Here are the lessons taught to me by Bill Roth master drummer and teacher from Akron Ohio in 1976. I have found these teachings to be extremely helpful. In all of my years no one has come close to understanding the Zen and the Art of Practicing, following these tutorials will greatly enlighten your understanding of practicing the correct way. Videos will be posted explaining each page and I hope they are as important and informative to you as they have been in my career.

Introduction and Concept

“The precepts and quotations contained in this presentation are taken from the teachings of  Lao Tze and other Chinese, Japanese and East Indian sages and masters. Very little, if any, thought herein is of my own origin, save for the idea of potting it together in this form. This presentation is not meant as a definitude, but simply a means of suggesting certain relationships through application of the YIN-YANG principle to the practice and the performance of – in this instance – drumming.”              

                                                                   – Bill Roth

TAO, ( Pronounced “Dow” ), is a Chinese word which defines literal translation into English. It had been translated as “Nature”, “The Way”, “Ultimate Reality”, “Truth”, “God”, “Enlightenment” or “The Absolute”. None of these is adequate.

TEH, ( Pronounced “Duh” ), has also been translated as “Intergity”, “Virtue “, “Honor”, “Reason”, “Best conduct”, “Intelligence” or “True Wisdom”. It is the highest attainment, but  it again, defies adequate translation.

CHING means “book”.

Legend has it that the TAO TEH CHING was written over 2500 years ago by Lao Tze, (Louts). Lao Tze means “worshipful master” or “wise teacher”

When Lao Tze was 90 years old he left his work as keeper of the Archives to go to the hills and there await death. But the frontier guards would not let him pass until he had written down his wisdom for the future generations. Thus, the TAO TEH CHING was written:

“Wise student, when they hear of the Tao,

Carry it earnestly into practice.

Average students, when they hear of the Tao,

Think about it now and then.

Foolish students, when the hear of the Tao,

Laugh loudly.

If it were not for the laughter,

The Tao would not be what it is.”

~ Lao Tze