Zappa-fan
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« on: May 26, 2008, 12:19 PM » |
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In a recent edition of MD magazine a writer gave 10 tips to turn a concert visit into a drum lesson. This gave me the idea to this topic, which I hope isn't posted before. I talk of the situations when you're driving to work and get stuck in a traffic jam, or when you're a witness of a very very boring meeting, waiting for the bus, train or listening to the radio at work. These are my favorites: Practicing time: singing the beats or beat displacements when listening to a song on the radio. Practicing time: playing time tables to tunes on the radio Building strength: The Jojo Mayer thing: 8 * 100 claps with the hands (not recommended when driving  ) I think any drummer has his thing, consciously or subconsciously  . Do you recognize this? What are your "favorite excercises" when not sitting behind a kit? Rene van der Stel - the Netherlands |
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George
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« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2008, 03:47 PM » |
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When I learn songs, I may have the cd in the car, and tap on the wheel with my hands in a traffic jam, or when I'm parking and, let's say, waiting for somebody. When I'm at a boring meeting at work, I sometimes print out paradiddle or whatever rudiment notes before it, and take this paper with me and practise basic routines in my head. I sometimes take sheet music of classical pieces with me, and try to "hear" the whole orchestra just by reading the notes. I often try to do things with my left hand instead of the right. And there are lots of things that I could do for practising without a kit, but quite often, when I sit behind the kit three hours a day as an average, I feel happy when I'm without it, and I just watch the water if I can steal some time to get down to a river and do nothing.
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Premier APK (ca. 1991), Remo Pinstripe, DW 5000 pedal; Paiste 602, 2002, Sound Creation; Zildjian A; hard rock / blues
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New York Frank
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« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2008, 04:25 PM » |
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When I'm at a boring meeting at work, I sometimes print out paradiddle or whatever rudiment notes before it, and take this paper with me and practise basic routines in my head.
Niiice! |
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Chris Whitten
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« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2008, 04:49 PM » |
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Yeah.
While I see the positive angle of this topic, I think it's sometimes healthy to give your brain a break from drums and drumming.
Practicing when refreshed can be more productive than living and breathing drums 24/7.
I certainly think it's odd, if not unhealthy, to turn a concert experience into a quasi practice session (Mr MD journalist).
Concentrate on the concert, you might learn more than drifting off into a series of mental exercises.
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amoacristo
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« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2008, 09:35 AM » |
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I certainly think it's odd, if not unhealthy, to turn a concert experience into a quasi practice session (Mr MD journalist). Nice. I do agree with you. Lately I have been practicing the space in between the notes exclusively. By that I mean I only practice that space, meaning I do nothing. It actually took work to develop this as it had become natural for me to bang away on things. However, not many people in this world appreciate that kind of thing. |
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Bart Elliott
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« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2008, 10:05 AM » |
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Use the first three pages of Stick Control, playing the stickings with the feet. Use Synopation in the same way; feet way the written rhythms, or one foot plays the bottom line while the other foot plays the top line. For a more exhaustive answer ... everything you can play with your hands, do the same but with your feet. This would include stickings, rhythms and rudiments. |
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My doctor says it's bad for my blood pressure if my mind is blown for more than five minutes at a time.
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Zappa-fan
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« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2008, 12:38 PM » |
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For the record: It was the April 2008 issue. The article was written by Mr. Mark Tomase: "Ten ways to turn a rock show into a drum lesson". I think (and also agree with CW) you should enjoy the concert in stead of explicitly analyzing the drummer's playing. Subconsciously you'll pick up some things. But sometimes I find it very very difficult not to pay attention to the drummer's playing. E.g., I saw VC in 1997 with Sting. One song they played was Seven days. " Is he really doing this ... Oh did he just do .... What is he doing .... ? . I am interested in these kind of "habits", which I think any drummer more or less has. And off course, I'm interested in creative ideas regarding this topic. I've never tried to practice the feet (without a pedal) as BE mentioned. I'll see if it works for me. I think it only works if you play heel down. Taking your time off of drumming plays - in my opinion - an important role in the learning proces. Is there a thread on "how to build an efficient practice routine?". RvdS |
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Chris Whitten
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« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2008, 02:54 PM » |
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I've never tried to practice the feet (without a pedal) as BE mentioned. I'll see if it works for me. I think it only works if you play heel down.
I've done it heel up. It's good to practice away from the kit sometimes. What about long delays at airports and in the dentists waiting room? Most other places I tend to give my mind and limbs a break. |
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Antman
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« Reply #8 on: May 29, 2008, 08:52 AM » |
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My favourite form of practice away from the drum kit is deep listening to music  But yes occasionally I'll do some stick control etc especially if I'm feeling a little "unfit" |
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wHeeeee!
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Gaddabout
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« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2008, 08:17 PM » |
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I've been practicing breathing to rudiments to get my brain out of the habit of holding my breath. It's an old habit I thought I broke but it's come back as I've been out of practice. My goal is to maintain a normal breathing pattern and keeping my heart rate low regardless of what I play, even while playing an unbroken pattern of single strokes.
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Odd meter isn't broken. It doesn't need to be fixed. - David Crigger
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New York Frank
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« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2008, 10:33 AM » |
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The beer hoist.
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Chris Robbins
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« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2008, 05:50 PM » |
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yeah, i like to listen to odd meter music and *try* to count the time signatures.
btw, whats the "jojo mayer" thing?
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Zappa-fan
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« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2008, 12:25 PM » |
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btw, whats the "jojo mayer" thing?
Jojo Mayer demonstrated this exercise in his DVD. Put your hands together, like you're praying, clap your hands while keeping the palms together (i.e. your hands make a V shape when opened). Make a light tapping sound with the tip of your fingers. If you can't keep up the speed then slow down, but finish the 8 times 100 claps! Rene |
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snaresoff
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« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2008, 09:50 PM » |
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The beer hoist.
Frank I am with you bro!! In Brooklyn we call it the pizza shuffle  |
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