PLAY DRUMS TODAY LEVEL 1 BK/CD Format: Paperback

Play Drums Today - Level 1: A Complete Guide to the Basics is a drum instruction book with online audio that introduces essential drumming techniques through structured lessons, written instruction, music notation, instructional photos, and professionally recorded demonstrations. Designed for self-teaching as well as private or group instruction, it combines practical exercises with guided audio to support steady progress through each lesson.

This edition includes online access to 99 full-demo audio tracks with spoken instruction, available through the unique code inside the book. The audio features PLAYBACK+, allowing users to slow playback without changing pitch, create practice loops, adjust keys where applicable, and pan audio left or right for a more flexible and personalized learning experience.

The instructional content covers drum beats, fills, rhythm development, coordination, playing techniques, music notation, and a variety of musical styles. Following the written lessons alongside the accompanying audio helps reinforce timing, coordination, and rhythmic accuracy while making practice more engaging and interactive.

Song List
Lesson 1 - The Basics * Lesson 2 - The Ride Cymbal * Lesson 3 - The Snare Drum * Lesson 4 - The Bass Drum * Lesson 5 - The Hi-Hat * Lesson 6 - Independence and Coordination * Lesson 7 - Putting It All Together * Lesson 8 - The Crash Cymbal * Lesson 9 - More Rhythms * Lesson 10 - The Tom-Toms * Lesson 11 - Special Techniques * Lesson 12 - Triplets * Lesson 13 - More Beats and Fills * Lesson 14 - Basic Song Structures

Whether used for independent practice, private lessons, or group instruction, this guide brings together printed instruction and interactive online audio in a clear, organized format.

Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard LLC has become the worlds largest source of music performance and instructional materials, with a catalog of over a million products in both physical and digital form. They represent many of the greatest songwriters and artists of all time and publish and distribute works from all genres of music for all styles of musicians and ensembles.