Drumming priorities...

[John Blackburn]

Hi guys, this is the first time Ive started a thread, so go easy...

Ive just finished college and was just wandering if anyone had any advice on how they structure their practice time. Not in terms of real specific 'I do 5 hours singles then 11 hours double pedal dbls at 250bpm' More in terms of how much time you'd reccomend transcribing / listening in relation to real technical practice or learning new grooves / patterns / feels etc... ?
Does that make sense?

Like I said, first ever thread, be generous.

OH! Almost forgot, my reason for asking, I've always devoted id say 70% to technical development, ive always felt it was my weekest area, now I finally think I see that the whole technical development is as much a life study as any other area of music. So I am preparing to reduce that, maybe spend more time on learning some new vocabulary. (Ive started this with the BLUSHDA and the 'Hand foot roll of doom'.)

This thinking came from talking to some of the better players at college, many of whom commented that they spent most of their time just trying to absorb new vocabulary and ideas, safe in the knowledge they were building technique as they did this.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?

[img]cool.gif[/img]

[XNavyDrummer]

First you need to truthfully evaluate your goals, strengths and weaknesses. You want to maintain your strengths and build up the weak areas that are preventing you from reaching your goals.

I think Jojo Mayer said at MD2005, "I don't practice for hours, I practice for results".

Good luck!

[Vdrummer]

That Jojo quote is great. I'll use it with my students soon.

Sometimes you can make real headway in twenty minutes of devoted practice. Work on your weakest areas, and also find time to screw around and explore your creative side. I've come up with lots of stuff I'll probably never use on a gig that I enjoy playing just for the heck of it. Whatever you play or practice, keep it in time, play it with dynamics and make it groove. Video tape yourself and give yourself some honest appraisal. It's tough but worth it.

Good luck,

Brad

[matricks]

It is good (essential) to have a technical vocabulary, however, application of those terms you have added to your vocabulary is just as important. Think of it as language. There is a certain base amount of words that one needs to know to be able to communicate with others. The more you speak that language with others, the more words you will naturally pick up. More importantly, you will learn how to use those basic words conversationally. It isn't using big words that makes one sound articulate, it is using the words that you DO know articulately.

So this applies to music. Learn enough to speak and get across what you are trying to communicate but, more importantly, put those (words/techniques) into practice by speaking a lot (i.e. playing music).

If you sat in your house your whole life studying a dictionary, sure you would have a huge variety of ways to describe things, but you would not be proficient at practical usage.

You could say, "See the dimpled orange sphere that remains in a fixed apoplectic state? Employ yourself to undertake the task of the agglomeration of the said object, so that i may indebted to your favor."

...OR you could say, "See that basketball? Get it for me, i got you back" [img]wink.gif[/img]

Using excessive technique and being overly verbose usually is only a means to it's own end. Finding the balance and the right words is key... getting an idea across so well that one doesn't have to think about the words being used, they just cut to the chase and convey an idea automatically.

Once you know how to speak and hold a good conversation, then you can focus on expanding that base. First, however, work on your base and work on knowing how to use that base. Test the foundation before you build too high on it.

Another great piece of advice i was given was to SING EVERYTHING you play. That is the best way to A) Know WHAT you are TRYING to play and B) Know whether you are missing it or nailing it.

...And when you are doing that, practice SLOWLY!

Hope that helps a little [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 09, 2005 11:25 PM: Message edited by: matricks ]</font>

[John Blackburn]

Thanks guys, really appreciate your thoughts. Id started to dig out recent recordings for a bit of listening, and I just sat down with my old drum teacher and whatched my college recital, that alone gave me plenty to work on... Thanks again. JB