How I practice drums.

Zoom whiteboard notes from a piano student's lesson

A student asked me questions on practicing. Do I practice every day, how long do I practice, when do I practice, what do I practice? How do I keep my enthusiasm for drumming year after year? Here are my answers. 

As many people know, I took up the drums at age 50 after an adult student challenged me by saying I had no idea how difficult it was to learn as an older adult. I took the challenge.  So, this blog is about my percussion practicing. (When my musical colleagues ask why I started drumming I tell a more colourful story that involves my misperception that drumming would be a cheaper mid-life crisis solution than buying a red sports car.)

1. I have a prepared practice space. Everything is organised and ready to go. I don't have to search around for anything. In short, I've removed the friction of a sloppy disorganised practice space. 
2. I understand and accept the difference between practicing and playing. I play music with my friends. In the practice studio I build skill and solve problems. 
3. This week, from the Metropolitan Silver Band, I received more than a dozen new pieces to learn in short order. My first step is to separate the music into two piles. Pile one I can sightread and will not be practiced. Pile two requires some work which I divide it into two further piles, music that requires a few minutes and then it's good to go and the terrifying pile. 
4. I listen to recordings of the terrifying pile so that I have a clear understanding of how the music should sound, then I get to work. When practicing music for my lessons, with symphonic percussionist Rick Dior, I carefully review my lesson notes from the Zoom video and follow his instructions.
5. All difficult music is chunked or learned in small sections. I practice very slowly with the metronome carefully playing with the correct dynamics, stickings, and articulations shown. I make note of the tempo that I can play accurately and the date on the top of the page. I want to practice slow enough not to make errors. Each day I move the tempo up by one or two BPMs. Other exercises are chop builders which need extended repetitions at loud volumes and fast tempos. 
6. I record my practicing, in various ways, in order to work in a "kind environment", that is, one in which feedback is quick and accurate. On the drum pad I use a metronome and listen carefully. On the electronic drum kit, I utilise a metronome app that every 32 measures scores me 1 to 100. I aim for 98% plus, which I can do if I build the passage or piece slowly and patiently. At band practices and lessons, I record everything on either audio or video. On my early morning walks and in the car, I listen to these recordings. 
7. I occasionally revisit old audio recordings to hear my progress. This week I listened to a performance from 2016. My wife said, "jeez you've improved."
8. I belong to supportive a musical communities: The Metropolitan Silver Band and The Kerr Street Big Band. For fifteen summers, in four countries, I've attended jazz and drum workshops. All these communities are full of keeners like me. 
9. I seek outside assessment. Both bands are run by conductors who don't let anything slip by. Also, I receive regular feedback from my teacher Rick Dior. The summer workshops are 24/7 feedback loops from fellow musicians and world class musicians. (I've learned to be humble.)
10. Do I practice everyday? I only practice 6 days a week.
11. How long do I practice? Eight to 10 hours a week on the kit, 4-5 hours of listening and evaluating my progress, two or more hours listening to and analyzing the playing of others, 1 hour reading about drumming in the "library", and an hour or two a week watching YouTube videos. Plus, I teach drumming a few hours a week.
12. What do I practice? See steps 2 through 6.
13. How I stay enthusiastic is no mystery. I love playing the drums as much I as love playing the piano. I love the ballet of 4 independently moving limbs. I love making music with my friends. I love drummers (they are different from pianists). I love the thrill and positive feedback of performing with and for others. I appreciate how it helps me identify with my piano students who are on a similar journey. I love where drumming has taken me: New Orleans jazz clubs like Preservation Hall, outdoor concerts under a summer moon in Rome Italy, Polish and American Jazz Clubs, the lists goes on and on. 

If I can help and encourage you on your musical journey, call me. 

David aka "sticks Story"
PS. I now cart my drums around in a red Cadillac. Not quite a sports car, but more drummer friendly.