When it comes to improving our drumming abilities, few things are as important as building and maintaining momentum. It’s far easier to stay motivated when we see visible progress on a consistent basis. Unfortunately, there isn’t always time to spend behind the kit. Days or weeks can sometimes go by without us having the opportunity to play the drums. So, here is a simple and effective way to keep making progress – even when you’re away from the drum set.
Everything we play on the drums is based on the 40 drum rudiments. As Lionel Duperron likes to explain, the rudiments are the letters that make up the drumming alphabet. As we learn and apply new rudiments – we unlock entirely new ways to express ourselves on the drums.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of drummers don’t know more than four or five of these powerful patterns. As with most rewarding things in life, it takes real focus and effort to learn something entirely new. And, when we are at the drum set, the last thing we want to do is spend an hour or two meticulously learning a new rudimental sticking pattern.
There is a reason why some people are extremely productive late at night. I suspect it’s the same reason why I am more productive when stuck on an airplane. In my experience, it’s much easier to focus on something important when there are fewer options (or distractions) available.
With this in mind, we can take advantage of the fact that we are away from the drums by practicing things we may not have the willpower to do while at the kit. And, when we return to the kit, our playing will have benefited from the focused effort we put in during this time.
There are three distinct stages for applying a new rudiment. First, we learn the basic sticking pattern through slow and deliberate muscle training. Second, we repeat the pattern over and over until we are able to play it unconsciously. And finally, we take what we have learned and begin to apply it around the drum set within beats and fills.
When we are away from the kit – we can master the first two stages quite easily. In fact, the flow of everyday life is quite compatible in terms of the focus and energy required. In some situations, we have absolutely nothing to do, so our mind is available to focus on the very deliberate muscle training required to first learn a new rudiment. At other times, we may have less of our attention available to us (watching TV, driving, listening to music, etc.), which is perfect for unconsciously repeating a pattern until it becomes ingrained in our brains.
We can develop the pattern by using sticks and a practice pad, by tapping our fingers on any surface, or even by tapping our feet. The important thing is that we maintain the left and right sticking, so our brain becomes so familiar with the pattern that we can play it without thinking.
So, choose a rudiment and start working on it in your spare time. You’ll see clear visible progress within a few short days. If you’re unsure where to start – I recommend the single paradiddle, double paradiddle, or one of the first few flam patterns. Give them a try!
Rick Kettner is an active drummer and the co-founder of Drumeo - an online community dedicated to the education, inspiration, and support of drummers.
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