This comprehensive exercise packet that I compiled with NCSU Drumline instructor John Antonelli covers legatos, accent-tap figures, doublestrokes, paradiddles, rolls, flam rudiments, triplestrokes, timing exercises, and grids. The 72 exercises consist of our original work, as well as "stock" pieces that you will find in almost any audition packet.

Through this web site, I am working on an HTML version with annotations (under construction) that will explain the main points behind every exercise and how to get the most out of the packet.

2010

I created this packet as an example of how to formulate variations of a simple exercise in order to get the most out of your practice. Centring around Diddle Pattern 1 (the Diddle-Tap exercise), this compilation includes variations that slur rhythms, add accents, add drags, and add single-stroke inner beats. It is by no means exhaustive (there's nothing with grace notes), and I encourage you to come up with your own variations to this exercise to stretch your mind and challenge your hands.

2010

A series of short exercises, For The Three applies rudiments to both a quarter-note-based structure and a dotted eighth-note-based structure. The first variation (triplet accents) should give a good understanding of the pattern involved, and will help you to better execute rudiments that appear in a 5:3 or 4:3 context.

2010

Grace Note Control requires that the lead hand in a series of same-handed flams crescendo or decrescendo, while the grace-note hand remain steady. This is a very challenging exercise that requires a great deal of control over grace note placement.

2011

Focused on three-beat series that are not hugadigs (the one-handed breakdown of a flam-tap), Not Hugadigs works on the strict accent-to-tap (Rrr) and tap-to-accent (rrR) figures that are the breakdowns of pataflaflas, inverted flam taps, and accented single-stroke figures.

2011

An exercise in dynamic control over roll figures, Number 2 gradually shortens the amount of time over which a crescendo or decrescendo must take place. I recommend starting this one at a very slow tempo.

2009

A triplet-roll analogue to Diddle Pattern 1, this Open Roll Builder works on the eighth-note-based breakdowns of an open triplet roll.

2009

Shifting gears works the metric transition between 16th-note and triplet diddle figures. The tendency will be to either be fast or tight going into the triplet figures, and to be slow or wide going into the 16th-note figures.

2009