This fictional novel is about a young drummer boy from Vermont and his struggle to stay alive while participating in battle during the American Civil War. Tommy Taft learns many a life lesson from those surrounding him as he witnesses the horror of this great and terrible war. Tommy is accompanied by his best friend, Jordan Preavy, also a drummer boy from Vermont. Jordan tries to keep the ever-adventure-seeking Tommy from trouble. The two boys witness a meeting of Free Masons one dark night. They see Confederate and Union soldiers together, and question how these men can call their enemies brothers. What secrets will the boys see? Tommy and Jordan take readers to a place where life and death are a daily struggle. Answering the call of President Abraham Lincoln, the boys view what has become known as the Battle of the Seven Days. They are sent for duty at an army field hospital where they learn to cope with the horrific realm of the operating room, helping surgeons with amputations and other procedures. The boys learn what true courage really is and that there is much more to being a good soldier then just carrying a gun. They learn the value of teamwork and grow in self-confidence

Whether they're self-taught bashers or technical wizards, drummers are the thrashing, crashing heart of our favorite punk bands. In Forbidden Beat, some of today's most respected writers and musicians explore the history of punk percussion with personal essays, interviews and lists featuring their favorite players and biggest influences. From 60s garage rock and proto-punk to 70s New York and London, 80s hardcore and D-beat to 90s pop punk and beyond, Forbidden Beat is an uptempo ode to six decades of punk rock drumming. Featuring Ira Elliot, Curt Weiss, John Robb, Hudley Flipside, Bon Von Wheelie, Joey Shithead, Matt Diehl, D.H. Peligro, Mike Watt, Lynn Perko-Truell, Pete Finestone, Laura Bethita Neptuna, Jan Radder, Jim Ruland, Eric Beetner, Jon Wurster, Lori Barbero, Joey Cape, Marko DeSantis, Mindy Abovitz, Steven McDonald, Kye Smith, Ian Winwood, Phanie Diaz, Benny Horowitz, Shari Page, Urian Hackney, and Rat Scabies.

In 1942, drummer Viola Smith sent shock waves through the jazz world by claiming in Down Beat magazine that “hep girls” could sit in on any jam session and hold their own. In Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country, Angela Smith takes Viola at her word, offering a comprehensive look at the world of professional drumming and the women who had the courage and chops to break the barriers of this all-too-male field. Combining archival research with personal interviews of more than fifty female drummers representing more than eight decades in music history, Smith paints a vivid picture of their struggles to overcome discrimination—not only as professional musicians but in other parts of their lives. Women Drummers outlines the evolution of female drumming from pre-biblical times when women held important leadership roles to their silencing by the church during the Middle Ages to spearheading the fight for women’s rights in the modern era. The stories and personal accounts of female drummers who bucked tradition and societal norms are told against the backdrop of the times in which they performed and the genres they represented, from rock and jazz to blues and country. Although women have proven time and time again that they can more than hold their own against their male counterparts, female drummers not only remain a minority, but their contributions have been obscured by the traditional chauvinistic attitudes in the music business and gender stereotypes that surround the drum itself as a “male” instrument. Women Drummers takes a major step forward in undoing this misconception by acknowledging the talent, contribution, and growing power of women drummers in today’s music environment.

(Book). To mark the 30th-anniversary of the world's best-loved drum magazine, Modern Drummer , here is the first book to tell the complete tale of the modern drumset masters. A century of drumming is covered: from the founding fathers of jazz, to today's athletic, mind-altering rhythm wizards and everyone in between. Buddy Rich, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Ringo Starr, Levon Helm, Neil Peart and dozens of other drum gods are featured.

This book will help to make sense of some of the confusing signs, symbols and instructions that you see in your drum music. It covers topics such as notes, rests, accents, tempo and dynamics, and clearly explains what they mean and how to play them on your drum kit. Along the way there are lots of exciting exercises to complete, fun short pieces to play and review sections that will help you to check how well you’re doing. Learn to Read Drum Music Book 1 covers the following topics: Musical ingredients - pulse, beats, staves, lines and spaces Notes and rests - semibreves, mimims, crotchets, quavers, semiquavers Drums, cymbals and the 'Key' Tempo, time signatures and dynamics Basic counting techniques This 48 page book is part 1 of a 2-part series and is suitable for all types of drummers, including complete beginners.