jeff’s channel is that he is currently on the ground as a working drummer. What’s presented on his channel are useable bits of information that you know he has personally tested on stage himself. Jeff also stays true to the rock and funk genre and covers a lot of interesting grooves that you might not find anywhere else.

6. rDavidr

If you’re a drummer that also happens to enjoy DIY videos, then you’re gonna love David Raouf’s YouTube channel: rDavidr. David’s channel features a collection of handy projects where he alters his drum kit or studio by hand. If you’re like me and love watching people build things with power tools, rDavidr is for you.

David’s videos are always and interesting and unique collection of DIY drum projects that few people would ever think up. He can make custom cowbells, cut massive holes in his cymbals, or turn a $40 snare from Amazon into a masterpiece. A lot of his videos also feature him creating storage options for all of his gear, which is perfect for the OCD or those that are organizationally obsessed.

As a bonus, David’s videos are well made, feature plenty of drumming, and always fun. Perfect for the handy drummer, or someone looking for a drum project on a budget.

And there’s my list of my favorite drumming YouTube channels. Which channels do you like to watch? Did I miss anything? Let me know down below!

All musicians need material to practice with. For drummers, one of the best sources of practice material are drum method books. These method books contain exercises, patterns, and strings of notes aimed at improving drumming ability.

However, there are thousands of drum books to choose from. With more coming every year, how does a drummer know which ones to pick?

Books that Stand the Test of Time

Written in 1876 by Mark Twain, the novel Tom Sawyer is considered a classic novel. As far as classic novels go, that’s not very old, however people still read it today. At over 140 years old, Tom Sawyer has stood the test of time.

Modern drumset playing is a slightly younger than Tom Sawyer, but nonetheless has its share of classic books. Any professional drummer will tell you that they have spent some time in the pages of a few common ones. Below are the drum method books that I personally believe should be a staple for every drummer:

Syncopation – Ted Reed

An obvious first choice for drum method books is Progressive Steps to Syncopation by Ted Reed. I would assume that many drummers would also put this at the top of their list. Syncopation is one of the most versatile and simple drum books available.

This is my desert island book.

At first glance, Syncopation appears to be a simple snare drum reading book. It begins with beginner level reading and progresses its way to more advanced rhythms, syncopation, and accents. Overall, the beauty of Syncopation is its simplicity.

As one of the very first drum books I owned, I have applied this book to nearly every style, and I still use it today. A hallmark of a classic method book is its versatility for multiple styles and use cases. For myself, the heart and soul of Syncopation are the 8th note reading examples found in the middle. What really shines is how musical these rhythms sound. It’s almost as if they were composed with each page having a life of its own.

Modern Reading Text in 4/4 – Louie Bellson and Gil Breines

If you’re a fan of Syncopation, I would suggest that you check out Modern Reading Text in 4/4. It’s like Syncopation but on steroids.

Overall, this book is very similar to Syncopation, however the reading difficulty is increased. I would describe the rhythms in the book as less musical, but a real test for your reading skill. This book also features an expanded 16th note reading section that goes very in depth.

Modern Reading Text features plenty of rests, ties, and strange reading situations that will make you look twice. As much as I love Syncopation, I think an intermediate drummer would get more value out of Modern Reading Text in 4/4 as it provides more of a challenge.

As a bonus for those interested in exploring odd times, Louie Bellson and Gil Breines also wrote a follow-up book titled Odd Time Reading Text, which is worth checking out.

The New Breed – Gary Chester

If you haven’t gathered by now, I consider rhythm reading to be an essential practice tool. The ability to read rhythms is so important due to its versatility and how it helps develop coordination and independence.

Learn to read music and you’ll have practice material for life.

When it comes to reading 16th notes, The New Breed by Gary Chester is unparalleled. The reading found inside the previous two books tend to lean towards the swing and jazz style, while The New Breed contains material that can help increase your rock and funk skills.

The New Breed covers every 16th note reading pattern you’ll ever come across in a progressive manner. Personally, I often use it to develop my bass drum skill and accuracy. Inside the book, Chester lays out a massive list of different patterns that can be applied over top of the rhythms inside the book. Used properly, The New Breed is a drummer’s best friend.

Stick Control – George Lawrence Stone

Probably considered the most popular choice for drummers, Stick Control For the Snare Drummer by George Lawrence Stone is another classic. In my opinion, the reason for the book’s success lies in its first three pages. It’s here that you’ll explore one of the most essential tools for drummers: stickings.

This drum method book is a fairly simple collection of lefts, rights, rolls and flams in various patterns and rhythms. As with all of the books mentioned so far, drummers will need to be creative in how they use what’s contained in the book. However, the applications are limitless, and getting control of stickings is important.

While Stick Control is not directly related to rudimental drumming, those interested in developing their snare chops will certainly want to explore the book as well.

Master Studies – Joe Morello

Stick Control is a must have, but for those looking to take snare concepts to the next level, Master Studies by Joe Morello is the way to go. Joe Morello was considered to be one of the world’s top drum educators and was highly sought after for his snare technique. Morello studied under George Lawrence Stone and the material found in Master Studies is a continuation on what can be found inside Stick Control.

For drummers who are on the search for beastly snare drum chops, all the material you’ll ever need is found inside Master Studies. It contains plenty of similar material to Stick Control, but fills in a lot of the guesswork for how to apply it. There is also an expanded accent section, which I consider to be another essential technique for drummers. If you’re on the search for some good warmups, Master Studies also provides some great options. Those who have tried the Stone Killer will know.

Future Sounds – David Garibaldi

If you want to develop your funk and ghost note chops, look no further than Future Sounds. Written by the master of groove himself, David Garibaldi, Future Sounds features a ton of ways to develop a groove and pocket so deep it could sink a ship.

Much of the material found in Future Sounds is a collection of drum grooves that can be used to develop dynamic control and coordination. A lot of the grooves are linear in nature and are a continuation upon what is found in Stick Control and Master Studies, however the information is laid out in a more familiar format as it’s now played on the drums themselves.

Through variations on stickings, accents, and coordination, the material found in Future Sounds will turn any drummer into a funk machine. As a bonus, it’s also a very fun and challenging book to play through.

The Art Of Bop Drumming – John Riley

The heart and soul of jazz drumming can be found inside the pages of Syncopation, however it requires a bit of guidance to apply correctly. Some drummers may wish for a more direct approach to jazz studies. This is where John Riley’s The Art of Bop Drumming comes in.

Solely written for those drummers moving to the world of jazz and bebop, The Art of Bop Drumming is a great collection of exercises and techniques found in the style. As we all know, jazz drumming isn’t easy, but this book can help ease you into it.

The Author, John Riley, is one of the world’s top educators and an absolute monster drummer on his own. Riley’s take on the subject is considered by many to be the essential tool for understanding the complex world of jazz drumming.

With plenty of recorded examples as well as play-alongs, The Art of Bop covers everything from coordination, to chart reading and small group playing. I personally used this book quite a bit when I was first trying to understand jazz playing and I can attest to how helpful the pages inside can be.

For those looking for even more jazz material, John Riley has a follow-up book titled Beyond Bop Drumming.

The Jazz Drummer’s Reading Workbook – Tom Morgan

Many drummers may not have heard of this book, but The Jazz Drummer’s Reading Workbook by Tom Morgan is by far the best big band drumming method book I have ever used. As a bonus, if you use the included play along tracks, it’s also the most fun book to play through.

The Jazz Drummer’s Reading Workbook is a collection of various big band charts and reading examples. Going through the book is an excellent way to work on setups and chart reading as it lays everything down in a simple to understand progression. All of the material found in the book is backed up with drum-less tracks that can be played along with. if you can’t think of any ideas, the same examples can be heard with drums played by Tom Morgan himself.

I was first introduced to this book when I attended the University of North Texas. I was fairly new to big band and didn’t understand how to approach chart reading and setups. This book was an extremely helpful resource and was an integral part of me landing the gig with the One O’Clock Lab Band.

14 Modern Concert Solos: For Snare Drum – John S. Pratt

This choice might be slightly controversial, but 14 modern Concert Solos: For Snare Drum by John S. Pratt is one of the best books for rudimental development that I have ever used. The book features 14 snare solos that are sure to test your snare technique.

14 Modern Concert Solos is slightly more advanced and should only be used by drummer’s that have a good grasp over the PAS 40 rudiments as well as some decent reading chops. Each solo varies in difficulty level, but all of them are a challenge to bring up to the requested speed.

In my opinion, grabbing a snare drum solo book is a fantastic way to develop your hand technique. All of the rudiments will be covered, and it has the added bonus of providing you with a clear beginning and end to your practice. Practicing material from other method books can sometimes seem endless, but a snare solo has an actual ending. You can always play the snare solo better, but having a clear beginning and end gives a feeling of completion. Sometimes this can relieve some of the mental stress associated with practice.

More solos can be found inside Charley Wilcoxin’s The All American Drummer, among many others.

Basic Drumming – Joel Rothman

My last choice of essential books for drummers is Basic Drumming by Joel Rothman, or the “big pink book” as many young students call it. This book is a massive collection of so many concepts that it’s pretty incredible what Joel was able to fit inside.

Basic Drumming covers an impressive amount of topics from reading, to stickings, rudiments, independence, and basic grooves and patterns.

This book might not be as useful for those at an intermediate to advanced level, but it is an excellent tool for teaching young students. All of the concepts discussed can be covered in greater detail through all of the books previously mentioned, however Basic Drumming has the advantage of having everything in one place, which is why I have included it in this list.

If you are a drumming instructor, Basic Drumming is an excellent source of teaching material that can prep your students for later success. It is also a great starting point for those looking to begin playing drums.

Honorable Mention

With so many great drum book options available, it was tough to pick only 10 favorites. In the end, I decided to go with the books that had the biggest impact on me and my drumming development. By no means are these the 10 absolute best books for every scenario though.

Below is a list of books that I have used that are also incredible resources:

Advanced Funk Studies – Rick Latham

An excellent collection of funk grooves that includes many linear examples.

Afro-Cuban Rhythms for Drumset – Frank Malabe and Bob Weiner

World music is a massive topic to cover. No single book will be able to handle every style perfectly. However, Afro-Cuban Rhythms is an excellent resource that covers a lot of world styles and topics in great detail. If you’re exploring Afro-Cuban drumming and music, this is an excellent starting point.

4-Way Coordination – Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot Fine

Drummers know how difficult coordination and independence can be. However, proper coordination is extremely important for progress. 4-Way Coordination is most certainly a classic book, and is an excellent way to get all four of your limbs moving independently from each other.

Four Volume Patterns Series – Gary Chaffee

The Patterns Series by Gary Chaffee is actually four separate books:

1. Rhythm and Meter Patterns
2. Sticking Patterns
3. Time Functioning Patterns
4. Technique Patterns

Each book in the series is a journey through an advanced understanding of time, meter, and coordination with all methods developed by Gary Chaffee himself. The pages of these books have helped out countless drummers and appears to be the source of power for a lot of today’s chop masters.

Realistic Rock – Carmine Appice

I’ve actually never used this book, but I figured I’d probably get punched in the face if I didn’t give it a shout out. Much like Basic Drumming, Realistic Rock appears to be an excellent jumping off point for those beginner drummers as its rock-centered focus helps build essential fundamentals. There is also some double bass action in it.

And that’s my list. What are your favorite drum method books? Did I leave something out? Let me know below!