Get started right and enjoy playing more!
This video is an indispensable aid to any beginning drummer. It covers everything from setup, to how to hold the sticks, how to hit the drums, and some basic patterns to start you playing. There is a wealth of good drum instructional material out there, but for an absolute beginner, this is the very best there is. Follow it up with the even-better "Groove Essentials" and you can't go wrong. Every parent buying a drum set for their kid should but this too, and make watching it mandatory. It just might prevent a few weeks of random pounding followed by abandonment of the drums.

Good program, but needs a little more
Tommy does a great job relating to kids. My son (11) really enjoyed this training video. We purchased "Essentials" and it has alot of complicated grooves in it to learn. I believe "Basics" needs a little more in it to help with the transition between the two. Still a great product.

GREAT DVD!
I am a bass player. I have been fascinated by drums forever. I recently got a good deal on a like new Pearl Export. I got this and Groove esentials. Very impressed! Tommy explains everything in detail, yet it is not at all boring. He is very good at teaching. He doesn't have an attitude. I would recommend this DVD to all aspiring drummers.

Hands down, THE Best Beginner Drum DVD.
I don't normally write reviews, but this DVD inspired me to write one. After getting my drum set, I purchased quite a few drum DVDs looking for the best substitue for lessons. The two Tommy Igoe DVDs (Beginning Drums and Groove Essentials) are by far the best DVDs I've ever seen for that purpose. In fact, Tommy actually shows students learning the drums and talks to the audience as if he's in a lesson.

I didn't really need the first section on setting up the drums as I'd already had quite a bit time to play around with them, but for someone that's new to the drums, that part is excellent too.

Tommy has one of the best personalities for teaching that I've ever seen on a DVD. As an expert level, accomplished drummer, he knows the material and is able to professionally convey it on a DVD to his students. His attitude of having fun and feeling the music also comes out in his excellent approach to teaching. Having never taken a proper lesson, I can say that I've learned more from Tommy's DVDs than I have from any other source. The section on drum fills was especially usefull to me as no other DVD describes the technique as he does. I would HIGHlY recommend both of his DVDs to anyone learning to play the drums or even to intermediate drummers who want to pick up

Getting Started on Drums
Great starter DVD. Mr.Igoe does a great job for those just starting out. Starts with how to set up, time, beats, grooves and fills. I still use the DVD on top of lessons! Plan to purchase more of his work.