Quadlingual Book

$55.00

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Quadlingual is a comprehensive resource for the modern quad drummer. Drawing parallels between learning a language and learning an instrument, it shows you the vocabulary from beginner to advanced. It explains how to move through those elements successfully and what pitfalls to avoid. The result is a beautifully designed book that strikes the perfect balance between being concise and being thorough.

Will be delivered after Christmas.

150 pages of quad knowledge divided into 7 sections
Full-color charts, photos, and diagrams to help you understand this instrument that’s both musical and visual
For students, teachers, and arrangers
From beginner to very advanced
Dos and don’ts with photos to help you troubleshoot common pitfalls
Read it cover to cover or explore individual pages in any order
Sheet music from Rhythm X and several top 12 drum corps
Foreword by Tim Jackson
Heavy, quality paper for durability
Available in hardcover and paperback

Get an in-depth look into the Quadlingual book

7 Sections

Posture, grip, tuning, and other prep—a solid setup gives you and your line an aura of professionalism before a note is played.

The vertical axis is the one all drummers share. This section builds the foundation: grip, touch, rebound, pressure—everything that contributes to resonance and control.

The five core motions of quad drumming—windshield wiper, push/pull, crossover, scrape, and yaw—explained through mechanics, application, and common pitfalls.

Twenty progressive exercises forming a modern canon for the instrument. The closest thing to a shortcut to mastering the instrument.

The main patterns and building blocks that comprise quad drumming, organized into eight subchapters, including scrape patterns and common voicings for singles, flams, paradiddles, etc.

Twenty excerpts drawn from decades of marching, teaching, and writing. Each passage reveals how vocabulary and motion appear in real-world repertoire. Includes breakdowns, practice tips, and stories.

The overlooked topics that round out a player’s understanding: stick changes, split parts, independence, and more.

About the Author

Thomas Claesen has been teaching quads at the highest level for over a decade. He has been on staff with Rhythm X since 2018 and his drum corps teaching résumé includes Blue Knights 2017-2019 and Carolina Crown 2023. Originally from
Belgium, Thomas speaks four languages. This book combines his love for drumming, design, and language.

"In Quadlingual, Thomas provides an immense amount of knowledge in an incredibly accessible way."

Tim Jackson
Rhythm X Program Coordinator
4-Time DCI I&E Multi-Tenor Champion

Frequently asked questions

Quadlingual was written for students, instructors, and arrangers.

Students will find a comprehensive resource that can stand on its own or as a supplement to rehearsal and lessons. There are tips all ability levels from beginner and intermediate to advanced players.
Instructors will find the photos with dos and dont's super helpful because they identify what to look for in students. This can be a big help to percusssionists whose main instrument isn't quads. Additionally, the short exercises in The Quad Canon (typically 4-8 bars) invite them to expand their abilities on the instrument even with a busy schedule.
Arrangers will find new vocabulary and variations for their music writing. The Literature chapter includes authorized copies from seven different arrangers, East Coast to West Coast, which will bring new inspiration for their tenor arounds. Additionally, just like with speaking a language, there's no substitute for playing the patterns yourself. Dozens of the most common ones are presented in a very digestible way.

Quadlingual was written for all ability levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. Beginners can use The Quad Canon chapter as a method book, supplementing with the other sections, such as vertical technique, movement mechanics that are specific to tenor drums, and vocabulary builders.

The Literature chapter contains show excerpts for intermediate and advanced players (open class and world class).

First of all, we love all the other quad books that are out there! Each of our books takes a different perspective on this beautiful instrument.

This is what makes Quadlingual different:

This is a 2025 update to quad drumming. It's an ever evolving art form!
Most books in circulation are written for 5 drums (1 spock) while Quadlingual is written for 6 (2 spocks). Having 2 spocks results in new patterns and combinations, which are covered in depth in this resource.
The music excerpts in Quadlingual were taken from line settings, rather than having an I&E type focus. These licks often went through several iterations to get it "right" by finals. 2-5 players and their instructors/designers crafted these memorable moments.
It's full color

Absolutely. The structure was designed with educators in mind. The techniques and exercises include clearly illustrated pitfalls with labeled do and don't, making it super easy to spot in rehearsal. The book was also written so it can be picked up for five minutes at a time, giving you concrete advice to take to your next rehearsal even with your busy schedule.

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

Processing times (printing + shipping/handling) are subject to peak season delays, but a typical turnaround time is 4-10 business days for printing and an additional 2-6 business days for shipping.