The Complete Lesson Pack
- LESSON PACKS
- 3 (Registered)

Course Description
Congratulations on deciding to learn the absolute best instrument in the entire universe, the DRUMS! This lesson pack was put together in a comprehensive approach to the drums to help provide a methodical and practical way of learning this instrument. This, of course, is in addition to your daily get behind the kit and whale away sessions, WHICH ARE A MUST! Balance is everything in helping weigh priorities and options, which is why I find great pleasure in helping people from all over the world understand what it is they are expressing or wanting to express by way of drumming. Welcome to your complete beginner’s lesson pack and to 99centdrumlessons.com, From my heart to your pocket! – Lou Santiago Jr.
Course Content
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Intro
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Lecture1.1
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Intro to Drumming
Welcome to the drumming community! In this section you will learn the language used in music and drumming as well as the components that make up the drum-set.
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Lecture2.1
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Lecture2.2
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Lecture2.3
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Lecture2.4
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Lecture2.5
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Lecture2.6
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Lecture2.7
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Lecture2.8
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Tuning your drums
This chapter contains videos explaining the basic approach to tuning drums. Your sound is your voice, how you choose to tune is a personal one. This lesson pack is an introductory to the process.
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Lecture3.1
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Lecture3.2
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Lecture3.3
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Reading & Writing
This chapter contains the foundation to reading, writing, and understanding drum notation. Does reading make you a better player? No, but does it make you a well equipped one? Yes!
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Lecture4.1
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Lecture4.2
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Lecture4.3
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Lecture4.4
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Lecture4.5
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Lecture4.6
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Lecture4.7
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Lecture4.8
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Hand Technique
This chapter contains the fundamentals of various grips, hand and wrist motions within the free-stroke and Moeller method, and a hand conditioning exercise to help maintain stamina, thus leading to faster hands; in addition, an introduction to hand independence.
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Lecture5.1
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Lecture5.2
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Lecture5.3
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Lecture5.4
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Lecture5.5
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Lecture5.6
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Lecture5.7
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Lecture5.8
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Rudiments
This chapter contains four must know rudiments and a stick exercise (to help with smoother transitions). So, what's are rudiments? Rudiments are sticking patterns matched with rhythmic notations. They are the foundations to developing an expansive and broad rhythmic vocabulary on the drum-set. In other words, welcome to the initial alphabet of phrasing.
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Lecture6.1
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Lecture6.2
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Lecture6.3
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Lecture6.4
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Lecture6.5
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Foot Technique
In this chapter we take a closer look at the bass drum pedal components, foot placement and movements in the heel down and up positions, followed by exercises and yes, an initial foot independence exercise.
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Lecture7.1
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Lecture7.2
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Lecture7.3
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Lecture7.4
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Lecture7.5
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Lecture7.6
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Lecture7.7
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Lecture7.8
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Lecture7.9
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Grooves
In this chapter we put it all together to create and play some rock, pop, and dance grooves for you to have people move too.
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Lecture8.1
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Lecture8.2
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Lecture8.3
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Lecture8.4
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Lecture8.5
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Lecture8.6
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Outro
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Lecture9.1
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Instructor
Lou Santiago Jr. has already had a remarkable musical career that is the stuff urban legends are made of. Born in New York City in 1976, Lou did not purchase his first drum set until he was eighteen. After two years of eight to twelve hours of daily practice, he quit playing and joined the Navy - intent on earning tuition money to attend the Drummer's Collective in New York City, now known as The Collective. Five years later, during his last year of enlistment, Lou finally picked up his sticks again and, incredibly, after eight months of practicing, won the 2001 Guitar Center South East Regional Drum-Off, placing him 7th in the nation. Two years later, in 2003, he won the over 18 age division of Modern Drummer's worldwide "Undiscovered Drummer" contest and soon after toured with legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson in his Big Bop Nouveau Band. "Louis is without a doubt one of the most exciting new young drummers on the scene. He is dedicated to his craft and I look forward to watching the progress of his career!" - Maynard Ferguson. Since then, Lou has gone on to work with some of the industry's finest artists, such as John Benitez, Adam Nitti, Alex Acuña, Luis Conte and more. Latin and English CCM artists such as Marco Barrientos, Raul Sanchez, Christine D’clario, Jeff Deyo, Natalie Grant, Anthony Evans, Seventh Day Slumber, and many more. In addition to performance, Lou has a passion for teaching. He has been a successful masterclass clinician, inspiring and influencing drummers of all ages both in Europe and the United States. Highlighted in Modern Drummer Magazine, Lou says his goal is, "To become a better person and drummer than I was yesterday. I sincerely believe that music both inspires and speaks to people. I pray that my drumming does the same.” In 2008, Lou launched 99centdrumlessons.com which was the first of its kind. The site consisted of online drumming lessons which averaged between 15-20 minutes in length being sold for $0.99. Despite its instantaneous success, Lou would later take the site down as a sacrifice in hopes to reintroduce it upon completion of a larger vision despite knowing he would lose primary online “real-estate”. The bigger vision was to incorporate medicine with drumming. Despite not being taken seriously, Lou believed in his vision and began the journey to become a health care provider. In 2010, Lou began his undergraduate studies in Biomedical Sciences. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2013. While awaiting acceptance to a program in Physician Associate Studies, Lou was called to tour with Seventh Day Slumber. Upon completion of the tour, Lou was accepted and attended the CUNY School of Medicine and graduated Magna Cum Laude in January 2019.