Required Reading refers to the necessity that you, the music student, read this book! Lauded as some of the best educational publications available, the manuscripts covered in this series come highly recommended to anyone interested in expanding ability and musicality.
For decades, Ted Reed's Progressive Steps to Syncopation has remained a critical tool for students and teachers of music. It's a standard in the curricula of universities and private studios alike, and I still refer to it daily. While its exercises and notation style are geared to the drum set player, its rhythmic variations can be applied to any instrument.
Syncopation lays out basic patterns for snare and bass drum, and *progressively* introduces complexity and coordination challenges. Its utility lies in Reed's presentation of these rhythms: in a succinct and useful way, and covers nearly every rhythmic permutation you could want to play.
The book's common applications include fundamental snare drum reading and technique, in addition to coordination, stylistic interpretation and orchestration concepts on the drum set. Not only is it a primary drum lesson tool, Syncopation can also help develop rhythmic skills on nearly any instrument.
I highly recommend any student get a copy of this book, if nothing other than a strong reference to add to your rhythmic arsenal.
