Top 5 DVD and Online Drum Lesson Courses

NOTE: The Drumming System has just released their all-new Online Edition. All the same great content but for almost half the price.
You can get INSTANT ACCESS to the Drumming System course materials for $147 thanks to the online lesson edition. Click here now. (You’ll see the discount option on the order page)

What makes the Drumming System our top pick for an online or DVD drums course? Simply put there is no other course that provides as much quality lesson content across as many different styles for such a great price point.

I’m no math wizard, but if you took these 30 or so hours of drum lessons from a private instructor you’d pay well over $1000. The sub $200 price point for the Online Version of Drumming System is a steal.

The Drumming System is a team effort produced and authored by music dvd instructional company Rail Road Media and world class drum instructor and performer Mike Michalkow. Mike has a 20+ year history in the music business as a drum teacher and performing drummer. He knows his stuff and explains things in a step-by-step method so players of a skills levels can understand.

The video quality on each DVD (or Online Video) was recorded in full high definition. During demonstrations the course uses a 4-way split screen (see screen shot at right) so you can see exactly what Mike is doing and when required there are some very attractive on screen graphics that correspond to the lessons books included with the course.

All popular styles of drumming are covered including: rock, hard rock, metal, jazz, blues, latin and more, and the play along Videos and CD’s are the best available for practicing.

Honestly, you just won’t find a better course. Yes the price is close to $300 (or $150 if you opt for the online edition), but if you want to learn how to play well this is the ticket. They have a great demo video of the course on the official website click here to watch it now.

Learn & Master Drums is a great course, it’s just wasn’t quite good enough to rate higher then our number one choice the Drumming System.

With that being said Learn and Master Drums still contains a ton of great content for beginner and intermediate drummers across it’s 12 DVD’s of lessons, Lesson book and 5 Jam Along Discs.

Like all the DVD courses we reviewed Learn and Master Drums uses a mixture of video lessons, lesson book practice exercises and jam tracks to teach you the basics of play several drumming styles.

Course author and instructor Dann Sherrill is a well respected session and performing drummer as well as teacher in Nasvhille TN. It always amazes me at the talent these courses use to teach beginner drum lessons. Quite honestly you just wouldn’t be able to take drum lessons from someone like Dann for under $60-$100 an hour.

The lessons are straight forward and utilize some really nice on-screen graphics when necessary to explain a topic.

You can listen to a few sample jam tracks on the official website, and they have a very nice overview video you can watch as well, check it out here.

The Rock Drumming System is the baby brother the Drumming System. Both courses are produced by Rail Road Media, the difference is the Rock Drumming System was their first try at a drumming course for beginners, and while that course has sold really well I’m told it doesn’t cover the wide range of topics and styles like the Drumming System, hence the two courses.

The video quality of the Rock Drumming System isn’t as good as the Drumming System, how ever I feel it’s on par with Learn and Master Drums.

Like the Drumming System this course also uses 4-way split screens and on screen graphics during demonstrations to ensure you can see everything is going on.

For a beginner drummer who loves rock music and/or wants to play rock music this is probably the best course for you plus you’ll save a few bucks in the process. The Rock Drumming System sells for under $100 bucks and still includes 4 DVDs, 4 Workbooks and a play along CD for practicing.

While I feel the Drumming System course is a better all around program, the Rock Drumming System holds it’s own for rock specific techniques and fills.

They have a great over view video on the official website that is worth watching if you’re interested in the course.