For some time now, hybrid snare drum rudiments have been "sneaking" in to the hands of drummers everywhere. While the standard 26 Standard American and 40 International PAS Standard Snare Drum Rudiments remain the core and basis for rudimental drumming, hybrid rudiments have been rapidly gaining momentum and popularity among drum corps, marching bands, in snare drum solos and for those who eagerly desire to build their chops. These hybrid rudiments are either brand new rudiments configured of new sticking, flams, rolls, diddles, etc. or variations of some of the standard rudiments. No matter what, hybrid rudiments are a huge part of today's drum corps scene and continue to provide challenges and chop building exercises to the many drummers who choose to learn and practice them, whether involved in drum corps or not.

I have included some hybrid rudiments I have written in this article. I am now finishing a publication which will include some 30+ hybrid snare drum rudiments as well as snare drum solos and duets using these and the standard rudiments in addition to the popular swiss snare drum rudiments.

There are myriads of other hybrid snare drum rudiments to be found as well. A simple internet search will yield page after page of hybrid rudiment talk, books with hybrids, solos filled with hybrids, articles about hybrids, questions about hybrids, and so on. James Campbell wrote an article in Percussive Notes in June 1992 dedicated to the discussion of hybrid rudiments and included many of his own as well as those he discovered while traveling throughout the country. Jeff Moore also wrote in the June 1993 PN about many new flam hybrid rudiments at that time and included many of them in his article. Since then, many others are writing hybrid rudiments and passing them along by rote learning and through grassroots learning. Others too are writing solos and method books with much of the content including these new hybrid rudiments. Some of these are Rudiments in Rhythm, by James Campbell (Meredith Music Publishing), Contemporary Rudimental Studies and Solos by Lalo Davila and Row-Loff publications, The Rudimental Cookbook by Edward Freytag and Dennis Delucia's book The Drummer's Daily Drill along with many other writings of Delucia's contain many more hybrid rudiments. Also check out John Wooton's The Drummer's Rudimental Reference Book and The Next Level by Jeff Queen. Some states are now including solos that include hybrid rudiments in their music adjudication manuals.

In fact, the PAS Marching Committee has had discussions with the PAS Executive Committee to move toward augmenting the PAS 40 International Drum Rudiments since so many new hybrid rudiments have become a significant part of the rudimental vocabulary over the past decade.

Be certain to know first the 40 PAS snare drum rudiments forward and backwards, inside out and upside down, memorized by name, with the ability to perform each rudiment at different tempi and identify each rudiment both by sight and upon hearing it before giving yourself to the hybrid rudiments. The hybrids discussed here are built upon the standard 40 and should be learned first for your foundation to be solid and firm.

Contemporary drumming continues to grow and change. Embrace it, grow with it and learn with it. It is also built upon the great legacy of standards and simple practices and principles laid so carefully before us. I encourage you to spend as much time with the incredibly fun Mr. Pratt and Mr. Schinstine as you do with all of these incredibly fun hybrid rudiments. Good luck and happy hybriding!