My Marching Band & Drumline Books:
Explore a diverse collection of drum books and marching percussion resources designed for today’s educators, performers, and students. From in-depth drumline method books and marching band guides to engaging drum novels and practical eBooks, you’ll find materials created to inform, challenge, and inspire.
In addition to published titles, you’ll also discover free drumline music, pit arrangements, drumset charts, and thoughtfully written articles that support percussionists across styles and experience levels. Every resource is crafted with real-world application in mind, whether you’re in the practice room, the band room, or on the field.
These books serve more than just percussionists. They are valuable for drum techs, music educators, band directors, drill writers, and staff members who want a clearer understanding of how the percussion section fits into the larger ensemble. If you are building a foundation, refining your teaching approach, or simply looking for a fresh perspective, there is something here that will elevate your work.
Take a look through the collection below and find the resources that meet you where you are and help you move forward.
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The drum packet is one of my most widely used percussion resources. This 326-page drumline and front ensemble packet provides a complete collection of warmups, exercises, cadences, and instructional guidance for marching percussion ensembles.
Hundreds of programs across the country use the packet to establish consistent rehearsal routines and reinforce strong playing fundamentals. The material spans multiple skill levels and includes music for snare, tenor, bass drum, and front ensemble. It is designed to help ensembles build technique, coordination, and musical confidence.
This free drum sight-reading booklet helps teachers and parents quickly assess a percussionist’s level for lessons, solo selection, or ensemble placement.
The 14-page resource includes structured sight-reading passages across Levels 1 through 6, plus two advanced extensions for higher-level players. In total, you’ll get 48 ready-to-use assessments, all available as a free download.
Rudimental drumming demands clarity and consistency, and this book tackles both head-on. If you want smoother rolls, more controlled diddles, and a line that sounds prepared instead of panicked, this guide keeps the focus where it belongs.
By training pattern awareness and showing how closely related ideas challenge your hands in different ways, it builds a system you can apply season after season. Whether you teach rudimental percussion or you are putting in the reps yourself, this resource keeps your technique accountable and your improvement measurable.
No fluff. Just a direct path to a stronger rudimental vocabulary and a cleaner performance.
Drummy Drum Joins Marchy Band follows a curious young character who tries instrument after instrument, searching for the right fit. When he finally discovers the drums, everything clicks.
This playful marching band story celebrates individuality, confidence, and finding where you belong. Filled with fun sounds and lighthearted moments, it’s a great read for families, classrooms, and anyone who loves sharing music with the next generation.
Drummond is a marching band novel by Patrick R. F. Blakley that expands on the world introduced in Drummy Drum Joins Marchy Band. While the original story was created for children, this version is written for an older audience and dives deeper into the characters and their journey.
The novel follows Drummond, a reluctant newcomer who gives marching band a shot and unexpectedly finds his passion. It’s an engaging, music-driven story that resonates with young adults and anyone who remembers what it feels like to discover where they belong.
Quadratics: The Tenor Drum Equation is a focused guide for marching tenor drummers who want to go beyond the basics. Each drum in the set is explored in detail, with attention given to technique, movement, musicality, and practical application.
Inside, you’ll find warmups, exercises, and solos designed to refine accuracy and flow around the drums. Whether you’re a performer sharpening your skills or a staff member looking for clear, practical solutions, this book delivers direct, usable answers. If you want specifics on quads, this is where they live.
Once your marching percussion section is on the field, the next step is understanding how it actually functions. This book breaks down the structure, responsibilities, and sound concepts behind both battery and front ensemble in a clear, practical way.
New band directors, staff members, and performers will all gain insight into how the percussion section operates and why it sounds the way it does. It answers the questions you forgot to ask and the ones you did not know you had.
Consider it a straightforward user’s manual for marching percussion, built for real rehearsal situations.
In addition to his music titles, Patrick has written several books outside the percussion world. These include a comedy series called Cooking With A Two Slot Toaster, comprised of two 200+ page cookbooks featuring creative recipes made using only a standard toaster, and a two-act stage play as the final installment!
Other publications include a 110-page historical essay exploring Terre Hill in Woodard, NY, Questions I Have For You, a 112-page paper examining religious ideologies from a broad perspective, and a 56-page research paper analyzing the Balkan organization Narodna Odbrana.