The Practice of Practice
- Jeff
- Sep 30, 2020
- 2 min read
Ask any accomplished musician how they learned how to play so well, and they'll all tell you the same thing ... practice. Here are my tips for creating a routine that works for you.
Practice isn't just for those learning to play drums. Daily practice continues to improve every aspect of my drumming, from endurance and timing, to technique and showmanship. The key to a productive practice session isn't spending all day pounding out beats, it's having a structured routine that builds on what you already know. I've created a one hour sample routine to give you a starting point. You can tailor it to your playing level and goals, but remember to have fun and challenge yourself.
Sample 1-hr Practice Routine WARM UP - 10 min. Warm up is very important. Start with playing rudiments at a very comfortable tempo with a metronome and then increase the tempo after every 2 to 3 min. NON-CREATIVE - 10 min. Practicing something that you already know how to play, but slow it down, break it down, and try to improve what you already know. CREATIVE - 10 min. Play a 1/4 note pulse with your left hand, using the cowbell, or a wood block, or your hi-hat, or a tambourine. While that left hand is holding a solid 1/4 note pulse, try creating a musical and rhythmical solo with your two feet and right hand. CHALLENGE - 10 min. If there is something that you really want to learn, spend 10 focused minutes on it and really get it to work. SONGS - 10 min. Pick 2 or 3 songs that you’ve never heard before from bands or musicians you don’t know, and learn those songs as if you were auditioning for them.
There you have it! A practice routine that you can do in under an hour. Learning to play drums takes time, so remember not to get discouraged and that even your drum idols started out just like you. Rock on, Jeff
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