This is by far the most difficult of the four etudes presented in this chapter. If this solo is too difficult, skip it for now and go on to the chapters on the drum set. However, don't give up without a fight. You can play this piece! It will just take a little extra time, practice, and most of all perseverance.

In order to play “Bourbon Street” at the indicated speed, you will need to develop considerable technical facility. If you're not up to the challenge, start by reviewing the exercises in Chapters 6 and 7, particularly the exercises that concentrate on individual hand development. Also, it is a good idea to make up your own technical exercises designed to target your own deficiencies. The good news is that by gaining proficiency with this piece, you will be well on your way toward advanced snare drumming. Also, you will already have procured many of the technical tools needed to play great solos on the drum set.

This piece (see FIGURE 8-4), unlike any other in the book, is a “through composed” work and has no specific sections or even blatant phrases. It is a motor piece designed to introduce you to the wonders of tricky sticking patterns and advanced syncopation. This said, “Bourbon Street” will enhance not only your stick control but your understanding of complex duple rhythmic patterns.

Don't be afraid of the thirty-second notes designated by the triple lines or flags. You've already been playing thirty-second notes and didn't even know it. Every time you played a double stroke roll variation in the previous etudes, you've played thirty-second notes. The thirty-second notes are written out here simply for ease in reading. Good luck and have fun with this piece! At the very least, learn each measure individually, then try getting through the entire solo at a slow but steady tempo. Any actual rolls notated here may be played as buzzes or double strokes as you wish.

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FIGURE 8-1 Rudimental Etude #1-Bakerloo

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FIGURE 8-2 Rudimental Etude #2-Rolling Home

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FIGURE 8-3 Rudimental Etude #3-Gracie Mansion

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FIGURE 8-4 Rudimental Etude #4-Bourbon Street