Drums... I could never have guessed that I’d give and receive so much enjoyment from this primal instrument. But here I am: drums are my life.

My parents didn’t have some grand plan that I should be a drummer. I was the one who requested a drum-set at fifteen, after watching a fellow student air drumming to a song in the high-school choir rehearsal. The theatrics and physicality of playing this instrument drew me in right away—and they still do.

Playing hundreds of shows throughout high-school and taking private lessons from many different instructors really helped give me a broad perspective on various ways to learn and approach the drums. I learned even more after graduation by touring through the United States, Germany, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Canada. Now, with more than twenty years of drumming experience under my belt, I recognize countless benefits of drumming. The reasons I continue to practice and strive to improve have clarified over the years. But one suggestion I have for you before you delve into this book is to take some time to think about why you want to play drums.

For me, it’s because I love making music and connecting with people. There are many ways to achieve that, but drums come the most naturally to me. For you, there could be many other reasons...

1. YOU WILL BE HEALTHIER! This is a hugely underrated aspect of playing the drums. You might occasionally see out of shape drummers, but more often than not someone playing drums often is doing a good job of keeping their cardio up. Studies have shown that rock drummers burn between 400-600 calories in an hour-long show

2. YOU WILL MAKE MORE FRIENDS! I work with musicians who play various instruments and I have to say, the drumming community is extra special. Drummers are normally at the back of the stage holding the entire band together: they are the foundation of the music. So when they get together as a community, they love to finally talk with people who share their appreciation for this amazing instrument. It’s hard to meet a drummer without becoming instant best buds!

3. YOU WILL FEEL LESS STRESSED! Growing up, I had three brothers and a sister. You can imagine that ours wasn’t a quiet household or one with much privacy. My older brother Joe loved to pester me, as I had a raging temper. He’d continue to push my buttons until everything in my path started flying across the room. But after finding the drums, I channeled much of that pent up energy and stress towards this forgiving instrument. It was such a huge stress reliever. I’m sure my parents loved it, since there weren’t so many holes in the walls after I started taking my anger out on the drums instead of the house!

4. YOU WILL GAIN A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR MUSIC! Learning something new is always exciting, but one thing to remember is this: The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know. That is especially true with drumming and music. The more you know about music, the more you discover new things that you never heard before. To me, this is exciting because it offers endless scope for appreciation—even awe. To me, music is a perfect blend of science and art, so I become completely drawn in by the complexity and simplicity of how it all comes together.

5. YOU WILL BE SMARTER! Last but not least of these Top Five reasons to pick up your drumsticks is that you’ll get smarter. That’s not just something I’m making up: it’s a fact*. According to research, drummers have a rare ability to problem-solve and change those around them. Rock steady drummers can actually be smarter than their less rhythmically-focused bandmates! It could be you...

* Jordan Taylor Sloan, “Science Shows How Drummers’ Brains Are Actually Different from Everybody Else’s.” Mic Network. May 14, 2014.

These are just five of the many reasons that you’ve made a great decision to start playing drums. As you begin to study and practice you’ll discover your own, as well as many of the hidden benefits I’ve seen and experienced over the past two decades.

This book is your first step in learning the drums, and it offers a flexible foundation for building up your skills. Remember, when learning something new, everyone is different. What’s easy for one can be difficult for another. You’re not in competition with anyone but yourself. So take it easy on yourself: focus on learning just one new thing every time you sit down to practice. If you do that, then you’ll get better every day.

I like to compare getting better at drums to watching grass grow (I know, I know, sounds boring, but hear me out). If you sit there and stare at the grass trying to “watch” it grow you won’t see anything. But if you water the grass, fertilize it, and then come back a few days later, you’ll notice it has grown a lot.

Drumming is similar. You need to practice (develop skills) and study (gain knowledge). Instead of just sitting there waiting impatiently to become a rock star, do the work and enjoy the process of learning. You will become a better drummer.

Now—it’s time to start drumming.

To your drumming success,
Jared Falk Drumeo Founder