Thom Hannum's new book — “A Percussionist's Guide to Check Patterns”
- Designed for all percussionists, from beginner to advanced
- Written for non-pitched percussion, keyboard, and drumset
- Provides a systematic approach to sticking rhythm patterns
- Ideal for developing reading skills, coordination & syncopation control
- Includes a CD for rehearsal & individual practice, as well as a Vic Firth Check Patterns poster
What Others Are Saying...
In his new book, Thom has captured what is a well-constructed representation of his life-long commitment to providing for students and educators a portable, systematic approach to developing an essential reading and rhythms vocabulary. In my teaching, I have found that the check patterns and variations work as well for teaching beginning student and ensemble as they do for the more advanced.
Understanding and, more importantly, mastering our rhythmic vocabulary is an absolute necessity to be a successful percussionist. Thom's outstanding approach has been proven for decades to produce great results. I am surely glad that students and teachers now have this great text available to help them on their way towards rhythmic mastery!
The key to success for any program has always been about building a strong foundation. The information I learned by using Thom Hannum's Championship Concepts books have played a major role in not only my development as a player, but now as a teacher. With the addition of A Percussionist's Guide to Check Patterns, this new book will provide my students an even greater understanding of that foundation. This book is a MUST for all. CHECK it out...
Thom Hannum takes the art of groove and feel out of the realm of the elite musicians that fill our CD collections and into the hands of anyone who has ever picked up an instrument. Check patterns may have developed in the arena of marching band, but they are certainly not limited to that alone. As a professional musician, I use these skills every day, whether I am playing bass in a rock band, matching up background vocal phrasings in the recording studio, or arranging horn parts for a new track. This book is a winner!
Thom's check pattern system was the vital ingredient during my development as a player, teacher and writer. Check patterns develop rhythmic fluency and are the letters of the rhythmic alphabet I use every day in my career.
Every successful teacher knows that the root of his or her students' success is built upon the basics. Without a dedicated approach to developing a fundamental rhythmic vocabulary, students often struggle to play even simple rhythms within the framework of a groove-in any musical genre. Thom's Check Patterns book breaks down rhythm into the building blocks that students can easily master, giving them a strong foundation for rhythmic understanding. As a teacher who has used Thom's approach for many years with my own students, I wholeheartedly encourage you to “check” it out!
Vic Firth Poster (click to enlarge)
