Joe The Drummer

This is a super useful video I made recently outlining the four most useful methods for learning to play patterns on drums: Playing really-really slowly Separating the limbs Chunking Incremental I use a bog standard Bossa Nova beat as an example in this video but anything you want to learn can benefit from understanding and using these methods. You can also combine methods depending on the circumstances. Try each one out and see what works best for you. Enjoy!

The Four Amazing Learning Methods You Can Use To Learn Any Groove - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online This is a super useful video I made recently outlining the four most useful methods for learning to play patterns on drums: I use a bog standard Bossa Nova beat as an example in this video but anything you want to learn can benefit from understanding and using these methods. You can also combine met...

Another video covering Chris Layton's playing. THis time it's Stevie Ray Vaughan's - Couldn't Stand The Weather. The groove is heavy and funky with a syncopated snare pattern and some tasty hihat 16ths. Here's a PDF with the exercises written out. Enjoy.

How To Play SRV's Couldn't Stand The Weather - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Another video covering Chris Layton’s playing. THis time it’s Stevie Ray Vaughan’s – Couldn’t Stand The Weather. The groove is heavy and funky with a syncopated snare pattern and some tasty hihat 16ths. Here’s a PDF with the exercises written out. Enjoy.

This is a drum chart I made for students who are studying towards a grade four exam. I am doing exams through MTB which is brilliant as they allow students to choose whatever they want to play as long as it meets the criteria of the grade being worked on. So I am building a collection of songs with my students that broaden the possibilities....

Hard To Handle by The Black Crowes - Drum Sheet Music - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online This is a drum chart I made for students who are studying towards a grade four exam. I am doing exams through MTB which is brilliant as they allow students to choose whatever they want to play as long as it meets the criteria of the grade being worked on. So I am building a… Read More »Hard To H...

Do you need a chart to play this? Fair enough, here's one I did. It's a fun song to do if you're looking for something with a little energy but not too complex. Begginer plus level, I'm guessing? Download the PDF

Start by The Jam - Full Drum Chart - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Do you need a chart to play this? Fair enough, here’s one I did. It’s a fun song to do if you’re looking for something with a little energy but not too complex. Begginer plus level, I’m guessing? Download the PDF

Half-term Band Workshop at Mill Hill Music Complex

Monday February 12th to Wednesday 14th.

Calling all young musicians - come join us during the half-term break for three days of music making fun topped off by a performance for family and friends.

Early bird discount if you book by January 29h

Meet fellow musicians.

Learn to play songs in a group.

Develop your musicianship and musicality.

For details please contact [email protected] directly or visit www.inthepocketmusicschool.com

Please share this information if you know anyone who might be interested in joining us

I recently did a chart for a student of mine who's learning Dakota by The Stereophonics. It's a great song, it's fun to play and a god one to know for covers gigs. Here's the chart for your delectation: Download the PDF here.

Dakota by The Stereophonics - Drum Sheet Music - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online I recently did a chart for a sturdent of mine who’s learning Dakota by The Stereophonics. It’s a great song, it’s fun to play and a god one to know for covers gigs. Here’s the chart for your delectation: Download the PDF here.

Here's my instructional video on how to play Chris Layton's energetic groove on Stevie Ray's Testify. It's a brilliant groove to learn and to play and gives us a chance to focus on doing the dynamic strokes (Full, Down, Tap and Up strokes) on the snare.

How To Play Testify By Stevie Ray Vaughan On Drums - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Here’s my instructional video on how to play Chris Layton’s energetic groove on Stevie Ray’s Testify. It’s a brilliant groove to learn and to play and gives us a chance to focus on doing the dynamic strokes (Full, Down, Tap and Up strokes) on the snare.

My latest YouTube video covers the topic of using paradiddles as grooves between the snare and bass so instead of playing R L R R L R L L you play B L B B L B L L and so on. It's a great way to develop your ghost notes including balancing the ghosted and accented notes in different ways....

Playing Paradiddles As Grooves - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online My latest YouTube video covers the topic of using paradiddles as grooves between the snare and bass so instead of playing R L R R L R L L you play B L B B L B L L and so on. It’s a great way to develop your ghost notes including balancing the ghosted… Read More »Playing Paradiddles As Grooves

Check out this wonderful clinic presented by Brazilian drummer Isac Jamba who has come to my attention via YouTube. He offers a really comprehensive introduction to the Brazilian samba drum kit vocabulary and style. Topics covered include fundamental rhythmic patterns, the standard foot ostinato, how to play really fast Samba without your hands falling off, how to apply rudiments, approaching stick grip and stroke (oh those 16ths look so relaxed OMG, 16ths ! It's slow hahaha), additional rhythms and on and on. There's a lifetime of stuff here. Highly reccomended.

Isac Jamba Teaches Samba - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Check out this wonderful clinic presented by Brazilian drummer Isac Jamba who has come to my attention via YouTube. He offers a really comprehensive introduction to the Brazilian samba drum kit vocabulary and style. Topics covered include fundamental rhythmic patterns, the standard foot ostinato, ho...

Here's a follow up to the recent video I made about the world famous Purdie Shuffle. In this one I cover playing a ghost note after the backbeat accented snare note and the ope hihat options. Enjoy.

More On The Purdie Shuffle - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Here’s a follow up to the recent video I made about the world famous Purdie Shuffle. In this one I cover playing a ghost note after the backbeat accented snare note and the ope hihat options. Enjoy.

Here's my take on how to play the famous Purdie Shuffle as played by Bernard Purdie himself on Home at Last and Babylon Sisters by Steely Dan and by Jeff Porcaro on Toto's Rosanna. This is an introductory video made in response to a request by a YouTube viewer. I cover how to develop the hand pattern with the hihat shuffle and the snare ghost notes, adding the backbeat and then some bass drum variations.

How To Play a Purdie Shuffle - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Here’s my take on how to play the famous Purdie Shuffle as played by Bernard Purdie himself on Home at Last and Babylon Sisters by Steely Dan and by Jeff Porcaro on Toto’s Rosanna. This is an introductory video made in response to a request by a YouTube viewer. I cover how to develop the… Rea...

Here's an introduction to how we can use paradiddles in a groove context and make patterns with which we can practice and improve our ghost note playing. I demonstrate how to make grooves with the single Paradiddle and its three permutations and use those patterns between the hihat or ride and the snare to create busy grooves with soft and loud notes played on the snare.

Improving Your Ghost Notes With The Paradiddle - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Here’s an introduction to how we can use paradiddles in a groove context and make patterns with which we can practice and improve our ghost note playing. I demonstrate how to make grooves with the single Paradiddle and its three permutations and use those patterns between the hihat or ride and the...

After getting my 20" Zildjian ride lathed and improved by Dave Collingwood, I was delighted he agreed to have a conversation with me where I asked him about his journey as a cymbal maker, being self-taught, the desire to share knowledge for the benefit of others and the challenges of learning and teaching in general. I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot. I hope you do too.

Conversation With Cymbal Maker Dave Collingwood - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online After getting my 20″ Zildjian ride lathed and improved by Dave Collingwood, I was delighted he agreed to have a conversation with me where I asked him about his journey as a cymbal maker, being self-taught, the desire to share knowledge for the benefit of others and the challenges of learning and ...

I had my clunky 20" Zildjian Ride modified by UK cymbalsmith Dave Collingwood who lathed a bunch of metal off it. In this video I explain the process and demonstrate the differences between the original and modified versions of the cymbal.

20" Zildjian Ride Modification Result - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online I had my clunky 20″ Zildjian Ride modified by UK cymbalsmith Dave Collingwood who lathed a bunch of metal off it. In this video I explain the process and demonstrate the differences between the original and modified versions of the cymbal.

I was very glad to have the opportunity to speak with drummer Michael Oloyede from Lagos in Nigeria who's written a brilliant book on Afrobeat. The book covers technical exercises to help develop the coordination you need for Afrobeat drumming and specific groove patterns based on a wide variety of Afrobeat tracks. The book includes loads of audio examples of the patterns to help you learn them....

Conversation With Afrobeat Drummer Michael Oloyede - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online I was very glad to have the opportunity to speak with drummer Michael Oloyede from Lagos in Nigeria who’s written a brilliant book on Afrobeat. The book covers technical exercises to help develop the coordination you need for Afrobeat drumming and specific groove patterns based on a wide variety o...

Here's an addendum to the recent video about offbeat 8th note grooves. Let's add some 16ths on the snare and bass. Once you've got the hang of all that, try combining snare and bass 16ths. You can have hours of fun with this. The objective is to internalise these patterns and then learn to mix them up. Don't forget you can vary the snare and bass 8ths too as demonstrated in the…...

Offbeat 8th Note Groove Snare & Bass 16ths - Joe The Drummer - Drum Lessons North-West London and Online Here’s an addendum to the recent video about offbeat 8th note grooves. Let’s add some 16ths on the snare and bass. Once you’ve got the hang of all that, try combining snare and bass 16ths. You can have hours of fun with this. The objective is to internalise these patterns and then learn to mix...