Topic: What to do with limited practice time?

[Scot Holder]

My more lengthy practice sessions are almost always relegated to the weekend, and then I jump behind the kit to jam or learn a new song I need to know for Sunday. Nothing wrong with either of those options, but I spend very little time on focused technique exercises.

I have very limited time during the workweek to practice, but when I do find 20 or 30 spare minutes, I usually stare at my practice pad, overwhelmed by the flood of exercises that exist.

I realize that I need to find an instructor at some point to help me push past some barriers, but if you were primarily a rock drummer looking to strengthen the playing of your week hand/foot and develop better options for fills and chops in general, how would you spend 20 minutes with a pad and sticks?

[Chip Donaho]

Having grown up around the  original 40 rudiments, I spent my spare time working on a pad. Even if it was playing something like "Conneticut Halftime" it was keeping my wrists smooth. Sometimes I would play it various ways just to keep my basics on par around a set.

[Rusty Beckett]

There are plenty of DVD's on the market now with different types and styles of things to do and I don't have suggestions on what would be the best.  What I have found, and use is some stuff on YouTube by Tommy Igoe - Great Hands for a Lifetime.  There is also always the rudiments which you can change around using one of your feet to play what a hand would do.  When you're time is limited it might not be best to work on speed but work on becoming smooth and precise.   You might be surprised at how the speed will just happen then.

[Bart Elliott]

You may find my article, The Fine Art of Practice, helpful.

I don't tell you what to practice, but rather how to set goals and structure your practice time.

[Scot Holder]

You may find my article, The Fine Art of Practice, helpful.

I don't tell you what to practice, but rather how to set goals and structure your practice time.

Great article, Bart.  Reminding me, once again, that there is no such thing as a free lunch...

I think what I really need to do is find a pro teacher and get my bearings.