20 Modern Snare Drum Solos: A Rhythmic Journey – Daniel Bédard
By: Daniel Bédard
Difficulty Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Review type: Solo
Publisher: Wizdom Media/Alfred Publishing
Reviewed by: Jim Lambert
Percussive Notes, Volume 62, No. 5 – October 2024
This collection of 20 snare drum solos covers various rhythmic ideas including rudiments, polyrhythms, odd times, various tempos, and applications for drumset. Opening with a 41-measure rudimental snare drum solo in 4/4 titled “A Walk in the Park,” the collection sets the standard high for the performer with a clear explanation of the solo’s structure, with the composer’s rationale of seven distinct sections combining seven-stroke rolls, pataflaflas, and Swiss Army triplets, among others. Marked at a tempo of quarter-note equals 90, the student performer would be wise to slow the tempo slightly in order to achieve the accents with the marked stickings.
The second solo, “Dragonfly,” has the performer working through variations of ternary rhythms, notated in 12/8 throughout this 40-measure composition. The third solo, “Diddle Doggy Bag,” has the performer working paradiddles and associated paradiddle variations. Set in 3/4 throughout its 56 measures, the fourth solo, titled “Not a Waltz — per se.” explores the tasteful variations of six subsections, providing a unique solo experience.
Solos 5 through 20 are equally delightful variations upon one or more rudiments and their associated accentuated patterns, providing diversity and challenges in their compositional approaches. One solo that begins to bridge Bédard’s solos to his drumset applications is “Tony, Steve and Vinnie,” dedicated to Tony Williams, Steve Gadd, and Vinnie Colaiuta. It is in 7/8 and covers the vocabularies of these three performers using paradiddles and various three-note groupings.
The second section of the book, “Applications on the Drumset,” adds the bass drum and hi-hat. Bédard connects this section to several of his snare drum solos in the first section, such as “A Walk in the Park,” “Dragonfly,” and “Tony, Steve and Vinnie.” This provides a logical extension and conclusion to his musical journey.
20 Modern Snare Drum Solos — A Rhythmic Journey is a very useful and challenging publication that could be very practical for instruction on snare drum rudiments and their application on drumset. Audio download access for this book is available upon purchase.