DRUMMER CAFE

Is there any possible way I can continue playing the way I normally do while at the same time improving the speed of my left hand/foot to match my right hand/foot.

Do weights help?

Practicing, not weights, is the key.

Use your left hand/foot more and it will gain strength and control. Practice being able to do everything with your left that you can do with your right.

Read this ... http://community.drummercafe.com/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7678

Yeah, I've been practicing open handed playing lately and it's definitely helping with my left hand speed.

I have found that starting EVERYTHING I practice with my left hand has improved my left quite a lot.

Turn the kit around and play left handed/Left Footed.  Give that a month of solid playing 1 hour a day and your left hand and foot will be 50% better in 4 weeks.

You can do that.  I just lead with my left.

I use a metronome and just work my left side until tired.  I also adjust my playing technique and dynamics.

Like Bart said- I think it boils down to knowing good technique then practicing.

I can't imagine having to teach- it's not easy and I'm very poor at it.

I've had some teachers and have read in places where they recommend doing things you normally do with your right hand to try and get in the habit with your left hand.  For example, brushing your teeth.

But really as Bartman mentioned above it boils down to just nasty, horrible sounding practice.  Encouragement is key.  If one is consistent, I've found that within about a years time you can really get that left side closer to the right side in performance.

I mostly pratice what I "can't play".

When I stated to train my feet (ex millitary drummer) if I didn't know nothing about drumming and I heard myself I would think "How nice that the retarded are forming a band.

Something to consider is the idea of playing open handed for a time.

"Open handed" playing is the practice of using your weak hand as the leader, particularly in drumset patterns. Typically, an open handed player's setup places the Ride cymbal on the left hand side, keeping the hi hats lower than normal, and both are played with the left hand.

I'm left handed by nature, and when I was learning (early Elementary school, actually) I wasn't allowed to move the cymbals or drums around to accomodate for my left handed nature, so I learned to play open handed on the hat, and traditionally on the Ride - something that helped me tremendously down the line.

To this day, I use an open handed setup: toms are situated right-oriented, with my primary Ride on the left and my hats a bit lower.

For more information (and a demonstration) on open handed playing, look at Dom Famularo's cyber lessons here. Personally, I don't keep my hats as low as he does, and I certainly don't cut my hi hat rod like that.

I still want to lift the weight. But in the past couple of days, I've noticed a very slight improvement in my speed. Imagine how it'll get in a week or so.

You know what they say...no pain, no gain!

To quote Jim Chapin." If they say no pain no gain,shoot em"

How about getting a "stress ball" and squeezing that with your left hand, instead of lifting weights?  I find the stress ball is good for warming up, as well.

lots of great advice!

but surprised the most obvious hasnt been mentioned: using a metronome!  simple, yet MOST effective.  

my left hand is ... well.. slower than my right.  so with a metronome, my left hand is forced to keep up with my quicker right.

already after a few weeks, I feel my left hand getting much more agile and responsive.

This is a terrible idea.  It will not make your left hand any faster, and will probably lead to an injury.  If you had a teacher or followed the advice of the other experienced people here, you would know that arm strength has nothing to do with speed or control in drumming.  Try something simple, like researching the Cafe on speed and strength conditioning exercises, Bart has some great one's that only take 15 serious minutes a day.  If you continue down this path, you'll only hurt your drumming in the long run

I did,cut that boy just low enough to where I can still put a cowbell or Hat Trick on it.I guess Dom`s wearing off on me. Weights are not the answer. Try this exercise for a few minutes everyday. Take a stick ,turn it around so it hits your forearm,do duples and triples against your forearm. Also like in Barts lesson,flat flams.
To build the drumming muscles take you fore finger and thumb,put them together lightly,like the ok sign.Bring the remaining three fingers into your palm,then extend all the way,open,close,open,close. Remember to bring them all the way in and extend all the way.  I am pretty sure your left will get tired in under two minutes.

I live by what Wessel teaches. He has one of the best instructional segments on the www