Side Drum Tutor – The Easiest Method of Learning to Beat the Side Drum by Fred H. Poole is available once again in a reissued 24 page 8.25x6in paperback book or as a Kindle ebook. International buyers, please search on your region or country’s local Amazon site.

This British civilian rudimental snare manual was published sometime around 1908 by the Henry Potter Co. in the UK and features 25 rudiments (different from the American NARD 26, though there is some overlap), 8 exercises, 5 examples, and 16 beatings for the side drum. It also explains technique and music reading, preparing the drummer for early 1900s marches and general playing. It was published by the descendants of Samuel L. Potter, author of The Art of Beating the Drum, which was potentially the most influential of all British military drum manuals.

I have brought this classic back to the modern audience with all of the original content and pagination, plus annotation for background, history, clarification, or other tidbits. It has not been in print for decades but is again available for study by percussionists of all stripes. Anyone looking to learn about the British style of side drumming, or research the history of rudimental drums in general, or just find some new material to play will find this entertaining.