“I want to imitate and learn from pros’ mind-blowing drum techniques!”
There are countless training videos and breakdowns by drummers, and when a performance catches your eye, you want to examine every detail, right?
Still, with so many types of videos out there, it can be hard to know where to start.
Here, we’ve selected recommended drum training videos curated by Tetsuji Horio—who’s not only a drummer, but also an instructor and music producer.
You might discover some drummers you’ve never heard of, so be sure to check them out!
- [J-Pop] A Compilation of Songs with Awesome Drums [2026]
- Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: a collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills
- [2026] A roundup of world-famous drummers who changed the history of music
- [2026] Japan’s Leading Famous Drummers — From Veterans to Rising Stars
- A song with a cool drum intro
- Recommended training videos for beginner drummers. A summary of effective practice methods.
- Dance music recommended by dancers for people in their 20s: A collection of popular tracks
- Chosen by a YouTuber guitarist! Practice songs for guitar strumming: Japanese rock edition
- [Low End] A collection of Japanese songs with high-difficulty bass parts [Cool]
- Level up over summer break! Practice songs recommended for guitarists
- [Beginner] Start with this song! A collection of practice tunes for jazz beginners
- [2026] Practice Songs for Beginner Drummers: Easy and Cool Recommendations
- [Chosen by a jazz guitarist] 10 guitarists recommended by Katsuhide Wakui
Chosen by professional drummers. Training videos you really should watch.
Joe Morello’s drum instructional video
This is an instructional video by Joe Morello, author of the perennial bestseller method book Master Studies.
It features a demonstration of his unique drill, the Killer Stone.
This is a rare gem.
Gary Chaffee’s drum instructional video (Linear Time Figures)
This is a valuable instructional video by Gary Chaffee, with whom I once took private lessons in Boston.
He is a proponent of linear sticking and an outstanding educator and player.
Gary Chaffee’s drum instructional video (Four Note Sticking)
Here’s another video of Gary.
He’s also a legendary player in the United States, and when he came to Japan to perform live, Dave Weckl even came all the way to Japan just to see it.
Kenwood Dennard video
Kenwood Dennard is another outstanding drummer who isn’t very well known in Japan.
He was the drummer for the Jaco Pastorius Band and now teaches at Berklee College of Music.
In this video he’s just playing drums in a standard way, but when he does solo performances, he has the incredible technique of playing the keyboard with both hands—or even with one hand—while drumming.
Kenwood Dennard’s solo video
Here’s a solo performance by Kenwood.
It’s an old, low-quality video, but it’s a valuable record of his incredible solos from that time.
I also took private lessons with him in Boston, and he taught me full-body independence—how to move both hands and both feet separately—and the level of independence was unbelievable.
The body mechanics and movement techniques every drummer should know
This is a digest of the DVD in which I, Tetsuji Horio, serve as the instructor.
It’s a basic lecture on the body’s structure and movement that drummers should know.
A video of Joe “Zigaboo” Modeliste
Another rare live video from 1974 by the legendary New Orleans band The Meters.
It features live footage of the monster drummer, Joe “Zigaboo” Modeliste.
This video is overflowing with the concentrated essence of New Orleans funk.