DRUM LESSONS - Hamden, Connecticut
by ed peterson, professional drummer
by ed peterson, professional drummer
Drum Exercises | Drum Lessons by ed Peterson
Below are some exercises that are helpful in learning and developing drumming throughout life; these are not secrets or shortcuts (there are no shortcuts); only practice will make you better. Be good, have fun, be productive. Balance
symmetry
1: Evaluate how you feel before beginning to play. Energy levels vary from day to day and throughout the day, try not to push, but rather, practice music to suit that energy level. Don't equate energy to fast and loud, it is not that; it is control of your posture, mental focus and the dynamics of your playing, always count.
2: Warm up your body before you begin - stretch, workout on your drum pad before you move to your kit. Move to your kit and set your metronome to a comfortable pace, play your base pedal to every beat closing your hi hat on one your ride on three - do this for sixty seconds; this will loosen your feet and ankles and set your balance and focus. Continue your practice.
3: Play quietly, controlled and with brushes. Try this with hard rock or any style of music that is more aggressive. Execution developed in this way will help make your stick playing more precise and develop an association with brushes. Practice your book lessons with brushes as well.
4: If you are right-footed play your exercises with your left foot on the bass drum or vice versa; play slowly and evenly gradually build speed maintaining evenness.
5: Try warming up with a larger size stick as a batter does in the on-deck circle. You will develop more control and power with your sticks.
6: Choose drum sticks that fit your hands comfortably and find balance in your grip, which is about 1/3 of the way down the stick just above the trademark. As a batter uses the energy generated by the pitcher, learn to control the energy generated from your stick striking your playing surface to your advantage; this will increase speed, develop dynamics and conserve energy and reduce injury.
7: Study breathing techniques. This will aid in focus and energy conservation when on stage or in the studio, energy can be sapped by adrenaline; learn to control, re-direct and focus your energy.
8: Take lessons; there is no substitute for a good teacher. The analysis of your playing from a competent teacher is crucial to achievement, without it bad habits develop. Bad habits are easily incorporated into ones playing, but, quite timely and difficult to correct.
9: Never stop learning, don't ever think you are too old, too good or not good enough to have a teacher. All coaches or managers of sports, many who were either not great players or never played, teach athletes and help to turn them into champions. Was Phil Jackson as good a player as Micheal Jordan? Can Neil Peart's drum teacher do what he does on the drums? All performers need feedback and analysis of their performance from their contemporaries; find a trained ear and eye that will be positive and critical.
2: Warm up your body before you begin - stretch, workout on your drum pad before you move to your kit. Move to your kit and set your metronome to a comfortable pace, play your base pedal to every beat closing your hi hat on one your ride on three - do this for sixty seconds; this will loosen your feet and ankles and set your balance and focus. Continue your practice.
3: Play quietly, controlled and with brushes. Try this with hard rock or any style of music that is more aggressive. Execution developed in this way will help make your stick playing more precise and develop an association with brushes. Practice your book lessons with brushes as well.
4: If you are right-footed play your exercises with your left foot on the bass drum or vice versa; play slowly and evenly gradually build speed maintaining evenness.
5: Try warming up with a larger size stick as a batter does in the on-deck circle. You will develop more control and power with your sticks.
6: Choose drum sticks that fit your hands comfortably and find balance in your grip, which is about 1/3 of the way down the stick just above the trademark. As a batter uses the energy generated by the pitcher, learn to control the energy generated from your stick striking your playing surface to your advantage; this will increase speed, develop dynamics and conserve energy and reduce injury.
7: Study breathing techniques. This will aid in focus and energy conservation when on stage or in the studio, energy can be sapped by adrenaline; learn to control, re-direct and focus your energy.
8: Take lessons; there is no substitute for a good teacher. The analysis of your playing from a competent teacher is crucial to achievement, without it bad habits develop. Bad habits are easily incorporated into ones playing, but, quite timely and difficult to correct.
9: Never stop learning, don't ever think you are too old, too good or not good enough to have a teacher. All coaches or managers of sports, many who were either not great players or never played, teach athletes and help to turn them into champions. Was Phil Jackson as good a player as Micheal Jordan? Can Neil Peart's drum teacher do what he does on the drums? All performers need feedback and analysis of their performance from their contemporaries; find a trained ear and eye that will be positive and critical.
