Total Drummer Online Beginner Drum Lessons Course

Online Beginner Drum Lessons Course

Complete drum lessons for total beginner drummers

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What the students say

“You know when you get that 'ear worm', the one that keeps a piece of music constantly in your head all day...? Drumming is my own 'ear worm'....! That is all down to Matt Dean, and the total drummer site. Twelve months ago, I didn't know a 16th note phrase existed, and learning to play drums was something that other people did. Yet, here I am, almost a year on from the day I unpacked my e-drum kit, and sat at it for the first time and thought... 'ok, now what..?' I quite honestly have never looked back, and by my reckoning, it's the only thing that I've never given up on within 6 months of starting. I put the reason for that squarely at the door of Matt / total drummer. I will never get to 'performing gigs' level.... (I'm too old for starters..!), but I will get to be the best that I can be, and that's enough of a target for me. I've just completed level 2 on the TD basic drum course, but even so, I still regularly review levels that I have done, just to brush up on skills learnt. The point being that, I can do so, because there is no pressure to get to the end, and the teaching methods that Matt provides reinforces that thinking. There is tons of support and encouragement from him within the TD academy, and it's probably the best £20.00 I spend each month just to have such a vast array of knowledge at my fingertips, (and it's cheaper than therapy!!) I still have to put the graft in..... But even that is something that I look forward to. Keep up the good work.... Upwards and onwards to level 3, and the myriad of supplementary courses that I haven't yet discovered”

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“I don't know what to say, this course is amazing. ”

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Beginner Drum Lesson Course

This is the start of something very exciting. This takes you from the very first stage of your drumming journey. If you practice, stay motivated and catch the drumming bug then your life is about to change for the better.

This course takes you from total beginner and gets your basic techniques, theory knowledge, reading and drumming vocabulary started. It creates the foundations so that you can go on and become as good as you want to be.

Every two weeks you will get a lesson. The lessons make up 6 levels in year 1 and the final lesson of each level is a review which tests your how well you've progressed over the last few weeks. That makes YOU accountable and keeps driving you forward to achieve the goals.

What's in each lesson?

Every lesson tackles all of the key aspects that make a great drummer. This includes:

Sight reading
Theory
Rudiments
Timing
Techniques
Playing with music
Independence

Every lesson also helps you set your own goals, introduces you to a new famous drummer, gives you motivational tips, and includes a backing track to play along with.

How good will I be?

If you work through the whole one year course and maintain a dedicated practice regime then you will achieve a great deal in one year. By a dedicated practice regime, I mean three or four practice sessions a week of about half an hour each. If you can do more then that's great but it's better to set achievable, realistic goals so four sessions of 30 mins would be ideal. Anyone that seriously wants to learn an instrument needs to be prepared to put the effort in so if that sounds too much for you then music isn't for you. It sounds harsh but there is a reason so may people are NOT great musicians and that is that they didn't put the time in.

This course is designed with carefully thought out and tested steps to make it almost a guaranteed success. If you put the time in then you ill become a great drummer. You also get regular encouragement and reviews so you can measure your progress and assess whether you need to up your game or not. You also get certificates and awards to give you a pat on the back when you achieve certain goals. Mastering an instrument is a tough journey so we all need that help and encouragement to keep us on the track. The rewards are huge so let's start the journey together.

After year one you will:

Be able to play famous pop, rock, funk (and other styles) songs
Have a good command of the essential rudiments
Know how to read music to around Grade 3 level
Be comfortable playing with a metronome
Be able to write your own drum parts
Be able to read a whole song on the drums
Be good enough to join a band

From there you can continue on with Total Drummer, take one of our mini courses, work through our single lessons, or take yourself off and continue somewhere else having developed a great foundation.

How do I do it?

To get to the level explained above you need to do two things:

Sign up to this course and start right away
Make a promise to yourself to put in the required effort for a year and make sure you keep that promise!

You can get the first month for FREE (two whole lessons), after that if you want to carry on it unlocks the rest of the learning content for the year.

So let's get started

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Course curriculum

1. Lesson 3 Level 1 Introduction
2. Lesson 3 Level 1 Material List
3. Lesson 3 Level 1 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 3 Level 1 Sixteen Beats
5. Lesson 3 Level 1 Independence
6. Lesson 3 Level 1 Sightreading
7. Lesson 3 Level 1 Sight reading
8. Lesson 3 Level 1 Flams in Fills
9. Lesson 3 Level 1 Timing
10. Lesson 3 Level 1 1 bar challenge
11. Lesson 3 Level 1 Play Along
12. Lesson 3 Level 1 Playalong
13. Lesson 3 Level 1 Style Focus
1. Lesson 4 Level 1 Intro Lesson
2. Lesson 4 Level 1 Material List
3. Lesson 4 Level 1 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 4 Level 1 Quarter note beats
5. Lesson 4 Level 1 Paradiddle Beat
6. Lesson 4 Level 1 Rudiments
7. Lesson 4 Level 1 Timing
8. Lesson 4 Level 1 2 bar challenge
9. Lesson 4 Level 1 Independence
10. Lesson 4 Level 1 Sightreading
11. Lesson 4 level 1 Sight Reading
12. Lesson 4 Level 1 Playalong
13. Lesson 4 level 1 Play Along
14. Lesson 4 Level 1 Style Focus
1. Review Level 1 Introduction
2. Review Level 1 How it works and questions
3. Review Level 1 Material List
4. Review Level 1 Playlong Introduction
5. Level 1 Review Playalong Demonstration
6. Review Level 1 Playalong
7. Level 1 Review Independence Demonstration
8. Level 1 Review Sight Reading
9. Level 1 Review Sight Reading
10. Level 1 Review Rudiment Demonstration
11. Level 1 Review Bonus fill
12. Review Level 1 Answers
13. Review Level 1 Score Sheets
1. Lesson 1 Level 2 Introduction
2. Lesson 1 Level 2 Weekly targets
3. Lesson 1 Level 2 Material list
4. Lesson 1 Level 2 Half Time Grooves
5. Lesson 1 Level 2 Buzz Roll
6. Lesson 1 Level 2 - Independence Exercises
7. Lesson 1 Level 2 Independence
8. Lesson 1 Level 2 Timing Exercise
9. Lesson 1 Level 2 Rudiments
10. Lesson 1 Level 2 Sightreading
11. Lesson 1 Level 2 Sight Reading
12. Lesson 1 Level 2 Playalong
13. Lesson 1 Level 2 Playalong
14. Lesson 1 level 2 Style Focus
1. Lesson 2 Level 2 Introduction
2. Lesson 2 level 2 Material list
3. Lesson 2 Level 2 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 2 Level 2 Open Hihat Technique
5. Lesson 2 Level 2 Open Hihat Variations
6. Lesson 2 Level 2 Cross Stick Technique
7. Lesson 2 Level 2 Rudiments
8. Lesson 2 Level 2 Timing
9. Lesson 2 Level 2 Independence
10. Lesson 2 Level 2 Sightreading
11. Lesson 2 Level 2 Sightreading
12. Level 2 Lesson Playalong
13. Lesson 2 Level 2 Playalong
14. Lesson 2 level 2 Style Focus
1. Lesson 3 Level 2 Introduction
2. Lesson 3 Level 2 Material list
3. Lesson 3 Level 2 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 3 Level 2 Linear
5. Lesson 3 Level 2 Rimshot
6. Lesson 3 Level 2 Rudiments
7. Lesson 3 Level 2 Timing
8. Lesson 3 Level 2 Teaser
9. Lesson 3 Level 2 Sightreading
10. Lesson 3 Level 2 Sightreading
11. Lesson 3 Level 2 Playalong
12. Lesson 3 Level 2 Playalong
13. Lesson 3 level 2 Style Focus
1. Lesson 4 Level 2 Introduction
2. Lesson 4 Level 2 Material list
3. Lesson 4 Level 2 Manuscript Paper
4. Lesson 4 Level 2 Weekly targets
5. Lesson 4 Level 2 Buzz in 8 Beats
6. Lesson 4 Level 2 Dynamic Fills
7. Lesson 4 Level 2 Rudiments
8. Lesson 4 Level 2 Teaser
9. Lesson 4 Level 2 Timing Exercise
10. Lesson 4 Level 2 Timing Exercise
11. Lesson 4 Level 2 Sight Reading
12. Lesson 4 Level 2 Sight Reading
13. Lesson 4 Level 2 Style Focus
14. Lesson 4 Level 2 Playalong with 8 beat gap
15. Lesson 4 Level 2 Playalong
1. Review Level 2 How it works and questions
2. Review Level 2 Material List
3. Level 2 Review - Playalong Demonstration
4. Review Level 2 Playalong
5. Level 2 Independence Demo
6. Level 2 Review - Rudiment Piece Demonstration
7. Level 2 Review Bonus Fill
8. Review Level 2 Answers
9. Review Level 2 Score Sheets
1. Lesson 1 Level 3 Intro
2. Lesson 1 Level 3 Material list
3. Lesson 1 Level 3 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 1 Level 3 Flam Rudiments
5. Lesson 1 Level 3 Flams In Fills
6. Lesson 1 Level 3 Paradiddle Beat
7. Lesson 1 Level 3 - Teaser
8. Lesson 1 Level 3 - Timing
9. Lesson 1 Level 3 - Time Signatures
10. Lesson 1 Level 3 Sight Reading
11. Lesson 1 Level 3 Sightreading
12. Lesson 1 Level 3 Style Focus
13. Lesson 1 Level 3 Playalong Demonstration
14. Lesson 1 Level 3 Playalong
1. Lesson 2 Level 3 Intro
2. Lesson 2 Level 3 Material list
3. Lesson 2 Level 3 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 2 Level 3 Drag Rudiment
5. Lesson 2 Level 3 Funk Beats
6. Lesson 2 Level 3 Slide Technique
7. Lesson 2 Level 3 Timing
8. Lesson 2 Level 3 Sight Reading
9. Lesson 2 Level 3 Style Focus
10. Lesson 2 Level 3 Playalong
11. Lesson 2 Level 3 Teaser
1. Lesson 3 Level 3 Intro
2. Lesson 3 Level 3 Material List
3. Lesson 3 Level 3 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 3 Level 3 Double Drag Rudiment
5. Lesson 3 Level 3 Funk Snare Beats
6. Lesson 3 Level 3 Double Paradiddle Groove
7. Lesson 3 Level 3 Teaser
8. Lesson 3 Level 3 Timing
9. Lesson 3 Level 3 Sight Reading
10. Lesson 3 Level 3 Style Focus
11. Lesson 3 Level 3 Playalong
12. Lesson 3 Level 3 Cold Sweat
1. Lesson 4 Level 3 Intro
2. Lesson 4 Level 3 Material List
3. Lesson 4 Level 3 Weekly Targets
4. Lesson 4 Level 3 Rudiments
5. Lesson 4 Level 3 Six Eight Beats
6. Lesson 4 Level 3 Sextuplet Fills
7. Lesson 4 Level 3 Teaser
8. Lesson 4 Level 3 Timing
9. Lesson 4 Level 3 Sightreading
10. Lesson 4 Level 3 Style Focus
11. Lesson 4 Level 3 Playalong
1. Review Level 3 How it works and questions
2. Review Level 3 Material List
3. Review level 3 Playalong Instruction
4. Review Level 3 Playalong Demo
5. Review Level 3 Independence Exercise
6. Review Level 3 Rudiment Piece
7. Review Level 3 Bonus Fill
8. Review Level 3 Answers
9. Review Level 3 Score Sheets
1. Lesson 1 Level 4 Introduction
2. Lesson 1 Level 4 Material list
3. Lesson 1 Level 4 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 1 Level 4 Rudiments (Inverted Double Stroke Groove)
5. Lesson 1 Level 4 Bass Drum In Fills
6. Lesson 1 Level 4 Teaser
7. Lesson 1 Level 4 Timing
8. Lesson 1 Level 4 Sightreading
9. Lesson 1 Level 4 How To Read Charts
10. Lesson 1 Level 4 Playalong
11. Lesson 1 Level 4 Style Focus
1. Lesson 2 Level 4 Intro
2. Lesson 2 Level 4 Material List
3. Lesson 2 Level 4 Weekly Targets
4. Lesson 2 Level 4 Rudiments
5. Lesson 2 Level 4 Crashes In Fills
6. Lesson 2 Level 4 Shuffle
7. Lesson 2 Level 4 Teaser
8. Lesson 2 Level 4 Timing
9. Lesson 2 Level 4 Sightreading
10. Lesson 2 Level 4 Playalong
11. Lesson 2 Level 4 Style Focus
1. Lesson 3 Level 4 Intro
2. Lesson 3 Level 4 Material List
3. Lesson 3 Level 4 Weekly Targets
4. Lesson 3 Level 4 Rudiments
5. Lesson 3 Level 4 Shuffle Fills
6. Lesson 3 Level 4 Dotted 8th Fills
7. Lesson 3 Level 4 Teaser
8. Lesson 3 Level 4 Timing
9. Lesson 3 Level 4 Sightreading
10. Lesson 3 Level 4 Playalong
11. Lesson 3 Level 4 Style Focus
1. Lesson 4 Level 4 Intro
2. Lesson 4 Level 4 Material list
3. Lesson 4 Level 4 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 4 Level 4 Rudiments
5. Lesson 4 Level 4 Shuffles with Hi-hat Pedal
6. Lesson 4 Level 4 Shuffle Fills with Hi-hat Pedal
7. Lesson 4 Level 4 Timing
8. Lesson 4 Level 4 Teaser
9. Lesson 4 Level 4 Playalong
10. Lesson 4 Level 4 Sight Reading
11. Lesson 4 Level 4 Style Focus
1. Review Level 4 How it works and questions
2. Review Level 4 Material List
3. Review Level 4 Playalong Demo
4. Review Level 4 Independence Demo
5. Review Level 4 Rudiment Piece Demo
6. Review Level 4 Bonus Fill
7. Review Level 4 Score Sheets
1. Lesson 1 Level 5 - Intro
2. Lesson 1 Level 5 Material list
3. Lesson 1 Level 5 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 1 Level 5 - Rudiments
5. Lesson 1 Level 5 - HiHat Tones
6. Lesson 1 Level 5 - Timing
7. Lesson 1 Level 5 - Teaser
8. Lesson 1 Level 5 Sight Reading
9. Lesson 1 Level 5 - Blues Chart with stabs
10. Lesson 1 Level 5 - Playalong
11. Lesson 1 Level 5 Style Focus
1. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Intro
2. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Material list
3. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Weekly targets
4. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Rudiments
5. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Ride cymbal tones
6. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Brush Technique
7. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Timing
8. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Teaser
9. Lesson 2 Level 5 Sight Reading
10. Lesson 2 Level 5 - Playalong
11. Lesson 2 Level 5 Style Focus
1. Intro
2. Lesson 3 Level 5 Material list
3. Lesson 3 Level 5 Weekly targets
4. Lesson 3 level 5 Rudiments
5. Lesson 3 level 5 Snare Tones
6. Hi-Hat Pedalling
7. Lesson 3 level 5 Timing
8. Lesson 3 level 5 Teaser
9. Lesson 3 Level 5 Sight Reading
10. Lesson 3 level 5 Playalong - FULL video
11. Lesson 3 Level 5 Style Focus
1. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Intro
2. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Material list
3. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Weekly targets
4. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Rudiments
5. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Hi-hat Pedaling over fills
6. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Teen Spirit
7. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Timing
8. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Teaser
9. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Sight Reading
10. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Playalong
11. Lesson 4 Level 5 - Style Focus
1. Review Level 5 Material List
2. Review Level 5 How it works and questions
3. Review Level 5 Score Sheets
4. Review Level 5 - Independence
5. Review Level 5 - Rudiment
6. Review Level 5 - Bonus Fill
7. Review Level 5 - Playalong
8. Review Level 5 Answers
1. End of year challenge Level 6 Material list
2. Intro
3. Drum Solo
4. Drum Solo Perforamnce
5. Learn A Famous Song
6. Notate A Drum Part
7. Year 1 Complete!

About this course

$14.99 / month with 1 month free trial
302 lessons
23 hours of video content

For Free

Get started now

Martin Round

Themba Kabinde

Lex Legacy

What's in each lesson?

How good will I be?

How do I do it?

Lesson 1 Level 1

Lesson 2 Level 1

Lesson 3 Level 1

Lesson 4 Level 1

Review Level 1

Lesson 1 Level 2

Lesson 2 Level 2

Lesson 3 Level 2

Lesson 4 Level 2

Review Level 2

Lesson 1 Level 3

Lesson 2 Level 3

Lesson 3 Level 3

Lesson 4 Level 3

Review Level 3

Lesson 1 Level 4

Lesson 2 Level 4

Lesson 3 Level 4

Lesson 4 Level 4

Review Level 4

Lesson 1 Level 5

Lesson 2 Level 5

Lesson 3 Level 5

Lesson 4 Level 5

Review Level 5

Level 6 End Of Year Challenge

About this course