Drum Practice: 4 Things to Do in Every Session

Drum Practice: 4 Things to Do in Every Session

by Daniel N. Brown

If you want to increase your level of drumming fast you
obviously need to practice as regularly as possible.

Since many drummers find it difficult to find time to
practice for long periods of time, they don't practice at
all. This is "all or nothing" thinking and leads to failure
in everything it's applied to.

Here's a fact: It’s better to practice your drums for 5-20
minutes everyday than one or two hours on just one day per
week. The key is getting into a habit of quick, regular drum
practice sessions. It's the repetition of these short
practice sessions that will propel your drumming to new
levels rather than the infrequent, marathon sessions.

So, be encouraged if you feel like you don't have enough
time to practice your drums. Just carve out 5-20
minutes three, four, or more days per week! That's all.
Once you do that, you can get down to business.

Here’s four things you should include in every one of your
short drum practice sessions...

1. Practice two or three drum fills that you have heard and
really liked.

Practice these drum fills over and over and try not to stray
from them and go off on something else. The temptation to do
so is definitely there because practicing fills is a lot of
fun. Stay focused until this part of your practice session
is through!

2. Work on memorizing one of your favorite songs.

It's amazing to me why so many drummers do not do this.
Maybe they think they are copying someone else's style
and they feel guilty, I don't know. What I do know is,
memorizing your favorite songs is a great tool that most
drummers should utilize for three reasons...

a) it helps you to continue to be a good time keeper,
b) it helps you to get a feel for where to put fills and where not
to put them in your own songs,
c) and it's just plain fun.

3. Practice with your metronome.

This part of your drum practice session is the most intense
and requires the most discipline simply because it tends to
not be much fun. Even though it may not be much fun, it is
definitely necessary and shouldn't be left out!

Set your metronome to 60 beats per minute and play your bass
drum to it. Then add the hi-hat by alternating three beats
per bass drum beat, then four, and then six. After
practicing that at 60 beats per minute, increase your
metronome to 80 beats and do the same thing, then again
at 100.

Drumming along with a metronome will improve your time
keeping dramatically.

One thing that helps you get past the unpleasantness of
practicing with your metronome is to do this exercise first
and get it over with. But, whether you choose to do it first
or not, just do it!

4. Work on your known weaknesses.

Whether you feel your left hand is holding you back, or your
left leg is a problem, get them up to speed with everything
else so your whole body functions as one.

For example... if you're right handed practice riding your
hi-hat with your left hand for a while. Also, practice
crashing your cymbals with your left hand. If you have a
double bass drum set or a double kick pedal invest some
time just using your weak foot.

Conclusion...

When you organize your drum practice sessions by breaking
things down into small bite sized pieces it becomes do-able
and fun. Just remember, "all or nothing" thinking leads to
failure! Simply carve out 5-20 minutes three, four, or more
days per week.

Here's another tip, if you find it difficult to find enough
time to practice all four things I have mentioned in this
article in any one session, split them up by alternating
two of them in alternate sessions.

Daniel N. Brown has been drumming since 1976! Get his
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