The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson [Paperback]

John Ramsay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

Alan Dawson was a legendary drummer and educator, known for his work with the top artists in jazz as well as for his 18-year association with Berklee College of Music. This new text and CD combination was put together by John Ramsay, a prominent drummer in his own right and a former student of Dawson's. The book contains all the important techniques and concepts that Alan Dawson embraced in his own playing and subsequently taught to his students. The two CDs include some remastered audio examples from actual lessons taught by Dawson himself over the years. This is a highly comprehensive textbook from a jazz master.

Product Details

• Paperback: 69 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Pub Co (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0769265243
• ISBN-13: 978-0769265247
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good for drummers who can read music, February 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson (Paperback)

I don't know why this book is unavailable at this time, I bought it a few years ago and found it to be a big help. Alan Dawson was the drum teacher of Tony Williams and he was big on drummers knowing their craft and playing musically. The book starts off with 86 rudiments and how to play them. You should already know how to read music before attempting this book. Its best for people who have been playing awhile as it does not cover how to hold the sticks, music notation and other basic topics. The presentation is more like an outline for improving technique and how to better your independence. After the rudiments, the author show the "rudimental ritual" which is a method for practicing all 86 rudiments equally. The next section covers how to use Ted Reed's Syncopation as a tool for improving indepenence and reading ability. He presents many ways to interpert the material in Ted's book and show how to play it musically. Next comes a section on using George Stone's Stick Control and finally some thoughts on improving your single stroke roll. The book finishes with some solo material demonstrating everything covered in the book. I use the book as a refresher on technique and for improving my independence. Like I said its not for beginners but if you know how to read music and want to improve in the areas the book covers then its a good buy. Its a good reference on rudiments but to me the best part is the section on using Ted Reed's book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bees knees, December 24, 2007

By 

Magnus Nordén (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me by my jazz drumming teacher. It contains a way of using Ted Reed's Syncopation book that is very interesting.

It is an inspiring book, which really comprises a total concept for teaching and learning drums. Every drummer should have this book, I think. It is probably the one and only really essential drum exercise book I've seen. And yes, that is even including G L Stone's books.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Holy Grail, Documented!, July 25, 2007

By 

Derek Warren "Sonor Man" (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught by Alan Dawson (Paperback)

I studied with two drummers who studied with Alan Dawson (who taught, among other giants, Tony Williams). Not surprisingly, they taught me what Alan taught them. But not until now (as far as I'm aware) has any of Alan's students documented and published his methods. Now it is here, under a single cover.

Between the covers of this book is a huge amount of challenging exercises that will broaden your musical vocabulary.

It's not a long book. But the methods and exercises in it will keep you busy for months, and even years. It contains the very stuff (secrets?) that has made many good drummers great drummers. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, it is the holy grail of drumming.

Be prepared to purchase two books to go with it, if you don't already own them: George Lawrence Stone's "Stick Control", and Ted Reed's "Syncopation". You will need these two books to complete most of the exercises in this book. (Maybe Amazon will bundle them one of these days.)