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by Donny Dee Practicing is a misunderstood concept. Learning to play drums, or any instrument for that matter, is largely misunderstood by many, and there is no one thing more important about playing drums than learning how to practice.
Practicing is the process we use to become more and more proficient on our instrument. It helps us to understand and play intricate patterns and exercises that help us to become the “groove masters” we long to be. Learning to practice properly is a skill that will be the most valuable tool in your drummers tool box and will remain the most valuable one through out your entire career. Over the years as a teacher and as a player it became clear to me that developing an effective and correct practice routine is imperative to becoming a well rounded player.
The problem is most musicians, including drummers; do not know how to practice. Proper practice direction is something that most teachers do not teach clear enough, if even at all. To most new drummers, and even some drummers that have been playing a long time, practicing for them means a session of aimless flailing on their kit with no real direction or purpose. They sit down and play mostly only what they already know how to play and do not devote anywhere near enough time to learning new ideas or concepts.
With a clear objective and developing goals you could make your valuable practice time pay off. If you ever attended a clinic or a concert and left in a trance because the drummer you saw was playing things you cannot even comprehend it’s because that drummer made his or her practice time pay off and his/her reward was what you saw and heard as he/she was performing.
As a general rule after you “warm up” playing through things that are fairly easy to play you then move on to those areas of patterns and exercises that you can’t play. If you aren’t striving to play things that are hard for you to play you are not learning and as a result you are not moving forward in your craft. Following, are some practical ideas to consider in your practice routine. 1. Accuracy vs. Speed The most important thing to do when you are learning something that you can’t play is slow it down to a tempo that enables you to play the pattern accurately. If you’re still having a hard time playing the pattern then you are not playing it slow enough to learn it. Slow it down again until you find a speed that works for you. Once you’ve found a speed that enables you to accurately play the figure, play it repetitively for a number of minutes. This will enable you to memorize the sound and feel of the pattern. Then gradually increase the speed until you are able to play it at higher speeds. Remember accuracy is more important than speed. Without accuracy you will never gain speed. 2. COUNT AS YOU PRACTICE! Almost all my students have a hard time getting used to COUNTING as they practice. Learning to count the rhythms as you play them aids you in the learning process. I have a small drum studio I build in my garage. It’s a good practicing environment because it’s a quiet place with privacy and few interruptions. If you don’t have a quiet place to practice it will impair your capacity to concentrate. Good lighting and comfortable temperatures are important also. 3. PRACTICE DAILY In the world of exercise and weight lifting for example, cross training is a very effective way to get in shape and keep in shape. Serious body builders work out every day. They form a routine where they work different parts of the body on different days. You, likewise have to form a routine that you follow daily. For example I Work on my rudimentary drumming on Monday’s. I also work on Learning new groove patterns that day also. Tuesdays I work on double bass patterns and also musical tracking. I keep alternating different routines on different days. Missing a day or two hurts and sets you back. Make sure your mind is alert and uncluttered with other things. Don’t practice when you’re tired, if you could avoid it. Don't keep going over what you can already play accurately and repetitively. Work on areas that you’re having difficulty with. Isolate problems and concentrate on that rather than always repeating the parts you can play. If you don't get it the first time, don't fret. Try it again the following day. Seldom will you not get it on the second or third day and have it fairly mastered in 7 days.
Following these simple steps will help make you a better, more rounded drummer and it will make you solid and yes … faster! Good luck!
Comments or questions welcomed with a legit name and email! If you want a response back from Donny, it may take a few weeks.
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