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Downloads * Drummers Trivia * Drummers Chat Rooms * Rudiments * Digital Music * Knowledge Assessments * 400 ADDITIONAL linked Lessons * TD Archives * Drum Set Buyers Guide * Bass-Player Jokes * Assembling a Drum Set *
Parts of a Drum Set * About HSID * Video Troubleshooter

Bill Powelson's School of Drums

(Absolute Beginners thru Ultra Advanced)

FREE LESSON MENU #1

NEW! video drumset lessons available here.

You have found a priceless treasury of drumset lessons, drum set tips, percussion techniques and drumming tricks.
This website contains tons of free useful hints and secrets for drumset students of all levels, from the moderately curious air-drummer to the advanced professional percussive artist. What you see here is only a fraction of what you'll find in my 125-lesson, password site, and complete 'online' course in drumset techniques. Most of these drum set lessons now contain videos that will usually load in under 2-minutes, even with slow dial-up connections.

Aptitude Testing: (Drumset)

AIR-DRUMMERS * BEGINNERS
ALL 'CURIOUS' MUSIC LOVERS
. . . START HERE: THEN FOLLOW THE LINKS TO THESE BEGINNER DRUM SET LESSONS, CONTAINING .WMV VIDEO CLIPS.

THE LINK ABOVE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING FREE DRUM SET LESSONS. LEARN TO PLAY the most important beat in modern popular music. (includes video.)

  • No drumset, pads or drumsticks necessary to begin!
  • You will easily learn to read/write drum notation (charts and tabs) here, but more importantly, you will learn to PLAY drumset the NATURAL way, as well.
  • VERY SIMPLE instructions included . . . (tap lightly on your desk and pat your foot on the floor.)
  • You'll become totally amazed at what you will discover about yourself and your hidden talents, within the next five or ten minutes . . .

    • I can have you jamming with nearly any song on the radio, or your favorite CDs, in the blink of an eye. So, get started the right way, right here, right now, for free. (Includes video.)

    You can be playing like a pro, even WITHOUT A DRUMSET, in under an hour. Just follow the links you'll find, at the bottom of each lesson, beginning with the Aptitude Lesson.

    You will learn plenty without drums, sticks, or any expense. Save your money until you KNOW this is for you, and that you can do it! THESE LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW YOU TO BEGIN NOW, WITHOUT SPENDING A PENNY.

    INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: (Start below.)

    • VIDEO DRUM SET LESSON: If you are SURE you've mastered ALL the BASIC BEATS, there are MANY directions you could go from there.

    • The CONTENTS PAGE of my 125-lesson course may help you a little. It's an ad for this complete 125-lesson course, but it serves as a VERY valuable LESSON, too. This is what you'll eventually need to know, if you hope to climb to the top of the heap, in a very competitive profession. Some students have gone through the entire course in as little as three fun-filled-months. You can too.

    • ASK FOR INTERMEDIATE-HELP, at: XXdrums01@att.net (REMOVE THE Xs) Tell me a little about your current level of ability, and ASK FOR A FREE LESSON. I may just surprise you. Once I know what you need, I'll try my best to help you at no charge.

    NOTE: The 'Xs' in my e-mail address are there to hopefully fool the spam robots. Remove them. I DEFINITELY want to hear from you, so I can help you personally.

  • It is somewhat difficult to help intermediate students, without doing an assessment of their current level of skills, and knowledge. I have some very special ways to do that!

    If you would like some personal, private, free, help, just remove the Xs from my e-mail address and drop me a note. Ask for details concerning, KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT HELP, at: XXdrums01@att.net. Doing so, may get you an additional, MIND-BLOWING, free lesson or two, designed especially for YOU, and YOUR specific needs. Ask about it! Don't be shy about writing. I love FRIENDLY e-mail from students.

    OTHER INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS, may also prefer to skip around, picking any accessible lessons that are appealing. Click on lessons that appeal to you.

    These lessons are structured from the top down, with the easiest first. About 15 of the early lessons in the course are available here for free, but MANY (about 110 lessons) ARE HIDDEN. There are more than 125-lessons in the total commercial version of the course. Stop wasting TIME searching for ONLINE VIDEO DRUM SET LESSONS. You've found them! This is what you are looking for. Check-out the complete course contents and ENROLL NOW. Get everything you need and get started today.

    BEGINNER TO ADVANCED DRUMMERS:
    SPECIAL ACCELERATED, MINI-COURSE.

    OF INTEREST TO NEARLY ALL STUDENTS:
    Check out the NEW ULTRA ADVANCED MINI-COURSE for intermediate to Ultra Advanced, pro drummers and ALL MUSICIANS, such as song-writers, guitarists, bass players, drum machine programmers, pianists, vocalist and others. It concerns an in-depth study of time-signatures, beat permutations, and odd-time. Learn about it here. It may be just exactly what you are looking for, whether you know it or not. A few minutes invested here, could save you 30 or 40 years of fruitless searching. This special knowledge simply isn't available readily, anywhere but here.

    VARIOUS OTHER LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE DRUMMERS:

    This complete course may actually have you playing like a pro in a very short time. BELIEVE IT! You will have all the proof you'll need in the first few FREE lessons. Many curious surfers just like you have discovered with very little effort, their ability to easily begin playing along 'naturally' by 'ear' with virtually everything on the radio in only a matter of hours.

    Browse around below, and check-out a few more of the SAMPLE lessons from this 125-lesson 'online' course, and password site. Some of these lessons may help solve a few of your lingering questions.

      Introductory Drum Lesson: For very basic beginners, only.
    • The Introductory Page & Basic Basics. My goal here is to convince everyone they should give drumming a try. It is just a pep talk with a few other simple basic points. You can skip this if you are fired and ready to actually become a drummer right now.

      Drum Set Lesson #5: (Free)

    • VIDEO DRUM SET LESSON: 3/4 WALTZ: This BASIC DANCE BEAT is so special that it deserves a page of its own. The modern rock scene has very much ignored this potentially volatile rhythm structure, even though it contains over five-quintillion variation possibilities. If you want to innovate a few decades of new music styles, take a hard look at this dance beat category as we discover many ways to make it explode with imagination and creativity. It will make even more sense after you study 'Permutation' and 'Time Signature' theory.

      Drum Set Lesson #6 thru #9: (Free)

    • RUDIMENTS, ROLLS and FILLS (Part 1): Boring rolls are not so boring when used as thundering fill patterns in mid-song. (Simplified for beginners!) Drum Set Lesson #10:
    • VIDEO DRUM SET LESSON: PRIMARY ROCK VARIATIONS: These are the foundation rhythms that have continued to dominate rock music styles for the past thirty-five years. ALL FREE !

    TIPS and TRICKS: For all levels . . .

    LEVEL #3: * More Advanced Students *

    • If you have trouble with these patterns, maybe you are moving too fast. Slow down or back up. Give the previous lessons ample time to digest. If this material seems too easy then jump to the next level.

      Drum Set Lesson #18: (Not a Free lesson, here. ASK FOR IT VIA E-MAIL.)
    • ROCK SYNCOPATIONS: These patterns will put the 'fun' into 'funky'. You should have a solid feel for rock variations before attempting syncopations.

      Drum Set Lesson #19: (Not Free. ASK FOR IT.)

    • RUDIMENTS, ROLLS and FILLS (Part 2): A little knowledge can take you a long way. Learn to extend and combine fills within a beat pattern or a song. This lesson, when mixed with a little imagination, will add polish to your style. Comes with THE HOMESTUDY PACKAGE.

    LEVEL #4: ULTRA ADVANCED

      Drum Set Lesson #20 & #21: (Not Free.)
    • PERMUTATIONS: Anyone can follow this material but it requires considerable thought. This is truly awesome stuff. If you are not impressed then I suggest you go over it until you are. Only the ignorant will label this as lightweight. In this lesson we will not only discover a minimum of 4.297 billion beat variations that exist in eighth note 4/4 'rock', we will also give each variation a number/name. The knowledge gained here will explode exponentially when applied to the upcoming 'Time Signature' lesson. This is fascinating and it comes with THE HOMESTUDY PACKAGE.

      Drum Set Lesson #22:(Not Free)

    • TIME SIGNATURES: The permutation theory will literally become invaluable here. You will learn about all time signature formulas from 1/1 thru 64/64. This absorbing study includes all the odd times that you hear so much about. You will not believe how easy it is to comprehend! As the lesson proceeds we will blow EACH time signature into all note value modifications, each with a gazillion named and numbered beat variations (permutations.) I say gazillion because I have not tallied to a final number. Both my computers and all three of my pocket calculators ran out of zeros before the job was even half done. I can determine five quintillion individual 3/4 Waltz beats but that is only one time signature. EVERY DANCEBEAT IN THE MUSICAL WORLD NOW HAS NUMBER NAME! You have just become a drumming wizard! The more you think . . . the more you will learn. The knowledge gained here will allow you to become your own teacher. It is included in THE HOMESTUDY PACKAGE.

    _Short Pause For A Commercial Break __

    Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Girlfriends, Boyfriends, Aunts,
    Uncles and Grandparents!

    "A gift of music
    is a gift of love".

    Order this 125-lesson, electronic, online, homestudy-correspondence- GIFT, for the special 'drummer' in your life.

    THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANY STUDENT OF DRUMS.


     Just look at what this UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, COMPLETE, ONLINE, VIDEO DRUMMING COURSE CONTAINS! Give this 125-lesson, online, electronic, homestudy-correspondence-course, to the POTENTIAL DRUMMER in your life . . . CLICK HERE to investigate more, and order.

    125 (or more) lessons * Permanent Membership
    Free Updates * Unlimited E-mail help *

    "Just ask, and I'll e-deliver the entire package, at your chosen time, on any birthday or special occasion.

    ___________________________________________________________

    BILL'S BIO: Let's get acquainted. I want to help you! :>) No! I'm not a computerized robot! I'm a REAL PERSON, with 50 years of pro-experience behind a set of drums. If I can't help you . . . then you can't be helped! WRITE ME! I DON'T BITE! I may just become the best friend you have on the web.

    TESTIMONIALS: Take a moment to see what a few of the students have to say about this AWESOME, ONE-OF-A-KIND, COURSE FOR DRUMMERS OF ALL LEVELS!


    *** HOW TO ORDER #1 ***

    CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED DIRECTLY!
    FAST, DIRECT and SECURE processing!

    Save time and get started right away! Receive immediate attention by clicking on the credit card icons below! I always try to give 'same day' service on all credit card purchases. It usually only takes a couple of hours.
    *** NO WAITING! ***

    CLICK HERE

    If you prefer to order by phone, ask via e-mail drums01@att.net and I will give you a number and time to call.
    Also, e-mail me to learn how to pay by check or money order, via regular mail. I'll send you my home address.



    *** HOW TO ORDER #2 ***

    For e-checks, direct-transfers, credit-cards, and other forms of payment.

    MORE TIPS . . .
    NEED HELP, BUYING A DRUM SET?
    ASK FOR MY 'DRUMSET BUYERS GUIDE'. I no longer sell drums, but I do have tips that will help you save $$$$, if you are 'thinking' of buying. ASK FOR MY FREE BUYERS GUIDE. You can trust the 'dealer secrets' I'll willingly share with you. (It's FREE too.)

    Hi again,
    ONE LAST THOUGHT. Please don't be too shy, or afraid to write. Drop me an e-note and ask questions! Lets get acquainted (or re-acquainted!) I don't care about your spelling, punctuation or your command of the English language either. That's not my gig. If I can figure out what you're trying to say . . . You'll get a good answer back from me.

    YES! I DO have the time, and I DO try to reply to each and every serious e-mail note I receive. This is my retirement recreation, and I truly value the opportunity to communicate with each of you. I know I can help . . . and I WANT TO HELP. I have 50 years of experience in-the-trenches, with 'live' bands, playing virtually EVERY TYPE of music. I've also dedicated nearly 40 years of my life to my (daytime) career, TEACHING 'living-breathing-students' of all ages and musical tastes. If you want and need HELP OR ANSWERS, . . . you've just found them! All you have to do, is ask! :>)

    WRITE ME ANYTIME.
    E-mail your questions and/or comments to Bill Powelson xxdrums01@att.net
    REMEMBER TO REMOVE THE 'Xs' FROM MY E-ADDRESS. It's coded to fool the spam-bots.

    International copyright secured @ Bill Powelson 1994 all rights reserved.

    . .