How do you practice for so long?

[Riddim]

I?m not so sure that how long one practices is as important as how well.

By how well I mean how focused and deliberate one is, and how one delights in it.

I find I cover more ground when I pay attention to what I do, and do it slowly and deliberately at first, to internalize what I?m trying to do, rather trying to rush through it up to tempo (and doing a sloppy job) at first, or go about it halfheartedly. Kenwood Dennard talks in his videos on practicing with excellence; I believe this is what he?s getting at.

However long one takes, one needs to be there completely, or it won?t really matter. It?s similar to being with a significant other when your heart is on the golf course or wherever; if your heart?s not in it, it shows. Your investment in time means nothing without a sincere desire to do what ever it takes to serve the relationship or improve your skills. So when you do it, be there. Otherwise, you won?t be.

[matricks]

2 productive hours as opposed to 8 somewhat productive hours... i'd take the first one anyday. I think the '8 hour' practice day term gets thrown around alot... i don't know how many people actually hit it like that. I have only heard one person, in person, proclaim that they did that for real, and that was Virgil. Marco and Thomas both say between, 3-4... which is still alot, but not 8!
I couldn't stay focused, day in and day out, doing 8 hours. I have had my times when i could practice 4 hours a day and then pull, maybe, two 8 hour sessions. Now, i probably do about 3-4 hours a day... no more 8 hour days for me! It burns me out too much. I would rather be dying to get on the drums, than doing an 8 hour day and dreading getting back on the set.
Plus, have some time to go out and fall in love with the drums, with music, with life. I go to the music store all the time cause it gets me all excited, like a kid, to see all the drums and cymbals... i hang there alot... like a barber shop, but for musicians [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Get out and see local shows... don't get wait for when a big name comes to town. Go out and catch who's out there doin' it.
Last... it is a part of life... enjoy it along with everything else. If i can never get feet as fast as so-and-so... oh well. I will keep at it BUT what is more important is getting what i what to out of my music and life. I respect and enjoy some of those people out there who have the classical control of the drums, like Heifetz had on the violin. However, the players that i dig more... they may not have the ballistic, in your face '12 hours a day on the practice pedal' chops, but they still have 'it'... that thing where they practiced 'their thing' and do it so well that i have to love it. Example: Matt Chamberlain. Besides Matt, another guy up here in Seattle who moved to LA named John Wicks... this guy has great chops but what is so hip is that EVERYTHING he does is a million bucks... EVERYTHING. You wouldn't hear him throwin' down 220 bpm doubles on the pedals, but you will hear the taste of someone who has followed their path and does what THEY do, second to none.
If you hear everyone doing this or that... yes, take it in, but make it your own. If someone does 3 hours a day, and you do 45min, well, try and get maybe an hour and a half in. Make the first 45 be hard shedding, the last 45 just fun. Find where your groove is... don't worry about the next guy.
Have fun [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
That is why i do it [img]wink.gif[/img]