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The "Bridge" from Lesson to Ensemble: Start them off right.

Starting a percussion ensemble is exciting, but the biggest challenge is alignment. How do you make sure the technique or rhythms they learn in their snare drum lesson actually prepares them for the first ensemble rehearsal?

Free Sample Lessons: Snare Drum Basics Method

I’ve developed a system where the method and the ensemble pieces speak the same language. As a thank you for your feedback, I’m giving you a special 'Starter System Sample Pack':

Selected pages from my Beginner Snare Drum Method Volume 1 & 2
A couple of complete battery ensemble pieces that scales in difficulty alongside the lessons.
The secret to 'Method-based Ensemble' playing—so your students feel confident from the very first downbeat.

Download The Starter System Sample Packs

Let customers speak for us

from 14 reviews

A well-thought-out and cleverly structured collection of grooves and fills!

In the first chapter 'Basics', you test if you're ready for the rest. What follows is a well-thought-out and cleverly structured collection of grooves and fills. You learn not only to play many different grooves but also to color them in various ways with hi-hat and cymbal patterns. The target audience Martijn aims for - the intermediate drummer - can thus make significant progress with this.

Mark Eeftens [Dutch Drum Magazine Slagwerkkrant]

02/27/2025

Drummers Of The Future - Intermediate

This deserves your attention!

The best book for (somewhat and far) advanced players. This deserves your attention.

As a drum teacher, I've been looking for this for a long time, and it's more than I expected based on the free download. My students are also very enthusiastic. Perfect extensive challenging deepening based on tasty grooves. The exercises in rudiments are immediately applicable in practice, a breath of fresh air.

Bart van der Schalm

02/27/2025

Drummers Of The Future - Intermediate

A good work for a high school level group

Highly recommended. This is a good work for a high school level group with developing mallet players (esp. cross training for battery players). The music is interesting and cross curricular as it incorporates Turkish folk rhythms into a Western context.

Joe Perea

11/21/2024

The Peaks of Ararat

This Snare Drum Basics Starter Kit not only has super fun beats to play, but also features very eye-catchy music notation and images as well. Highly recommended for all newbies and folks getting back into drumming gear as well!

Armando

07/16/2024

Snare Drum Basics Starter Kit

Great Percussion Writing!

We recently programmed "Dvorak's Bossa" and it was a hit with the students as well as the audience! Dirkjan has taken a familiar melody and created a very playable arrangement that came together in a hurry with our ensemble. There are parts in this arrangement for students of different levels of playing ability (within the stated grade level) which was definitely a plus for my group. The additional technology resources were also very beneficial to the learning process. I'm looking forward to programming additional music from Dirkjan in the future.

Shawn Sandersfeld

05/21/2024

Dvorak's Bossa

Every 8th note and 16th note combination that I want my students to know.

Dirkjan's new guides are well done and I appreciate the fact that they are "quick". In a matter of minutes, students can work on their technique and sight-reading by playing through these simple exercises. If they have time, they can play along with the background tracks to make them a little more enjoyable than just playing along with a metronome. The Sight-Reading Skills present every 8th note and 16th note combination that I want my students to know. I appreciate that the stickings are written in to continue to reinforce best practices. Well Done!

Shawn Sandersfeld

05/18/2024

Quick Guide To Develop Essential Technical Skills.

Fun to practice to!

Digging the book. It's nice to practice to something more than a metronome when working on rudiments. Thanks!

Daria

06/21/2023

Practicing Rudiments & Technique is Fun!

Interesting

A fun new way to practice rudiments. I recommend it!

John Krantz

04/29/2023

Practicing Rudiments & Technique is Fun!

Your book is like a treasure chest!

I have been taking percussion lessons for about 5 years. So, my rudiments are still developing. Before discovering your book, I would practice paradiddles while listening to music ( like Vivaldi's Gloria or The Wellerman) and had almost figured out their mm settings. So, your book is like a treasure chest!

Jenny White

04/28/2023

Practicing Rudiments & Technique is Fun!

This was the book I ever wanted to write myself.

When I saw your book, I realized that this was the book I ever wanted to write myself. I am teaching for a couple of years know, but I always had to manage with the existing methods. There was always something; right left indications, counting, structure and always without play-along tracks. But in your book contains everything the way I like it! Thanks a lot for that. In the new season I'm going to use it for all new students.

Paul van der Heijden

08/31/2022

Snare Drum Basics Starter Kit

It's organized and structured well

It is organized and structured well and presents the beginning rudimental snare drummer with all the techniques required for developing into more advanced playing. The play-along CD contains high quality accompaniment tracks that are fun to listen to and play with. I highly recommend this book to teachers and students alike.

Jeff Moore

08/31/2022

Snare Drum Basics Starter Kit

Outstanding tool for the young percussionist!

Dirkjan has used his experience developing solid percussionists to create an outstanding tool for the young percussionist. The pace and sequence of the book is perfect for developing necessary reading skills and rudiment techniques and the play-along cd is a fun way for students to build a solid sense of time. Make sure you check out the book of Recital Pieces which give students an opportunity to perform the skills learned in the Method book in a fun and educational setting. I give Snare Drum Basics my highest endorsement!

Customer

08/31/2022

Snare Drum Basics Starter Kit