These are some of my essential picks for my snare drum curriculum, especially if you’re building your technique, developing your reading skills, and working on sound control.
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters is a classic - a must for any drummer’s library. The beginning exercise-based etudes are worth the price of admission alone. Use the “simplicity” of some of the early etudes to work on your sound, stroke, and rebound; bring this to your next lesson with your own developing students, and think creatively with the first several pages.
Buy on Amazon - https://amzn.to/46zUgUN
Advanced Snare Drum Studies - same guy (Mitchell Peters), harder music! These have become somewhat of a “standard” for Texas All-Region etudes, college audition pieces, and can be quite challenging for advanced snare drummers. If you’re a serious student of the snare drum, be sure to pick this up for the fall semester.
Buy on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3Yfn7ve
Developing Dexterity has slowly become my new favorite warm-up book. It has a wonderful combination of many technical concepts, including pages of sticking patterns to work on hand-to-hand evenness, roll exercises, diddles, flams, and more. In short, a one-stop-shop for all things snare drum technique and warmup.
Buy on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3WfNr5T
No matter your opinion on Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone (some people think it’s boring, though I don’t!), this book has some essential concepts that can be applied across MANY instruments (not just snare drum). While much of Stick Control’s content can be found in the Peters book mentioned above, I think every serious drummer needs this book on their shelf. I encourage all of my students to use the many sticking options creatively in their practice. More content on that in the future!
Buy on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3LDzqdl
The All-American Drummer by Charlie Wilcoxon is arguably the most valuable rudimental snare books you can have in your collection. Over 100 etudes, most of them are short and sweet and will help you build fantastic double strokes, as well as time, groove, and feel in a rudimental style. Apply them on the drum set for even more creative possibilities.
Buy on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4c02Htx
As an Amazon Affiliate, I may receive a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on my website