​On the pads start at 40 BPM, softly, then 150, then 50 then 140, then 60 then 130 you get the idea. If you are a beginner start at 70 BPM for a few weeks, then start trying out other tempi. Slower is harder to control.
On the kit: My 12-year-old copy says 40 BPM. R=alternating feet, L=hands. 
Other ideas play Samba feet under the sticking patterns. Or a Nola pattern, or even a Cuban tumbao rhythm pattern.
 
Make every note sound intentional. 

• all soft
• all loud
• soft with accents
• crescendos and diminuendos
• straight/swung

 
it goes on and on. 
 
There are numerous ways to play this famous page. Head over to Nick Ruffini’s page and ask for copy of his book. Mailing List - Drummer's Resource: Conversations with the world's greatest drummers and music industry pros. (nxcli.net) And enjoy his podcasts. I’ve listened to over 500 of them!
 
The key word is intentional practice.
 

Drumming is about having fun. Having fun is about playing well. Playing well is about directed instruction. Playing music with others is about time and groove, period. The band wants to hear our pulse, good vibes, and steadiness. This happens when we work on our "stage one drumming"

In short:

1. Our posture at the kit
2. Knowing the appropriate grips: French, German, American, Traditional
3. Control and knowledge of drum strokes: Full, tap, whip, finger and more
4. Practicing our rudiments: cornerstone of every great drummer and aspirant.
5. Understanding pocket: laying down a groove that fills the dance floor or in the case of jazz, has fingers snapping.
6. Hand accents: a key to groove, feel and drumming finesse.
7. Our Time development: The great Terry Clarke and Greg Hutchison both said, no time, no gigs. Or in our cases, basement banishment.  It can be learned. 
8. Learning how and what to practice to make the most of our precious practice time. Learning to practice well will help us maintain the enthusiasm we brought to the project. Drummer Benny Greb believes, and so do I, that seeing and hearing progress is the key to drumming joy. 
9. Enjoy playing some tunes or beats: the reason you are signing up. 

Chat soon, 

David

One of the the joys of drumming is getting the hands together while playing with others.

On the other side of the pandemic I look forward to some Saturday afternoons teaching this to my drumming students.

​We'll be making a glorious music. 

David

When we practice, we are judgmental. We analyze our playing to understand what needs fixing or further development. It is goal directed work. For beginners it is difficult work. I suggest only 30% of drum set time is used to practice.

​On the other hand...

Play is:

1. non-judgmental, 
2. fun
3. spontaneous
4. unstructured
5. messy
6. chaotic
7. important
8. what the child signed up for

If you like some help getting your household drum journey started, call me. 


David

David

Some tips from a music teacher with decades of experience. Here they are in no particular order.

1. Show an interest. Sit with them during lessons and supervise practice until they find their feet.  Keep it light hearted, but  short. Maybe just 10 minutes of supervised practice a day is enough.  
2. Learn about their favorite drummers and share time together watching and learning together from YouTube videos. If they don't have a favorite drummer help them find one.  Start with music they enjoy, identify the drummer and then explore the drummer's discography. 
3. Help them set up their practice space so that it is easy to practice. 
4. Talk with the teacher, show them you care about the progress of your child. 
5. Let them play too, practice is hard work. I suggest in the beginning 70% thrashing about, 30% practice. As they becoming increasingly emotionally connected to the project adjust the ratios.  (I personally over practice. In 2021 I promise myself I will thrash about more. )
6. Be sure they play an instrument that works. 
7. Help them set up the instrument properly. If you don't know how, consult a number of YouTube videos and ask me for help too. The videos below will get you started. Compare the angle of their thighs.  
8. Remember kid's want to  play music, keep it fun. Never punitive. Nothing sucks the fun out of a children's activity than an over zealous stage mother, or hockey dad.  I'm sure you met them.  Let's help the child associate drumming with fun and excitement the odds of success go up greatly. 

If I can help, call me.

David

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