dougstronach.com is in the process of transitioning all of the previous online pipe band snare drum courses to video on demand courses. The Essentials (Beginner) Video Course, Grade 5 and Grade 4 Courses are available now. The Grade 3 Course will be the final course in the series and will be available shortly. A list of the videos in each course is below.
Please visit www.dsonlinecourses.com to sign up. Any questions feel free to get in touch directly or use the contact form here. Band discounts are available for multiple students.
You can view some sample videos from the Essentials Video Course by following the link here.
The Essentials (Beginner) Video Course (108 videos).
This course is for the complete beginner, or existing player looking to refine their basic skills in pipe band snare drumming. It begins with how to hold the sticks, and ends with learning the four North American Massed Band Cadences. The course contains a lot of essential knowledge for starting your journey in pipe band drumming.
| LESSON NAME & NUMBER | VIDEO TITLE |
| Grip & Position | |
| Lesson 1_P1 | Practice Pad Setup |
| Lesson 1_P2 | Right Hand Position |
| Lesson 1_P3 | Left Hand Position |
| Lesson 1_P4 | Right Hand Grip |
| Lesson 1 P5 | Left Hand grip |
| Metronomes and Introductions | |
| Lesson 2_P1 | Metronomes |
| Lesson 2_P2 | Setting a Tempo |
| Lesson 2_P3 | Time Signatures |
| Lesson 2_P4 | Subdivisions |
| Lesson 2_P5 | Tap Tempo Feature |
| Lesson 2_P6 | Timer Function |
| Lesson 2_P7 | Introductions |
| Point Up and Down | |
| Lesson 3_P1 | Intro to Notation |
| Lesson 3_P2 | Lifting the Stick |
| Lesson 3_P3 | Up Stroke Timing |
| Lesson 3_P4 | Point Up Down Exercise |
| Rudiments Sheet 1 | |
| Lesson 4_P1 | What Are Rudiments? |
| Lesson 4_P2 | Sheet Explanation |
| Lesson 4_P3 | Practice Methods |
| Lesson 4_P4 | Single Strokes |
| Lesson 4_P5 | Double Strokes |
| Lesson 4_P6 | Paradiddles |
| Lesson 4_P7 | Increasing and Decreasing Tempo Gradually |
| The Double Technique | |
| Lesson 5_P1 | The Double Technique |
| Lesson 5_P2 | Sticking Patterns Sheet 1 |
| Lesson 5_P3 | Lines F, G and H |
| The Buzz | |
| Lesson 6_P1 | Open and Closed Rudiments |
| Lesson 6_P2 | Intro to Buzzes |
| Lesson 6_P3 | The Sound of a Buzz |
| Lesson 6_P4 | Buzzes Sheet 1 |
| Lesson 6_P5 | Buzzes Sheet 2 |
| Highland Laddie & Black Bear | |
| Lesson 7_P1 | Introduction to Highland Laddie |
| Lesson 7_P2 | The Structure of a 2/4 March |
| Lesson 7_P3 | Rhythms & Rudiments |
| Lesson 7_P4 | Form – ABAC |
| Lesson 7_P5 | The 2 Bar Phrases |
| Lesson 7_P6 | The Whole Score |
| Lesson 7_P7 | Introduction to The Black Bear |
| Lesson 7_P8 | The 2 Bar Phrases |
| Lesson 7_P9 | The Whole Score |
| The 25 Stroke Buzz Roll | |
| Lesson 8_P1 | Buzz Roll Numbering System |
| Lesson 8_P2 | Roll Abbreviations |
| Lesson 8_P3 | Notation |
| Lesson 8_P4 | Line A |
| Lesson 8_P5 | Line A & B |
| Lesson 8_P6 | Line C |
| Lesson 8_P7 | Line D |
| Lesson 8_P8 | Intro Rolls with Command & Metronome |
| The 13 Stroke Buzz Roll | |
| Lesson 9_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 9_P2 | Line A |
| Lesson 9_P3 | Line A & B |
| Lesson 9_P4 | Line C |
| Lesson 9_P5 | Line D |
| The 7 Stroke Buzz Roll | |
| Lesson 10_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 10_P2 | Line A and B |
| Lesson 10_P3 | Line C & D |
| Lesson 10_P4 | Lines C & D with metronome |
| The Flam | |
| Lesson 11_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 11_P2 | Line A |
| Lesson 11_P3 | Line B |
| Lesson 11_P4 | Line C |
| Lesson 11_P5 | Line D |
| Lesson 11_P6 | Lines E to H |
| Rudiments Sheet 2 | |
| Lesson 12_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 12_P2 | Line A |
| Lesson 12_P3 | Line B |
| Lesson 12_P4 | Line C |
| Lesson 12_P5 | Line D |
| Lesson 12_P6 | Lines E, F and G |
| Single Hand Development | |
| Lesson 13_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 13_P2 | Lines A & B |
| Lesson 13_P3 | Line C & D |
| The History of the NA Massed Band Scores | |
| Lesson 14 | |
| The 2/4 Massed Band Cadence | |
| Lesson 15_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 15_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| Lesson 15_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| Lesson 15_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| Lesson 15_P5 | 2/4 Cadence, Part 1 |
| Lesson 15_P6 | 2/4 Cadence, Part 2 |
| Lesson 15_P7 | 2/4 Cadence with metronome |
| The 4-4 Massed Band Cadence | |
| Lesson 16_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 16_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| Lesson 16_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| Lesson 16_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| Lesson 16_P5 | 4/4 Cadence, Part 1 |
| Lesson 16_P6 | 4/4 Cadence, Part 2 |
| Lesson 16_P7 | 4/4 Cadence with metronome |
| The 3-4 Massed Band Cadence | |
| Lesson 17_P1 | Notation |
| Lesson 17_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| Lesson 17_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| Lesson 17_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| Lesson 17_P5 | Phrase 4 |
| Lesson 17_P6 | 3/4 Cadence, Part 1 |
| Lesson 17_P7 | 3/4 Cadence, Part 2 |
| Lesson 17_P8 | 3/4 Cadence with metronome |
| The 6-8 Massed Band Cadence | |
| Lesson 18_P1A | The 6/8 March Rhythm |
| Lesson 18_P1B | Notation |
| Lesson 18_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| Lesson 18_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| Lesson 18_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| Lesson 18_P5 | Phrase 4 |
| Lesson 18_P6 | 6/8 Cadence, Part 1 |
| Lesson 18_P7 | 6/8 Cadence, Part 2 |
| Lesson 18_P8 | 6/8 Cadence with metronome |
| Performance Videos | |
| Lesson 19_P1 | 2/4 Performance |
| Lesson 19_P2 | 4/4 Performance |
| Lesson 19_P3 | 3/4 Performance |
| Lesson 19 _P4 | 6/8 Performance |
The Grade 5 Video Course (90 videos).
This course continues on from the Essentials Video Course with more advanced rudimental and exercise work as well as learning four, 2-parted 2/4 marches that are tune specific and suitable for Grade 5 solo competition or band performance. The course also starts work on developing some new rudiments and technique required for the Grade 4 level.
| LESSON NAME & NUMBER | VIDEO TITLE |
| Accented Paradiddles, A to D | |
| GR5_Lesson 1_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 1_P2 | A and B |
| GR5_Lesson 1_P3 | C and D |
| GR5_Lesson 1_P4 | A and C |
| GR5_Lesson 1 P5 | B and D |
| Single Stroke Preparation | |
| GR5_Lesson 2_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 2_P2 | Upstroke and downstroke technique |
| GR5_Lesson 2_P3 | Line A |
| GR5_Lesson 2_P4 | Line B |
| GR5_Lesson 2_P5 | Line C |
| GR5_Lesson 2_P6 | Line D |
| Tizz Rolls | |
| GR5_Lesson 3_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 3_P2 | Line A & B |
| GR5_Lesson 3_P3 | Line C & D |
| GR5_Lesson 3_P4 | Line E & F |
| GR5_Lesson 3_P5 | Line G |
| Score: Wha’ Saw the 42nd | |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P5 | Phrase 4 |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P6 | Part 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P7 | Part 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 4_P8 | Score with metronome |
| Accented Paradiddles, E to I | |
| GR5_Lesson 5_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 5_P2 | Lines E & F |
| GR5_Lesson 5_P3 | Lines G & H |
| GR5_Lesson 5_P4 | Line I |
| Double Paradiddles | |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P2 | Line A & E |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P3 | Line B & F |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P4 | Line C & G |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P5 | Line D & H |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P6 | Line A to D |
| GR5_Lesson 6_P7 | Line E to H |
| Accented Roll Preparation | |
| GR5_Lesson 7_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 7_P2 | Lines A |
| GR5_Lesson 7_P3 | Line B |
| GR5_Lesson 7_P4 | Line C |
| GR5_Lesson 7_P5 | Line D |
| Score: Brown Haired Maid | |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P5 | Phrase 4 |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P6 | Part 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P7 | Part 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 8_P8 | Score with metronome |
| Score: Teribus | |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P5 | Phrase 4 |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P6 | Part 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P7 | Part 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 9_P8 | Score with metronome |
| Flam Paradiddles | |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P2 | Line A to D |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P3 | Line E to H |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P4 | Line I to L |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P5 | Line M to P |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P6 | Line Q & R |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P7 | Line S & T |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P8 | Line U & V |
| GR5_Lesson 10_P9 | Line W & X |
| Single Stroke Variations | |
| GR5_Lesson 11_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 11_P2 | Line A & B |
| GR5_Lesson 11_P3 | Line C & D |
| GR5_Lesson 11_P4 | Line E & F |
| GR5_Lesson 11_P5 | Line G & H |
| Double Stroke Variations | |
| GR5_Lesson 12_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 12_P2 | Line A & B |
| GR5_Lesson 12_P3 | Line C, D and E |
| GR5_Lesson 12_P4 | Line F & G |
| GR5_Lesson 12_P5 | Line H & I |
| Buzz Roll Variations | |
| GR5_Lesson 13_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 13_P2 | Line A & B |
| GR5_Lesson 13_P3 | Line C & D |
| Score: Mairi’s Wedding | |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P1 | Notation |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P2 | Phrase 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P3 | Phrase 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P4 | Phrase 3 |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P5 | Phrase 4 |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P6 | Part 1 |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P7 | Part 2 |
| GR5_Lesson 14_P8 | Score with metronome |
| Performance Videos | |
| GR5_Lesson 15_P1 | Wha’ Saw the 42nd |
| GR5_Lesson 15_P2 | Brown haired Maid |
| GR5_Lesson 15_P3 | Teribus |
| GR5_Lesson 15_P4 | Mairi’s Wedding |
Grade 4 Video Course (88 videos).
This course teaches more rudimental variations, exercises and techniques involved in becoming a Grade 4 level player. The pre-2020 North American Massed Band Scores are also taught, as well as a four parted, tune specific 2/4 march for solo or band performance. The course also starts to develop more advanced rudiments and exercises in preparation for the Grade 3 level.
| LESSON NAME & NUMBER | VIDEO TITLE |
| The 5,7,9 & 13 Stroke Buzz Rolls | |
| GR4_Lesson 1_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 1_P2 | Basic Rolls: Lines A, D, G, J |
| GR4_Lesson 1_P3 | Accented Rolls : Lines B, E, H and K |
| GR4_Lesson 1_P4 | Continuous Accented Rolls : Lines C, F, I and L |
| GR4_Lesson 1_P5 | All lines |
| GR4_Lesson 1_P6 | The Tizz Roll |
| Grade 4 Technique Exercises | |
| GR4_Lesson 2_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 2_P2 | Lines A & B |
| GR4_Lesson 2_P3 | Lines C & D |
| GR4_Lesson 2_P4 | Lines E, F and G |
| GR4_Lesson 2_P5 | Line H |
| The Closed Drag | |
| GR4_Lesson 3_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 3_P2 | The Right Hand Drag |
| GR4_Lesson 3_P3 | The Left Hand Drag |
| The North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 4/4 | |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P1 | History and Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P2 | Phrase 1 (4/4 Beginning, 1st Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P3 | Phrase 2 (4/4 Middle) |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P4 | Phrase 3 (4/4 Ending) |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P5 | Phrase 4 (4/4 Beginning, 2nd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P6 | Phrase 5 (4/4 Beginning, 3rd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P7 | Phrase 6 (4/4 Beginning, 4th Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 4_P8 | 4/4 score with metronome |
| The North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 2/4 | |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P2 | Phrase 3 (2/4 Ending) |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P3 | 2/4, 1st Part |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P4 | 2/4, 2nd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P5 | 2/4, 3rd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P6 | 2/4, 4th Part |
| GR4_Lesson 5_P7 | 2/4 score with metronome |
| The North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 3/4 | |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P2 | Phrase 1 (3/4 Beginning, 1st Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P3 | Phrase 2 (3/4 Middle) |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P4 | Phrase 3 (3/4 Ending) |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P5 | Phrase 4 (3/4 Beginning, 2nd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P6 | Phrase 5 (3/4 Beginning, 3rd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P7 | Phrase 6 (3/4 Beginning, 4th Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P8 | 3/4, 1st Part |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P9 | 3/4, 2nd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P10 | 3/4, 3rd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P11 | 3/4, 4th Part |
| GR4_Lesson 6_P12 | 3/4 score with metronome |
| The North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 6/8 | |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P2 | Phrase 1 (6/8 Beginning, 1st Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P3 | Phrase 2 (6/8 Middle) |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P4 | Phrase 3 (6/8 Ending) |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P5 | Phrase 4 (6/8 Beginning, 2nd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P6 | Phrase 5 (6/8 Beginning, 3rd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P7 | Phrase 6 (6/8 Beginning, 4th Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P8 | 6/8, 1st Part |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P9 | 6/8, 2nd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P10 | 6/8, 3rd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P11 | 6/8, 4th Part |
| GR4_Lesson 7_P12 | 6/8 score with metronome |
| Grade 4 Roll Combinations | |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P2 | Line A |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P3 | Line B |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P4 | Line C |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P5 | Line D |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P6 | Line E |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P7 | Line F |
| GR4_Lesson 8_P8 | Line G |
| Single, Double and Triple Paradiddles | |
| GR4_Lesson 9_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 9_P2 | Line A |
| GR4_Lesson 9_P3 | Line B |
| GR4_Lesson 9_P4 | Line A and B with flams |
| The Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering, Part 1 | |
| GR4_Lesson 10_P1 | Notation |
| GR4_Lesson 10_P2 | Phrase 1 (Beginning, 1st Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 10_P3 | Phrase 2 (Middle) |
| GR4_Lesson 10_P4 | Phrase 3 (Ending) |
| GR4_Lesson 10_P5 | A&B Gathering, 1st Part |
| The Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering, Part 2 | |
| GR4_Lesson 11_P1 | Phrase 4 (Beginning, 2nd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 11_P2 | Phrase 2 Variation (middle, 2nd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 11_P3 | Line 1, 2nd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 11_P4 | Line 2, 2nd Part |
| GR4_Lesson 11_P5 | A&B Gathering, 2nd Part |
| The Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering, Part 3 | |
| GR4_Lesson 12_P1 | Phrase 5 (Beginning, 3rd Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 12_P2 | A&B Gathering, 3rd Part |
| The Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering, Part 4 | |
| GR4_Lesson 13_P1 | Phrase 6 (Beginning, 4th Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 13_P2 | Phrase 2 variation (middle, 4th Part) |
| GR4_Lesson 13_P3 | Line 1, 4th Part |
| GR4_Lesson 13_P4 | Line 2, 4th Part |
| GR4_Lesson 13_P5 | A&B Gathering, 4th Part |
| The Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering, All Parts | |
| GR4_Lesson 14 | A&B Gathering with metronome |
| The North American Pre-2020 Massed Band Scores Performance Videos | |
| GR4_Lesson 15_P1 | North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 4/4 |
| GR4_Lesson 15_P2 | North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 2/4 |
| GR4_Lesson 15_P3 | North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 3/4 |
| GR4_Lesson 15_P4 | North American Pre 2020 Massed Band 6/8 |
| Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering Performance Video | |
| GR4_Lesson 16 | Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering 2/4 Competition March |