The problem with most percussion tuition, is that the tutor thinks it is just about teaching patterns of rythym, it is not. , teaching patterns is useful for requiring competence with the tipper or sticks, but the percussionist should sing the tune when practising, and play the tune not a rythym pattern,
example if i was bashing an old goat skin and singing god save the queen, i would need to bang differently from if i was playing singing god bless the prince of wales even though they are both marches