Double Stroke Roll

The Double Stroke roll is basically just to strokes on each hand. When you play to strokes on each hand it is also called a diddle.To practice you should grab a pillow,start off slow and gradually build up speed, this is called a opened and closed roll(slow to fast).

                                                                   
                   

Rudiments

Drum rudiments are basic drum patterns, used as practice exercises. They are basically the foundation of drumming. You should practice these on a pillow to get them crisp and tight, Especially one such as the double stroke roll, single stroke, and all the paradiddles. A good book to buy to help you along the way of your rudiments is the Rudimental Cookbook by Edward freytag. Its packed with all the basic rudiments and comes with "a collection of 25 State of the art Rudimental Snare Drum Solos" and a performance Cd.

http://www.rowloff.com/BooksFolder/RC.html

Matched Grip

With Matched Grip both sticks are held how you held your right hand in traditional grip.

Tradional grip

     LEFT HAND
      Their are two ways to hold the sticks traditional grip and matched grip Matched grip is usually used during concert band but is equally as important. For traditional grip extend your left arm, with your plam facing down and fingers together. Place the stick in between the SOCKET between the THUMB and FIRST FINGER, with one third of the stick above the hand and 2/3 below facing the ground. The grip should be just tight enough to cause a light drag if you try to pull the stick from the hand.

     Close the third and fourth fingers and TURN THE ARM TO THE LEFT. The stick will then fall into position across the third finger. Draw your arm towards your body, allow the first and second fingers to CURL TOWARDS THE STICK to act as a guide for the stick. Your hand should now be in the following position: Stick BETWEEN thumb and first finger, FIRST TWO FINGERS lightly against the stick, THIRD FINGER CLOSED and acting as a support for the stick, FOURTH FINGER resting against the third. THUMB is always above the stick.

   RIGHT HAND
     Place the stick DIAGONALLY Across the PALM of the hand. Grip between the first finger and the THUMB one third of the distance from the butt end of the stick. Close the fingers LOOSELY around the stick. The SECOND FINGER will be used to help control the stick. TURN HE HAND OVER, so that the BACK of the hand will be up when playing. The stick will be approximately in a straight line with the wrist and arm.

                                     

A Pair of Sticks

     Now, before you can play the snare you will need a good pair of sticks. For the marching snare you use a lager type of stick then you would use for the drumset. Some of my all time favorite sticks are vic firth sticks. You can get these from your local music shop, if not , you can go to http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/Categories/Vic-Firth-Corpsmaster-Snare-Sticks/. The Vic Firth SRH are a nice pair to start out with.