Stick Control

by George Lawrence Stone

First published in 1935(!!!), this classic has survived the test of time. Originally designed to develop snare drum technique, it has been applied to the drum set by teachers and players worldwide. Stick Control was reviewed in Modern Drummer August/93, and named one of the 25 greatest drum books.

To quote Stone:

"It is an advanced book, consisting of a progressive, highly concentrated collection of rhythms, arranged in a callisthenic form, which, if practiced regularly and intelligently, will enable one to acquire control, speed, flexibility, touch, rhythm, lightness, delicacy, power, endurance, precision of execution and muscular co-ordination to a degree far in excess of his present ability."

Similar to Syncopation, Stick Control is a collection of sticking combinations meant to be practiced over and over before proceeding to the next one: it starts with eighth-note Single Beat Combinations and Triplets; then progresses to Short Roll Combinations, Short Rolls and Triplets, Flam Beats, Short Rolls in 6/8, Combinations in 3/8 & 2/4, Flam Triplets and Dotted Notes, Short Roll Progressions, Short Roll Progressions and Triplets, including many accented eighth-, dotted eighth- and sixteenth-notes.

An hour a day with Stick Control will work wonders whether you are a concert drummer, jazz or orchestral drummer, student or pro. Spending some time playing the Single Beat Combinations on the first page alone will serve as an excellent warm-up any time you're about to take the stage (or living room!).