Ok.....time to talk technique again (need practice advice)

[mrwhite]

Ok y'all.  First off, I want to share my recent testimony.  I FINALLY have my drumset back up as of 6-13-06!!!!  PRAISE GOD!!!  I just spent $550 on heads, hardware, etc!!!  So now I can get back to practicing at home!!  I'm very happy, God is good.

 Now here's my problem.......WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I PRACTICE, AND TO WHAT?!      I still do have my practice pad, but I need a routine!!!  I gave away my metronome to a guy at our church (our 2nd drummer) who is in college and taking a drum class (maybe not anymore), should I buy another metronome?.  And what video, dvd, book should I buy?  I'm thinking Pat Petrillo's rudiment grooves on the drumset (I think that's the name) or Jim Chapins, or Virgils, or Thomas Langs....I don't know.  What I really want to do is take some private lessons. 

Ok y'all, let's hear it!!  (Come on Sabe, Div, J kay, Jfunky, Rick, Freddy, BBD....and everyone else   ) 

   

[mrwhite]

(side note) 
that EMAD is NO JOKE    !!!!  (still a fan of the Aquarian SK2  )  The G2's are cool for now but my resos need to be replaced with G1's.  The toms are waaay too bright for my taste.  All in all, I like Remo AND Evans....for now.  I love Remo on my snares.   

[FerrariRed]

Get a metronome or some form of a click.  No matter what we do on the drums, it's all about the time, pocket, the "2&4" or whatever you do, getting back to the "1".  There have been some great books mentioned here and videos.  Tony Royster's latest DVD is hot.  His explanation of the Moeller Technique is great.  That has really helped me.  I'm no where near Tony's speed, but I see improvements in my hand technique and speed since I started practicing that.

I'd also like to say (and I'm speaking from my own experience) that we should not make excuses about practicing.  I now keep a pad and sticks at work, in the car and the my bathroom  (hope that's not too personal  .  But you know what I mean.  This has really made a difference.  And if nothing I practice with my hands and feet.  John Blackwell on his latest DVD provides great instruction for foot technique by practicing heel toe anywhere.  And Tony even does the Moeller technique without sticks so you can see the motion of the arms.  These little changes and committment to practicing really work.  I may not be a spanky, tony or dennis or reach that level, but I thank them for the inspiration that drives me to be my best.

My opinion is we can learn from anybody.  I love this site.  You young guys really inspire me because you're pushing the limits with the licks, but you always make me appreciate my era (lates 60's, 70's and early 80's) which was all about the pocket.  (You young cats, if you want to know what time is all about go back and study that era).  Another good way to learn is play along with the CD.  I have CD's, DVDs of Gerald Heyward, Brian Frasier Moore, Chris Coleman, Spanky, Ladell Abrams, Calvin Rogers and many more.  I'll listen to them at work, then come home and try to work it out.  I hope Spanky will be with Tye in Nashville at our back to school rally later this year.  Our sound man will engineer that show and he's going to let me sit with him.  I'll get to visit the sound check and meet spanky and see him up close.  I'm excited about that.

Anyway (sorry to get off track).  I'm sure you are going to get some great advice from the guys and gals here.

Good luck.

[Pearldrummer1]

Hey man to be honest you don't even have to make it that complicated. Seems to me as if you've spent enough on stuff as it is. Simply log onto Gospelchops.com and hit up the drum section. They have tons of licks to practice as well as rudiment and paradiddle excercises. If you really wanna get a metronome Then I have a technique for you, it's way cheaper and just as effective. What you do is buy yourself some wireless headphones. Hook the headphones up to a nearby computer. On your computer look up on google and download this program called Audacity. Audacity is a total recording and mixing program and it has a whole metronome build right in. You can set the speed you want and drum away from there. I used it alot when I first got my set, and the only reason I stopped was because my headphones broke when I accedently sat on them. LOL. But hey If you really wanna save some money that's the way to go!!! Hope this helps.....God Bless

[SabianKnight]

Hey man to be honest you don't even have to make it that complicated. Seems to me as if you've spent enough on stuff as it is. Simply log onto Gospelchops.com and hit up the drum section. They have tons of licks to practice as well as rudiment and paradiddle excercises. If you really wanna get a metronome Then I have a technique for you, it's way cheaper and just as effective. What you do is buy yourself some wireless headphones. Hook the headphones up to a nearby computer. On your computer look up on google and download this program called Audacity. Audacity is a total recording and mixing program and it has a whole metronome build right in. You can set the speed you want and drum away from there. I used it alot when I first got my set, and the only reason I stopped was because my headphones broke when I accedently sat on them. LOL. But hey If you really wanna save some money that's the way to go!!! Hope this helps.....God Bless

There is no substitute for organized formal practice routines.

Gospelchops is good entertainment. And you can pick up licks there sometimes but the lack of informed knowledge doesn't give adequate instruction. The Randy Guillermo (sp?) is by far the most informative and instructive clip there. Drum vocabulary stands on the foundation of rudimental and technique. The more you study the bigger vocabulary you will have WITH PROPER UNDERSTANDING AND DILIGENT PRACTICE.   

[SabianKnight]

Ok y'all.  First off, I want to share my recent testimony.  I FINALLY have my drumset back up as of 6-13-06!!!!  PRAISE GOD!!!  I just spent $550 on heads, hardware, etc!!!  So now I can get back to practicing at home!!  I'm very happy, God is good.

 Now here's my problem.......WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I PRACTICE, AND TO WHAT?!      I still do have my practice pad, but I need a routine!!!  I gave away my metronome to a guy at our church (our 2nd drummer) who is in college and taking a drum class (maybe not anymore), should I buy another metronome?.  And what video, dvd, book should I buy?  I'm thinking Pat Petrillo's rudiment grooves on the drumset (I think that's the name) or Jim Chapins, or Virgils, or Thomas Langs....I don't know.  What I really want to do is take some private lessons. 

Ok y'all, let's hear it!!  (Come on Sabe, Div, J kay, Jfunky, Rick, Freddy, BBD....and everyone else   ) 

   

Get you another metronome. Dr.Beat DB-60 for $67.

The book The Drumset Musician by Rod Morganstein  $19.95 is a good that is all drumset and takes you through a variety of things to build you up and does a superb job of explaining and define musical terms and reasons for playing certain things, song structure etc.

The 30 Workout book and DVD... various exercises... two 30 workouts so you can concentrate on a different skill each day.... $24.95
 
The Complete Modern Drumset by Frank Briggs book/DVD set $24.95

Master Studies by Joe Morrello.... covers techique, time and control like no other

First be realistic and commit to 2 hrs a day for any real workout growth. If you can only do an hour then you better make sure that nothing/no one disturbs that because you don't have enough time to practice.
With only an hour then the 30 Day Workout, Kenny Aronoffs Power Workout DVD w/booklet insert $29.95 may be your best route for now because you do a lot of full body stuff in a short time.

Frank Briggs book/DVD is going to push you but the stuff you learn will set you straighter than straight.

Decide what weakness you most need to address first and then choose material gear toward that. Don't move on until you have mastered that material and solved that problem. THat's what hurts most folk right there is diligence I seeing their way through (myself included so noew I am working to play through every book cover to cover. that way I have a measuring stick for seeing/evaluating progress legitmately).

Tommy Igoes Groove Essentials DVD and PLay-A-Long Book set is good for learning variety/diversity. The book comes with tracks to play along to. Good stuff, much needed.


Here is the routine that I built my pracetice plan from http://drums.2.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=1349&st=45 . I am concentrating on going pro so I am (admitedly) flip-flopping my way up to 4-6 hours a day. For the past 1-2 weeks I have gotten 2 hrs plus in a day but I haven't gotten strict yet. As I watch TV I am practing on my E-Pad and bass drum practice pad with my double pedal... no use in wsting time when I could be putting in work.
Study Instructional DVDS... not be entertained... STUDY them. Study Reading /Writing rhythms this helps your time and your creativity and improves your understanding.

SET GOALS. TELL FOLKS YOUR GOALS (Folks you know will hold you to them... like me, lol)
Write it on tables and make it plane... Then keep your word to yourself.

 

[Pearldrummer1]

There is no substitute for organized formal practice routines.

Gospelchops is good entertainment. And you can pick up licks there sometimes but the lack of informed knowledge doesn't give adequate instruction. The Randy Guillermo (sp?) is by far the most informative and instructive clip there. Drum vocabulary stands on the foundation of rudimental and technique. The more you study the bigger vocabulary you will have WITH PROPER UNDERSTANDING AND DILIGENT PRACTICE.   

I dont mean to be rude or anything but I'm not to sure I can agree with that statement as a whole. Before I got my drumset and even when I got it, I watched the Aaron Green clip where he broke down some of the rudiments that he practiced. This really helped me improve the strength in my left wrist because it was very weak at the time. Also the DeMiyon Hall clip also taught me alot as well. I began practicing loose phrasing on my kit and now because of that I have a way better understanding of the definition of pockett. So point is that we shouldn't be nieve in the way we think, because what may have been entertainment to you may have been a good foundation for others. I admit, alot of the site is showing off licks and skills and whatnot but also it depends on what you're looking for, and I just happened to be looking for things to help me which eventually I found and now because of them I'm a better player.

[SabianKnight]

I dont mean to be rude or anything but I'm not to sure I can agree with that statement as a whole. Before I got my drumset and even when I got it, I watched the Aaron Green clip where he broke down some of the rudiments that he practiced. This really helped me improve the strength in my left wrist because it was very weak at the time. Also the DeMiyon Hall clip also taught me alot as well. I began practicing loose phrasing on my kit and now because of that I have a way better understanding of the definition of pockett. So point is that we shouldn't be nieve in the way we think, because what may have been entertainment to you may have been a good foundation for others. I admit, alot of the site is showing off licks and skills and whatnot but also it depends on what you're looking for, and I just happened to be looking for things to help me which eventually I found and now because of them I'm a better player.

Instruction and Foundation are not solid staples of Gospel Chops. I have had formal training and I teach now and attend many clinics. An aspiring drummer is NOT going to get drumming foundation from gospelchops.com. That is a fact.

Now down with changes it is possible but right... nope. Not opinion, fact. No offense to thier efforts which I applaud very much.