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Quadlingual is a comprehensive resource for the modern quad drummer, written by veteran Rhythm X instructor Thomas Claesen.
Details
Drawing parallels between learning a language and learning an instrument, Quadlingual 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.
- 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
Made to order
This book is printed just for you when you order, so please allow about 5 business days for printing plus 2-4 business days for shipping. You’ll receive a shipping confirmation email once your copy is on its way!
7 Sections
Setup
Posture, grip, tuning, and other prep—a solid setup gives you and your line an aura of professionalism before a note is played.
Vertical Concepts
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 Main Motions of Quad Drumming
The five core motions of quad drumming—windshield wiper, push/pull, crossover, scrape, and yaw—explained through mechanics, application, and common pitfalls.
The Quad Canon
Twenty progressive exercises forming a modern canon for the instrument. The closest thing to a shortcut to mastering the instrument.
Vocabulary
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.
Literature
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.
Other Quad Things
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
J
This book has everything you need to know for making it into a wgi or dci group. It is also a perfect intro to the tenor drums. It’s use of visuals and show clips makes this a perfect book for the quads.
J
The information feels fresh and contemporary, and the design is 10/10! Definitely a book I’m proud to display on my shelf!
S
As an experienced quad player, I read this book in retrospect to the education I wish I had in my younger days. As an educator, this book is perfect for any level and explains the details of quad drumming perfectly. Of course, for any non quad drummer educator or percussion composer, this book is perfect to learn the language of quads, which will help young quad drummers have a better educational process.
Besides, the visuals and side notes in Quadlingual are SUPER. This makes it an easy and engaging read. Me personally, I might purchase another hard cover book. I gave my first one to a school that I won’t be able to teach at anymore to keep with them forever so they they can learn quads well for years!
R
What a great book! It's useful for students learning how to play quads for the first time,but also a great resource for more experienced players. The lay-out is great and pleasant to read.
A
There is so much good information in this book. Super helpful and really well organized.
A
Goated
J
This is the absolute best percussion tenor book I have seen written and my students absolutely love it. I have had great reviews from former DCI tenor players and Band directors that have percussion backgrounds also. Buy this book! It is a must have for all schools!
M
Thomas has created the next iteration of modern quad drumming. His style, approach and knowledge creates a thoughtful, intuitive prose that is always interesting. He educates, elevates and teaches the craft while staying respectful to the art form . As an educator, I am very comfortable recommending Quadlingual to students worldwide as the definition of where quad drumming is at, where it’s been, and most importantly, where it’s going. 5 Stars!
K
A perfect book that covers everything.
G
Great source of information. Ive played quads about 10 years and consider myself a decent player. Learned a lot on both the teaching and playing sides from this book.
B
Amazing book for teaching others (and yourself!) everything about quads. Plenty of music to chew on, all with tips and practice notes to guide you through and make sure you build good habits. Works as a comprehensive guide that touches on everything from setup, techniques, and tuning.
The book goes through a clear curriculum that makes sure you have the fundamentals before slowly throwing in more complex things.
Plus plenty of visual aides that I love!
Overall, you want to play quads, get this book. If you already play quads, get this book. If you know someone that plays quads or wants to, get them this book. Even if you don't play quads but want to know more about it either to teach or just because you're curious, get this book.
10/10
A
My husband is a percussionist and loves the book and finds it super helpful!
A
Very good teaching resource! As a Drumline instructor with 1 year of drum corps experience on quads this book allows you to work through many skill sets with your students. All of the segments of the book are approached well from a pedagogical stand point and none of the information seems unusable.
I would definitely recommend this to other Drumline instructors!
B
Very good book for learning. And teaching.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Quadlingual for?
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.
What ability level is this book for?
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).
What makes Quadlingual different from other tenor books?
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
Can I use Quadlingual as a teaching resource?
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.
When will I get my order?
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.
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