Hundreds of books have been written on playing drums. For years Jock was concerned with selling them, and was always fascinated by prospective buyers who either started at the back, or looked intently at the first couple of pages, then flicked over the leaves to the last one. Most of the buyers' purchasing time was spent gazing at the closing chapters of what had probably been years of experience condensed onto paper. Says Jock, 'Don’t spend an inordinate amount of time listening to the final solo; it's only there to show what can be achieved by mastering the preceding material demonstrated on the recording'.

How many people have been heard to say "I started to learn when I was young and how I wish I had been made to practise"? A great deal of blame must lie with methods of teaching which fail to inspire the student. For example, to learn the piano in days gone by it was necessary to spend many dull hours on scales and finger exercises. Similarly, Jock was taught to play drums for his local pipe band, with 7 other kids standing around a large table. He was lucky to be able to enjoy hearing "Mammy Daddy" being thumped out with sticks as big as tree trunks (well nearly); but as far as he knows only one other lad persevered to play professionally. Nowadays, piano tutors offer nice little tunes to begin with, which if examined carefully, are full of 5 finger exercises and scales dressed up to appear more interesting. In the same way, Jock believes that in order to teach you to play drums, he must hold your interest from the first moment.

This course begins by offering some hints to improve practice and enhance playing. Elsewhere there is seldom enough attention paid to the order in which rhythms and rudiments are offered, so Jock begins by teaching you to acquire a basic rhythm with which you are familiar already.

When a potential drummer looks for tuition, several factors must be considered. Firstly, the availability of a good teacher. Top names in drumming are not necessarily the best initial teachers. This course will help you acquire a good basic technique and place you in a better position to grasp the advanced tuition which a personal tutor can give. Secondly, the cost of tuition can be a deterrent to even the keenest pupil. This course has been priced to overcome this problem. Thirdly and perhaps most importantly, is the problem of nervousness. As a pupil, Jock could grasp the basic sticking of a particular rudiment, but as soon as he was outside his teacher's door, the SOUND had eluded him. This course meets the students’ need to HEAR what they SEE in the tutor.

By following this course, and with a tactful nature, a drummer can enter dialogue with other instrumentalists to find what kind of backing is desired. Some musicians prefer the full sound of a top cymbal; others may work better with the rhythm provided by the hi-hat cymbals. The rhythms and rudiments demonstrated here will give confidence and ability to play in ANY style. Read through the book and play the recording through; find out what they have to offer, then start from the beginning. As you master each lesson, you will see how it leads on to the next in an intelligent pattern.

Jock is deeply indebted to Bill Wayne for the transcription of his recording, and the musicians of the Pipe and Dance Bands, Orchestras, revues and Jazz Groups who have played a vital part in forming his style of drumming.

There is no shortcut to the art of accomplished drumming, but Jock hopes to make your path enjoyable - and how much simpler each lesson will appear when you can hear it played exactly as it is written in this tutor." N.E Fulcanwright

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT Learn to play drums with Jock Cree

"Simply the best tutor for beginners that there is"