Rock Drumming System by Jared Falk
This is a brief review of Jared Falk's Rock Drumming System. It should be noted that this website is sponsored by Railroad Media (publisher of the Rock Drumming System), however this review is written as an unbiased look at this training solution. We'll look at the pros and cons of using it to learn the drums, so that you can make a decision for yourself.
Overview of the Rock Drumming System Pack
The Rock Drumming System includes four workbooks, four DVDs, and a play-along audio CD. It should be noted that the books are professionally printed, as many courses sold online only include eBooks (printable materials). That's not the case here, everything is packed together and shipped to your door.
The contents are divided up into four groups: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and play-alongs. Each include a book and DVD, and the fourth one includes the audio CD. They are all designed to work together, so you will likely want to progress from beginner to advanced (even if you consider yourself an Intermediate player).
The play-alongs are charted out in the workbook, demonstrated (with drum tracks) on the DVD, and then available without drum-tracks on the audio CD. This way, you can see how the songs should be played, and then play along with them yourself (without hearing a distracting drum track). You can also choose to play something other than what is charted if you want to get more creative with the songs. The training pack doesn't cover alternative beats, but you can easily try any of the hundreds of beats covered thorough the Rock Drumming System.
Rock Drumming System *Pros*
Here is a brief list of the benefits to using the Rock Drumming System:
- The multi-angle video training system makes it really easy to learn new beats and fills. You see everything from four individual camera angles, so you can see exactly how each beat is played by Jared. All beats are also played at two tempos, so you can get a feel for how they would sound in different playing situations (fast and slow).
- The entire course is step-by-step, so you never have to worry about missing an important subject. Jared starts with the very basics (how to hold the drumsticks, tuning drums, hi-hat and bass drum techniques, counting time, reading sheet music, etc). It's all covered on a "need-to-know" basis, so things never get more complex than necessary. Jared covers it all, but never wastes time in complex theory until right when it becomes necessary (at which time he breaks it down in bite-sized steps).
- Real printed-workbooks, DVDs, and CDs make things easier than using online resources where streaming video can be glitchy, or reading eBooks can be annoying. Everything can be taken to your drumset. You can play the DVDs on a regular DVD player at your TV, a portable DVD player, a desktop computer, or even a laptop. The audio CD can be ripped into iTunes for use with an iPOD, or just used with a portable CD player.
- The overall value of this training pack (including bonus content available on the Rock Drumming System website) makes this a solid choice. Rarely do you see a training pack of this size priced so competitively. It can fit into even a conservative drummers budget.
Rock Drumming System *Cons*
Here is a brief list of potential pitfalls to using the Rock Drumming System:
- There is a short shipping delay as opposed to instant online delivery. Yes, while most people prefer to have printed workbooks, DVDs, and CDs - this comes with a delay of around 4-8 days for shipping. This ads a few dollars to the cost of your order as well.
- Like any home-study course, you are required to motivate yourself. Jared does a good job of presenting the material and making it exciting, but at the end of the day - it's up to you to apply the knowledge and practice accordingly.
- There is no VHS option available, so a DVD player is required for use.
Final Word
The Rock Drumming System truly is a great value for beginner to intermediate drummers that are looking for an all-in-one home-study course. It's designed to guide you each step of the way, and is a solid value. You can learn more about Jared Falk's Rock Drumming System online at www.RockDrummingSystem.com.
