Rockschool Drums Method for Beginners
with RSL Awards
- Sample Lesson Free
- Getting Started with Drumming
- Welcome to the Course
- Drum Kit Quick Guide
- Sitting at the Kit
- Stick Technique
- Pedal Technique
- Using a Metronome
- Reading Drum Notation
- Snare Drum Basics: Rock Style
- Rock Drumming Introduction
- Example 1 - Single Strokes
- Example 2 - Double Strokes
- Example 3 - Paradiddles
- Bonus - Combining Singles, Doubles, and Paradiddles
- Rock Lesson 2 - Adding Rests
- Example 1 - Rest on Beat 4
- Example 2 - Rest on Beat 2
- Example 3 - Moving Rests
- Example 4 - Piston Bars 12-16
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Rock Section Summary
- Hi-Hat Techniques: Pop Rhythms
- Pop - Adding the Hi-Hat
- Example 1 - Quarter Notes on Hi-Hat
- Example 2 - Resting on Beat 1
- Example 3 - Two Consecutive Quarter Note Rests
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Pop Lesson 2 Example 1 - Combining the Hi-Hat & Snare
- Example 2 - Moving Quickly Between Drum Voices
- Example 3 - Two Drum Voices in One Bar
- Example 4 - Take It to the Top Bars 1-4
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Pop Music Section Summary
- Bass Drum Skills: Country Beats
- Introduction to Country Music
- Skills Checkpoint
- Example 1 - Half-Note Rest
- Example 2 - Placing of the Half-Note Rest
- Example 3 - Bass Drum Phrases
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Country Lesson 2 - Combining Bass Drum, Snare, and Hi-Hat
- Example 1 - Combining the Bass Drum & Hi-Hat
- Example 2 - Adding the Half-Note Rest in Various Positions
- Example 3 - Moving Quickly Between Drum Voices
- Example 4 - Borderlands Bars 1-4
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Country Music Section Summary
- Your First Full Beat: Metal Groove
- Metal Introduction - Playing Two Drum Voices
- Example 1 - Focusing on Coordination
- Example 2 - Bass Drum Variations
- Example 3 - Coordinating the Hands
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Metal Lesson 1 Summary
- Metal Lesson 2 - Playing Your First Full Beat
- Example 1 - Basic Rock Beat Hi-Hat Pattern
- Example 2 - Adding the Back Beat
- Example 3 - Adding the Bass Drum
- Example 4 - Power Trip Bars 13-14
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Metal Section Summary
- Building Beats: Indie Style
- Indie - Introduction to the Style
- Example 1 - Resting on Beat Three
- Example 2 - More Variations
- Example 3 - Coordinating the Limbs
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Indie Lesson 1 Summary
- Indie Checkpoint - Mallets
- Indie Lesson 2 - Introducing 8th Note Bass Drum and Snare
- Example 1 - Eighth-Note Snare
- Example 2 - Eighth-Note Bass Drum
- Example 3 - Eighth Note Phrase
- Example 4 - 'Big Mouth' Bars 1-4
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Indie Section Summary
- Drum Fills: Hip-Hop Essentials
- Hip-Hop Introduction - Basic Beats and Fills
- Example 1 - Snare & Bass Drum Fill
- Example 2 - Snare & Hi-Hat Fill
- Example 3 - Fill Using Snare, Hi-Hat & Bass Drum
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Hip-Hop Lesson 1 Summary
- Hip Hop Lesson 2 - Introduction to Eighth Note Beats
- Example 1 - The Basic Eighth-Note Beat
- Example 2 - Snare Drum Variations
- Example 3 - Bass Drum Variations
- Example 4 - 'The Dogg' Bars 13-16
- Bonus Exercise 1
- Bonus Exercise 2
- Hip-Hop Section Summary
- Playing Complete Pieces
- Introduction to the Pieces
- Piston (Rock) - Walkthrough
- Piston (Rock) - Performance
- Take it to the Top (Pop) - Walkthrough
- Take it to the Top (Pop) - Performance
- Borderlands (Country) - Walkthrough
- Borderlands (Country) - Performance
- Power Trip - Walkthrough
- Power Trip (Metal) - Performance
- Big Mouth (Indie) - Walkthrough
- Big Mouth (Indie) - Performance
- The Dogg (Hip Hop) - Walkthrough
- The Dogg (Hip Hop) - Performance
- Overload (Rock) - Walkthrough
- Overload (Rock) - Performance
- Slam (Metal) - Walkthrough
- Slam (Metal) - Performance
- Under the Radar (Indie) - Walkthrough
- Under the Radar (Indie) - Performance
- Congratulations: Final Steps
- Congratulations on Finishing the Course
Lesson plan (3h 47m)
Discover the Rockschool Drums Method for Beginners—your ultimate guide to starting your drumming journey! This comprehensive course, taught by professional drummer Sophie Alloway, is designed to help you build solid foundations and grow into a confident drummer.
What you’ll learn:
- Master the basics: drum kit setup, stick grip, pedal technique, and timekeeping.
- Essential drumming skills: single strokes, double strokes, paradiddles, and more.
- Play and enjoy drumming across Rock, Pop, Metal, Country, Indie, and Hip-Hop styles.
- Learn to read drum notation and unlock a world of musical possibilities.
With interactive lessons, engaging exercises, and full backing tracks for every piece, this course ensures a hands-on learning experience. You’ll practice real-world grooves, explore creative fills, and develop your ability to play full songs in your favorite styles.
By the end of the course, you’ll confidently perform songs like "Piston" (Rock), "Take It to the Top" (Pop), and "The Dogg" (Hip-Hop). Sophie shares tips from her extensive experience performing worldwide, from Glastonbury to West End shows, to inspire and elevate your playing.
Are you ready to grab your sticks and start your drumming journey? Let’s rock! This is truly the perfect course for beginner drummers of all ages.