The Joy of Drumming: Drums & Percussion Instruments from Around the World

Rating:
Summary: DRUMS AND RHYTHM
Review: This book is a fine introduction to the world of drums and Rhythms.

Part one deals in general with drums and rhythms and how they affect us in many ways, part two is a small encyclopedia of drums and part three deals with other sounding instruments that are often used in rhythmic music, there is one mistake there though, on page 117 he describes a Bullroarer, but what he is descriping is a Whirlie, for a good description of a bullroarer see Mickey Harts book Planet Drum and you can hear a nice sample of how a Bullroarer sounds on the first track of Santanas Borboletta, played by Airto Moreira, for an example of how a Whirlie sound see the book and the CD Gravikords, Whirlies and Pyrophones by Bart Hopkins, and listen to the track by Sarah Hopkins, you can check both of these out on the sound samples on Amazon.

Of course this is a minor point but still I wanted to point it out.

In part four he deals with rhythm basics, the three, four and five beat pulse and gives some exercices for rhythmic independence, polyrhythms and the clave

Then in part five he gives examples of some rhythms mainly from Africa and Cuba and some tips on how to play the conga and the shekere.

As said this is a good introduction to the world of drumming and rhythms and if you go through this book you are well on your way to being , at least a decent drummer with some good knowledge of the basic principles of rhythm.

Also recomended are Rhythm book by Alan Dworsky, Peter Magadini, Sule Greg Vilson, Reinhart Flatischler and videos by Kalani, Paulo Mattioli, Alex Acuna and Airto Moreira.