Beginner Curriculum · Stage 1 · ~2–3 weeks
Single-Stick Hand Drills
One hand at a time. Train rebound, the four stroke types, and even, relaxed motion before any coordination.
1.1 · Natural Rebound (Wrist Only)
Feel the stick bounce on its own; stop fighting gravity.
Drill: Single-stroke bounce test, wrist only, fingers out. Then 30 sec of continuous relaxed wrist pendulum.
Notation: One hand, down-up alternation: D U D U D U D U (16th feel). · Tempo: 60 BPM
✓ Advance when: 8 consecutive even bounces at 60 BPM without finger manipulation; 30 sec pendulum with zero finger tension.
1.2 · 8 On A Hand
Even volume and even stick height, one hand at a time, before combining.
Drill: 8 single strokes on the right hand, then 8 on the left. Wrist snaps, fingers lightly follow.
Notation: R: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & (8 strokes, right only); then L: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & (8 strokes, left only). · Tempo: 60 BPM
✓ Advance when: Each hand plays 8 even strokes at the same volume and ~6–8" height at 60 BPM.
Book: George Lawrence Stone — Stick Control
1.3 · Full Stroke & Down Stroke
Master the two “loud” strokes that set up dynamics.
Drill: Full stroke (high→high), then down stroke (high→low, stops 2" off the head).
Notation: Full: F F F F (quarter notes, one hand). Down: D D D D. · Tempo: 60 BPM
✓ Advance when: 8 full strokes returning to shoulder height, then 8 down strokes all stopping low — even volume.
1.4 · Tap & Up Stroke
Master the two “quiet” strokes for control and ghost-note prep.
Drill: Tap stroke (low→low), then up stroke (low→high).
Notation: Tap: T T T T; Up: U U U U (quarter notes, one hand). · Tempo: 60 BPM
✓ Advance when: 8 taps that stay low and quiet, then 8 up strokes starting low and ending at shoulder height, smoothly.
1.5 · The Four-Stroke Sequence
Chain all four strokes so each prepares the next — the root of all dynamics.
Drill: Full, Down, Tap, Up — repeat, then switch hands.
Notation: F D T U F D T U F D T U F D T U (one hand). · Tempo: 60 BPM
✓ Advance when: 4 clean F-D-T-U cycles per hand at 60 BPM with correct start/end heights and clear loud/soft contrast.
Book: Joe Morello — Master Studies
1.6 · Finger Control
Isolate the fingers for speed without the wrist.
Drill: Sixteenth notes, finger-driven from a low position, stick stays low.
Notation: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a (16ths, one hand). · Tempo: 80 BPM
✓ Advance when: 16 even finger-driven taps at 80 BPM with the wrist visibly stationary.