Playlist: Rock Basics II

Refer to the drum set patterns on the Rock Basics I worksheet; play along and have fun!

Playlist: Rock Basics I

Refer to the drum set patterns on the Rock Basics I worksheet; play along and have fun!

Required Reading: Rick Latham's Advanced Funk Studies

Required Reading refers to the necessity that you, the music student, read this book! Lauded as some of the best educational publications available, the manuscripts covered in this series come highly recommended to anyone interested in expanding ability and musicality.

Advanced Funk Studies: Creative Patterns for the Advanced Drummer

By Rick Latham

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The Rudiments

These succinct rhythms and sticking patterns are the like the alphabet in drumming language. International canon for decades, the Percussive Arts Society offers this and many other essential drumming resources at their website.

Download the PDF

Hanon Simplified

Song of the Day

Customized staff paper for use in private lessons, composition, or just sketching out some ideas. Available for Piano, Drum Set, Guitar and Bass with TAB.

Bass Guitar Basics

Getting started with the ol' 4 string.

Download PDF

The GuitAlphabet

The GuitAlphabet introduces note reading on the guitar, while familiarizing the student with the fretboard.

UPDATE: Now featuring a southpaw-friendly version!

Download PDF

Guitar Basics

Here's a bit of reference material for the guitar student. Guitar Basics features some simple notation and fretboard diagrams to help get familiar with the instrument. Available in common keys C and G Major.

UPDATE: Now featuring a version for the lefties out there!

Download PDF (in C Major)

Download PDF (in G Major)

Penn State Jazz Bands to perform →

Check out the article from Penn State's Daily Collegian about our Fall concert. A great program is in store, and was happy to have the concert covered by the University newspaper. I will be playing drums in the top big band, Centre Dimensions, and the night will be rounded out by two others : Inner and Outer Dimensions. As Graduate Assistant in the Jazz department, I'll be directing the latter. From the Collegian:

Outer Dimensions will play some Duke Ellington and Count Basie charts, such as Basie's "Shiny Stockings," said Charlie Heim (graduate-music education), Outer Dimensions' band director.

An arrangement of "Birdland" by Weather Report and Thad Jones' "Us," will also be performed by Outer Dimensions, Heim said.

"We'll mostly be playing old standard stuff," Heim said.

Heim is new to Penn State this semester. Upon graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, he chose to enter Penn State's graduate program in music education.

"Working with Dan [Yoder] is great," Heim said. "It's a rare experience to work with a collegiate director who has given us great arrangements and original pieces."

Click the link above for the full article.