The Way of the Drum [Paperback]

Russell "Buddy" Helm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2001

In fifty short "conversations, " a professional drummer shares his discoveries about life through the magical experience of drumming. He integrates insider's stories from the entertainment industry, practical how-tos of drumming technique, tips for improving your own drumming experience, inspiring personal reflections, and unforgettable tales of the healing effects of the drum on people's lives. The companion book to Drumming the Spirit to Life.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Drumming has been gaining popularity for more than a decade, with drum circles and classes springing up across America. A popular drumming teacher and former rock and roller, Helm writes conversationally of his life in music and spirit, offering personal insights into the ways in which drumming can open up creative space in any life. Following up his earlier, more basic book, Drumming the Spirit to Life (2000), Helm expands on the idea that anyone can drum as long as one's inner critic is silenced. For the nervous, he provides simple, easy-to-follow notations of basic rhythms, as well as commentary on how those rhythms are typically used. What will probably engage readers most, however, is Helm's account of his journey from professional musician to teacher of amateurs and the spiritual lessons he learned along the way. Patricia Monaghan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Drumming for as long as he can remember, Russell Buddy Helm (southern California) has played live and in recording sessions with a variety of rock bands, including Frank Zappa, Chuck Berry, Tim Buckley, and the Allman Brothers. He has taught everything from Afro-Cuban to jazz, R&B, rock ‘n roll, and reggae. His current drumming workshops make the healing qualities of the drum accessible to all people, regardless of their musical backgrounds.

When he was eight, he started his classical musical training under a well-known woman drum teacher in Elkhart, Indiana named Eilleen Trafford. He excelled at percussion in both symphonic work and drum and bugle corps, earning fifteen medals of excellence. As a teenager he developed his musical styles in rhythm and blues, rock, country, folk and spiritual drumming like Afro Cuban and Gospel. While living in Coconut Grove in Miami, he was exposed to the   Caribbean culture where his understanding of spiritual drumming progressed.

He moved to Los Angeles to continue his musical career and artistic training and to teach drumming. There he played with Frank Zappa and then played and toured with Tim Buckley for several years, recording an album in 1973,  (Honeyman, released in 1997).

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (November 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738701599
• ISBN-13: 978-0738701592
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,245,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More "drumming wisdom" from the author, May 10, 2002

By 

Todd Hawley (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Way of the Drum (Paperback)

This book is a "sequel" to Helm's previous work, Drumming the Spirit to Life and offers more of Helm's philosophy about life and his experiences as a professional musician, and what ultimately led him to teach others his thoughts on drumming. It also offers some instructions on basic drumming rhythms, including a CD that contains samples of the basic drum rhythms Helm talks about.

As with his other book, there lots of stories. For example, the one about the old Marvin Gaye song "Inner City Blues," and the interesting drum rhythm used on that song. It's a song I've always enjoyed for its lyrics and now one I can enjoy for its unusual drum rhythm as well.

Helm also stresses the point throughout the book that it's "finding your own groove" that's important. As he puts it, so many feel the need to "bang hard" on the drum, or "fill every possible space with notes," when at times the exact opposite is what works best. The temptation of course is there to play hard and fill every note (and most likely drive the drummers around you nuts) in a drumming circle.

I found myself nodding in agreement with almost all of what Helm had to say and found the book uplifting and entertaining.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Friendly Book, Wonderful Music!, December 18, 2001

By 

"twixt" (RockRockRockyMountains CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way of the Drum (Paperback)

This book is just plain fun. It's written in a casual manner, and reads like a talk with an older, wiser, friend about his experiences in a life lived around the drum.
From a story of a fire in a crowded theatre presided over by Wolfman Jack, to talk of Conjure Drumming, Buddy lays down a mellow beat that is a pleasure to spend time with. And interesting pictures, too.
The accompanying cd is well recorded and FUN!
Buy this book and relax. Drum and be happy; insights will come as they come! Good book, Buddy! :-)