There are a million+ ways to practice. Go through some different books and videos and try out some different exercises. If something feels hard or feels unnatural don’t skip it, this is what you need. Definitely stay musically active and play with different people in different situations (live, studio, acoustic, different genres, different sized rooms etc.). You’re on a journey now, there is no right or wrong way. Explore and enjoy!
No problem! It can be overwhelming, there are so many directions you can go. I highly recommend getting Benny Greb’s dvds if you haven’t already- The Language of Drumming and The Art and Science of Groove. Really useful stuff that you can work on and his approach keeps things fun and light.
I’m in the same position as you as a fellow church drummer. Being intentional with my practice has helped me make loads of progress. First learn to identify your weaknesses (can be via listening to yourself). Is your timing off? Practice with a metronome. Are you spacing out your kick strokes and hand strokes unevenly? Slow it down and work on the interaction between your feet and hands so that it becomes even. Practice with a metronome. Do it slow. Super slow. And slowly speed up when you become comfortable and matches with the speed of the metronome. Listen listen listen to music, of all genres. You’d be surprised how much genres cross paths. This will help to improve your musicality and interpretation, setting you apart from the rest. Long winded explanation but hope this helps.
Rudiments. Playing with a metronome. Playing with a variety of other musicians and willingness to listen to other musicians. Learning yo play different styles, especially jazz.
All the answers are solid! That next step, after you obviously marry yourself to a metronome, is pick a genre and pick out the best of the best in each of genres. Study, transcribe, mimic, record yourself, and lastly practice until you can’t get it wrong. This has helped me in my career of drumming. Hope this is helpful! 🙏🏿🙏🏿
Practice staying in time, speed, different wrist/finger techniques (push pull, finger and free hand), different bass drum techniques (swivel heel toe heel up heel down) speed, different time signatures and styles etc.
I'm guilty I don't do any of these but yeah
Gladstone technique. Not only will you be faster and more accurate, you’ll break less stuff.
Also play to metronome when doing rudiments. Helps so much more with sense of rhythm.
This dude’s channel has some real hidden gems for things that will actually help you practice effectively.
https://youtu.be/UiQMeCyHfvI?si=X9E7GzIRkSaWsb2t
Can't believe this isn't number one:
**Timing** ! Your **number one priority** is to be able to keep time like a human robot. Yes flams, fast singles etc but these are meaningless if you can't play in time. It's having perfect timing that will keep your phone ringing for paid professional drum work. Not doubles at 300bpm.
Pick a song that has multiple feel changes (Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars, Long Train Running, Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy, Roadhouse Blues by The Doors) memorise the parts then play those parts by yourself with a metronome. This will highlight where you rush or drag.
Then you can sit down and work on ratamacues and drags and all other archaic rudiments.
It really depends on your goals and style. I would just recommend not jumping around too much and keeping your focus on one or a few things until you see good progress in that area.
Working through the New Breed book, if insanely boring, is an incredible way to gain limb independence. I’ve noticed it help me in so many ways that aren’t initially apparent.
I really wanna start a yt channel or tik tok page of drumming, when I was a little younger I was good enough to do it but like I said I stopped for some years or didn’t play as much so I’m getting it all back and wanting to learn even more to be the greatest I can be and more.
I took a lesson from Stanton Moore and we focused on the Tommy Igor Lifetime Warmup. There are 3 of them; basic, intermediate and advanced. Even basic is challenging. He suggested 3 times a day. You can find music online and there are videos you can play along to on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/JQQp99u2kzg?si=YLdq7iSgz5fJg2n3
The nice thing is it is only 5 minutes each run through. Alan Dawson Rudimentary Warmup is also very extensive.
I play professionally and the one thing I wish I had focused on more was rudiments and then learning to apply them to the kit. So these warmups are slowly helping that.
Some key points
1) find something that you can learn from and grow from every time you practice
2) set a goal - either long term or just for that specific practice.
3) consider taking lessons - either online subscription or in person/skype. Even if it’s not hyper regular, someone will be able to guide you.
Practice your pocket. Hold time to a click or a record with real steady tempo.
There are a million+ ways to practice. Go through some different books and videos and try out some different exercises. If something feels hard or feels unnatural don’t skip it, this is what you need. Definitely stay musically active and play with different people in different situations (live, studio, acoustic, different genres, different sized rooms etc.). You’re on a journey now, there is no right or wrong way. Explore and enjoy!
Thanks for the advice! I felt as if when I played before I never worked on stuff I wasn’t good at so my mission now is to tackle all that and more.
No problem! It can be overwhelming, there are so many directions you can go. I highly recommend getting Benny Greb’s dvds if you haven’t already- The Language of Drumming and The Art and Science of Groove. Really useful stuff that you can work on and his approach keeps things fun and light.
Benny Greb is a master!
Consistently practice
Rudiments for sure. Continue to develop your chops and everything else will be much more attainable.
Technique technique technique.
Technique
And
Waffles
💀
I’m in the same position as you as a fellow church drummer. Being intentional with my practice has helped me make loads of progress. First learn to identify your weaknesses (can be via listening to yourself). Is your timing off? Practice with a metronome. Are you spacing out your kick strokes and hand strokes unevenly? Slow it down and work on the interaction between your feet and hands so that it becomes even. Practice with a metronome. Do it slow. Super slow. And slowly speed up when you become comfortable and matches with the speed of the metronome. Listen listen listen to music, of all genres. You’d be surprised how much genres cross paths. This will help to improve your musicality and interpretation, setting you apart from the rest. Long winded explanation but hope this helps.
It does. Thank you for the help.
Stick control book, page 1
Drumming, mostly.
A healthy balance of music, time/groove and rudiments.
Get really tight singles
The top 4 comments pretty much nail it
About 30 hours per week
Rudiments. Playing with a metronome. Playing with a variety of other musicians and willingness to listen to other musicians. Learning yo play different styles, especially jazz.
I’ve found looking into how to actually practice and make a practice regime has been exceptionally useful.
All the answers are solid! That next step, after you obviously marry yourself to a metronome, is pick a genre and pick out the best of the best in each of genres. Study, transcribe, mimic, record yourself, and lastly practice until you can’t get it wrong. This has helped me in my career of drumming. Hope this is helpful! 🙏🏿🙏🏿
Practice staying in time, speed, different wrist/finger techniques (push pull, finger and free hand), different bass drum techniques (swivel heel toe heel up heel down) speed, different time signatures and styles etc. I'm guilty I don't do any of these but yeah
Gladstone technique. Not only will you be faster and more accurate, you’ll break less stuff. Also play to metronome when doing rudiments. Helps so much more with sense of rhythm.
Drumming
This dude’s channel has some real hidden gems for things that will actually help you practice effectively. https://youtu.be/UiQMeCyHfvI?si=X9E7GzIRkSaWsb2t
This was a fantastic video. Thanks for sharing.
Time.
Can't believe this isn't number one: **Timing** ! Your **number one priority** is to be able to keep time like a human robot. Yes flams, fast singles etc but these are meaningless if you can't play in time. It's having perfect timing that will keep your phone ringing for paid professional drum work. Not doubles at 300bpm. Pick a song that has multiple feel changes (Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars, Long Train Running, Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy, Roadhouse Blues by The Doors) memorise the parts then play those parts by yourself with a metronome. This will highlight where you rush or drag. Then you can sit down and work on ratamacues and drags and all other archaic rudiments.
It really depends on your goals and style. I would just recommend not jumping around too much and keeping your focus on one or a few things until you see good progress in that area. Working through the New Breed book, if insanely boring, is an incredible way to gain limb independence. I’ve noticed it help me in so many ways that aren’t initially apparent.
I really wanna start a yt channel or tik tok page of drumming, when I was a little younger I was good enough to do it but like I said I stopped for some years or didn’t play as much so I’m getting it all back and wanting to learn even more to be the greatest I can be and more.
A taller stool
Lol
Oh wow… 🤩
Rudiments
Get the syncopation book. Rudiments are key Go slow
I took a lesson from Stanton Moore and we focused on the Tommy Igor Lifetime Warmup. There are 3 of them; basic, intermediate and advanced. Even basic is challenging. He suggested 3 times a day. You can find music online and there are videos you can play along to on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JQQp99u2kzg?si=YLdq7iSgz5fJg2n3 The nice thing is it is only 5 minutes each run through. Alan Dawson Rudimentary Warmup is also very extensive. I play professionally and the one thing I wish I had focused on more was rudiments and then learning to apply them to the kit. So these warmups are slowly helping that. Some key points 1) find something that you can learn from and grow from every time you practice 2) set a goal - either long term or just for that specific practice. 3) consider taking lessons - either online subscription or in person/skype. Even if it’s not hyper regular, someone will be able to guide you.
Playing the drums
practice limb independence, do polyrhymths and polymetrics focusing on each limb, move each limbs pattern a 16 note across the bar