Complete online courses for every student, teacher & topic
The ultimate online learning platform for one of the world's best selling snare drum method books!
Guided lessons and practice tools help students learn to read music on the keyboard percussion instruments!
Learn technique and musicianship
for four mallets with David Skidmore's 24 Progressive Solos for marimba!
Establish a great foundation for
mastering the concepts of beginning
to intermediate music theory!
Master the 40 Essential Rudiments with graduated Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Level play-alongs!
For beginning to advanced drum set players taught by world-renowned artist, Stanton Moore!
55 popular tunes and songs with fun
accompaniments make sight-reading
fun for all levels of percussionists!
Prepare for drumline auditions and increase your rudimental musicality with these 18 Monster etudes!
Establish a foundation of technique with lessons and play-alongs for beginning to advanced level students!
Exercises that are challenging and fun to clap along, perfect for all wind and percussion students!
The fastest, most effective way to develop note recognition and key locating skills on the keyboard!
Instructional Classes
Each instructor provides step-by-step teaching of originally designed curricula via professionally made Instructional Classes that will guide you and your students through every concept. Perfect for in-class lessons & homework assignments.
PadLab™ Practice
PadLab™ is a revolutionary music learning tool by Rhythm Monster that gives you & your students complete control to practice every exercise and etude. You'll never teach the same again, & your students will LOVE practicing at home!
Play Along Videos
Once your students have learned a lesson & practiced with PadLab™, it's time to Play Along to awesome original music from around the world. Perfect for playing tests & fun for all levels of Monster Percussionists!
Mark Wessels
same trusted instructor, new Fresh Approach
An internationally respected author and educator, Mark is currently the Director of Education for the Avedis Zildjian Company. As a publisher, his “Fresh Approach” method books are among the most successful in the world, with over 500,000 copies in print between the current titles. Over the past 25+ years, Mark has been instrumental in developing online educational content. In 1995 he founded one of the first websites devoted to percussion education (TheDrumClub.com). Since 2001, he has worked to produce some of the most popular online percussion resources on vicfirth.com, including Essential Rudiments, Percussion 101, Groove Essentials, DCI/WGI In-the-Lot and “Learn the Music” videos. Mark has continually pushed the bar forward with percussion entertainment as well, producing videos from PASIC, Montreal DrumFest, UK Drum Show, VFJams, and Zildjian Live productions to name a few. He has continually pushed the bar forward in percussion education and is excited to partner with Rhythm Monster to create this ground-breaking digital series for percussion students of all ages.
Key Benefits for...
School Districts
Budget Efficiency: Competitive pricing compared to online music learning platforms.
Asset Protection: Safeguard your percussion equipment investment with more engaged and committed percussion students, a demographic with costly overhead.
Compliance and Security: Compliant with all state and federal agencies with no student information data or tracking.
Competitive Advantage: Implementing Rhythm Monster reinforces your program as an innovative and forward-thinking institution, giving your school a competitive edge in future ensemble performances and attracting talented educators.
Educators
Reduced Attrition: Engaging media and learning tools help lower student attrition rates.
Trusted Curriculum: Use of the Fresh Approach curriculum, a trusted percussion method.
Integration: Seamless integration with classroom and student management systems.
Flexibility: All media is easily adaptable into other curricula.
Interactive In-Class Tools: PadLab™ is an ideal in-class tool for material breakdown.
Assessment Tools: Play Along videos facilitate live or video-based assessment.
Students
Step-by-Step Guidance: Provides clear directions for software use and course instruction.
Class Review: Instructional Classes assist with independent review of in-class material.
At-Home Practice: PadLab™ offers an interactive practice environment for home use.
Recording and Review: Easily record and upload performances for review.
Fun through Success: Encourages fun in practicing by experiencing steady and frequent success in musical accomplishment.
"His videos showcase the highest quality."
Not only does this open the door for many more kids to participate in percussion, it allows the students to work at home and still receive quality instruction. His videos showcase the highest quality of information, instruction, and production. I would recommend this to anyone!
Chris Retschulte
Percussion Director
Rockhill HS, Prosper, TX
"King Midas of Percussion Education."
Mark Wessels is the 'King Midas' of percussion education. Everything he has put out, from the 5-Minute Theory books to the most recent edition of the Fresh Approach video series, has been solid gold! My 45+ years of performing and teaching says that one couldn't go wrong using Mark's methods. I heartedly recommend the Fresh Approach methods video series!
Neil L. Quinn
Vic Firth Artist, Educator
Lake Charles, LA
"WAY better than searching on YouTube!"
Drums are awesome, and there's so much to find online. YouTube has been my go-to until now, but this is WAY better! I usually watch and play along from my phone, and PadLab is my new favorite game (tho I know it's totally not a game).
Cassy
Future Monster Drummer
Lansing, MI
"Do Yourself a Favor and subscribe now!"
It is always fun to get the information straight from the source. Mark begins each lesson with warm-ups to develop and reinforce great technique and sound quality. This would be great for beginners as well as a way to review for the older students. He presents all materials in a clear and concise manner making learning efficient and — most importantly — FUN! Since we're all in a weird place with a combination of virtual and in person learning, this program is worth eery penny for the young percussionist. Do yourself a a favor and subscribe now!