5 reasons to practice drum rudiments

Five reasons why practicing rudiments on the pad or snare drum. In short rudimental skill is one path to the musical freedom, artistic expression, and joy you are seeking.
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1. Rudiments, when practiced thoughtfully with a metronome, develop your time sense. Time sense is the ability to play steady over a period of time. A basic prerequisite in playing with others.
2. Rudiments develop your drumming repertoire of sound patterns, the basic vocabulary of the instrument. RLRLRLRLR is one word, one sound. Explore the following. At a comfortable tempo play these patterns, trying to play as evenly as possible to the metronome. Listen to the subtle rhythmic shift that occurs when switching patterns. RLRLRLRL, RRLL RRLL, RLRR LRLL. Cycle this pattern. Record it on your phone and listen back.
3. Rudiments when practiced thoughtfully develop finesse in your hands and nuance and musicality on the drum kit. The result? Think it, play it, be musical.
4. Rudimental exercises and pieces played with others are SOOO fun. And fun is why you signed up. I remember walking past the dozens of drummers who collected daily in the halls to practice rudiments together at Berklee College of Music in the late 1970s. They were smiling as they sat and drummed on the carpet. Rudiments were no chore for that bunch.
5. Rudiments are physically and intellectually interesting to explore. Playing exercises like the one in point 2 for 5 to 10 minutes will transport you into a peaceful place of bliss and calm. Really. Historically rudiments moved soldiers on European and American battlefields, thankfully now we move only audiences or ourselves. With the hundreds of modern hybrid rudiments added to the basic 13, then 26, which grew to 40, and now hundreds, rudiments are an interesting study on to themselves.

If I can help you get started on the drumkit, call me.

​David