Beginner Curriculum · Stage 3 · ~3 weeks
Two-Stick & First Rudiments
Both hands now. Build the three foundational PAS rudiments. Practice every rudiment leading with each hand for balanced development.
3.1 · Single Strokes, Hand to Hand
Even hand-to-hand alternation with matched stick heights.
Drill: R L R L, start 60 BPM and climb by 5.
Notation: R L R L R L R L (eighth notes). · Tempo: 60→80 BPM
✓ Advance when: 60 seconds unbroken at 80 BPM with identical stick heights and even volume.
Practice this rudiment →Book: George Lawrence Stone — Stick Control
3.2 · Ambidexterity & Leading-Hand Switch
Make the weak hand match the strong hand.
Drill: 30 sec leading left (L R L R), 30 sec leading right (R L R L).
Notation: Alternate the leading hand every 30 seconds. · Tempo: 80→100 BPM
✓ Advance when: 30 sec at 100 BPM leading with the left hand that matches your right-lead dynamics.
3.3 · Double Stroke Roll
Two even strokes per hand using controlled rebound, not force.
Drill: RR LL RR LL — start slow, let the second stroke bounce.
Notation: R R L L R R L L (sixteenth-note pairs). · Tempo: 70→110 BPM
✓ Advance when: 60 sec unbroken at 110 BPM with even stick heights and matched first/second-stroke volume.
Practice this rudiment →Book: George Lawrence Stone — Stick Control
3.4 · Single Paradiddle
Combine singles + doubles into the most useful sticking on the kit.
Drill: R L R R, L R L L — say “par-a-did-dle” while playing.
Notation: R L R R | L R L L | (16ths), accent the leading single. · Tempo: 60→80 BPM
✓ Advance when: 45 sec unbroken at 80 BPM, clean sticking with no hesitation, accents on the leading single.
Practice this rudiment →Book: George Lawrence Stone — Stick Control
3.5 · The Flam (First Ornament)
Play a clean flam — a quiet grace note tucked just before a loud main note.
Drill: Alternate R-flam and L-flam: grace note as quiet as possible (an up stroke), main note on the beat (a down stroke).
Notation: One flam per beat on the snare: grace-note + main note, alternating leads. · Tempo: 60→100 BPM
✓ Advance when: 8 bars at 100 BPM with clear separation between grace and main note, even and unrushed.
Practice this rudiment →3.6 · Hi-Hat Hand: Steady Eighths
Build the right-hand eighth-note timekeeping engine you'll use for every groove.
Drill: Right hand on the hi-hat, even eighth notes, relaxed and consistent.
Notation: Hi-hat eighth notes — 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & (right hand only). · Tempo: 100→120 BPM
✓ Advance when: 60 sec unbroken at 120 BPM, consistent height and dynamics, no rushing.