What happens when we practice drums everyday? 

Obviously we improve but let’s do the math.

Consider 2 students: John and Sally. Both students practice and arrive at class prepared each week. Each has done the following during the week.

1. Listened daily to professional recordings of their pieces.
2. Diligently practiced  their etudes, repertoire, theory, ear training, and technique.
3. Recorded themselves daily for quick feedback.
4. Explored topics related to their studies on YouTube for alternative perspectives.

You get the picture.

​John practices 30 minutes a day. Sally 75 minutes. What happens?

If I can help you, please give me a call. 

​David

Really. 
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1. Make a play-list of ten simple pieces. Play it day and night. Immerse yourself in the sound. 
2. Day 2, sit at the kit and start playing along. After you warm-up of course. 
3. Day 3, chart the tunes out. Write out the form: Intro, verse, chorus, solos, endings. Mark in salient details like where the fills are and changes of orchestration. Write on your notes the lyric at the beginning of each section. Keep listening. 
4. Day 4,5,6,7 back to the kit. Keep listening.
5. Day 7, show up to rehearsal and play. 
6. Repeat.

If I can help you speed up your ability to learn tunes, call me. 

David

When you join a band with a set list and meet regularly with a group of musicians who share the same desire, you will improve rapidly. Guaranteed. 

Two stories

1. Your teenager is making mediocre progress at lessons. Their commitment is low and lethargic. You know what I mean. Junior joins the school band or drum line. What happens? Bang, they now practice at school 3 times a week or more under supervision and the pressure of their peers. They discover the rush of making music in a group. By Christmas they can read music, play in an ensemble, play dynamically and much more. Works every time.

2. Adult takes up the drums. They are having fun, playing with tracks at home, playing their rudiments, plugging along. One day they overcome their fear and anxiety and join a group of bangers in a basement in Mississauga or in my case the local concert band 12 years ago. What happens? Bang, they are practicing their pieces at home nearly everyday, because they've got to play in front of their peers next week. Drums are front and centre, unlike the 2nd clarinetist sitting quietly in the back of the band. By Christmas they can read music, play in an ensemble, play dynamically and much more. Works every time. The rush of playing music together is overwhelmingly positive. 

If I can help you get ready to play in an ensemble, call me. 

David

The school bands are returning soon. One of my students, in anticipation of resumption is getting ready. We are working on his rudiments, coordination, and repertoire from his school text. He'll be ready. 

Does your child need the same support and encouragement? Call me. 

David

School bands will be starting up later this year. My students will be ready. Along with their kit studies, the kids are learning play a chart/part on the snare drum.

Band directors are always on the hunt for musical well-rounded drummers. I know I was a band director. Reading drummers who groove, play the part, have confidence are rare and treasured. 

We are working diligently in our studio preparing the kids to be that rare drummer. The one who can lead, participate and succeed. 

Call me, I can help. 

​David
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Time to dream again. Covid-19 will abate this year; the vaccines are coming, spring will arrive. Time to get musically ready to share our music with the world again. 

Here are 10 ideas to mull over.

1. Organize your practice space with everything you need ready at hand: scores, recordings, pencil, headset for listening, phone recording app operational, metronome, lighting, drums tuned, distractions minimized. 
2. Schedule practice time in the calendar, the same way other non-work-related activities are. In short prioritize music this year. 
3. Plan to take lessons this year: Let a little fresh air in. A fresh perspective.
4. Learn to love how you sound at your instrument: Recording frequently and accepting how it sounds and thinking about how it might be improved is an effective step forward.
5. If your instrument is lacking, and you have the means, upgrade. 
6. Seek out other adult learners online. There are wonderful communities on Facebook. I belong to several them. Contribute, celebrate the privilege of being able to make music. 
7. When concerts return, go. Be sure to be there, it will be an emotionally cathartic experience of lifetime that first downbeat. Expect tears.
8. Find a band to jam with after you get your vaccine jab. Celebrate together, the joy of playing together again. There are people at your level, you just need to find them. 
9. Consider expanding or updating your musical preferences. There has been a lot of music created since our musical preferences were set in our youth. Much of it will speak to you in new ways and perhaps novel ways. YouTube algorithms are good for this. My teenage students have the most eclectic tastes which I attribute to these algorithms.
10. Make a fresh list of pieces you like to play this year, purchase, or print the music, put it in a folder and plop it on the music stand and visualize yourself playing.

Cheers, 

David 

Depends on your goals. Humble or ambitious? 

Easy if:

1. You want to fool around playing in the basement, alone. 
2. You want to play along with your favorite recordings. 

Slightly more difficult if:

1. You want to play in the school band; some rudiments and reading skills will be required.  In short  basic musicianship skills.
2. You want to jam with others at your level: Learn some basic technique, a few simple beats and an awareness of dynamic control and you are ready to go.

Drums are difficult if:

1. You want to play with others who already play well.
2. You want to jam in public.
3. You want to attend jam sessions in your local pub.
4. You want to play in a drum line.
5. You want to play music of some sophistication like Jazz, Prog, Hip Hop, Latin, etc.

Drums are formidable if: 

1. You want to reach your potential.
2. You want to be admired and talked about in hushed tones.
3. You want to be in a professional. 

Each level takes a different level of commitment and resource allocation. 

If I can help you get started. Call me. 

​David

1. Warm-up: singles, doubles, paradiddles over feet ostinatos with metronome.
2. Rudiments, rudiments, rudiments. Today Flam rudiments are on order.
3. Sight reading: Good sight-reading chops are required for all teachers. And, community band musicians. When I sub in a big band, fumbling with unfamiliar charts is out of the question. Sight-reading skills are one of the cornerstones of my professional success as a musician. Forty-five years and counting!
4. Repertoire review: Pandemic will over next year. I will have my classic rock repertoire up to speed and ready to go.
5. Double bass drum pedal rudiments: Single and double patterns.
6. Drumming skills: Bebop vocabulary including fills, riffs, and set-ups.
7. Review my students' repertoire and lesson plans.
8. Work on a mix of a track I recorded with pianist Jacqueline Leung this week: New Music/Improvisation. 
9. Transcribe a short drum groove from a current pop hit. I'll put it up here later today.  Say so, Dojo Cat drum groove. What a lot of fun that was. So simple, but so effective against the bass line.

David

​With the following steps in order, success and fun will be so much closer.

1. Your drums set up properly and in working order
2. The lighting is good
3. Sticks and brushes ready at hand
4. Music stand in place
5. Your books and videos are open at the relevant pages
6. You have a plan of what to practice
7. Your pencil and eraser are ready to make notes and highlight areas of concern in your books.
8. The sound system loaded, turned on and ready to play your play along tracks
9.  Phone in airplane mode
10. Metronome or metronome app beside you
11. The teachers notes are on the music stand
12. Audio recorder is ready to record your efforts
13. Ear protection on
14. Bonus: Drum journal ready to be filled in. More on this coming up.

Have fun.
 
David
“Musicians live to practice, and practice to live”
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