Learning Outcome 1

An Effective Practice Routine

I have done quite a bit of research on effective drum practice routines, and I came across this plan on a website. http://www.elephantdrums.co.uk/blog/guides-and-resources/drumming-practise-regime/ 

The plan seems like a very good logical way to improve my drumming, as it makes you set targets of specific things you want to improve, and gives your practice focus and an aim. Just by reading it, and how much it apparently helps your drumming, I am already motivated to give it a try! I will start the plan, and follow it over a two month period. I will be focussing in on aspects of three of my grade 8 pieces. I will adjust the plan to fit me and my spare time. I will follow this routine for two months.

Here is my current standard of playing of my three grade 8 pieces. I will watch these videos back and select the things from my playing and specific parts of these pieces which need improving most.

This is my current standard of Bo Diddley:

This is my current standard of Overture:

And this is my current standard of 7evens:

PHASE ONE – Practice Pad
Here I have chosen some parts of my hand or foot technique that need improving. I selected these by watching my playing back and look at the particular techniques I am having trouble with.

My list:

1. Improve accuracy of drags
2. Pata fla fla pattern with triplet hi hats (3 against 4 pattern) increased speed
3. RllrrLRllrrLRllrrLrrl pattern in 7/8.
4. Chops (between hands and foot - RLBBRLBBRLRLBBRLRLRBB etc)/also as triplets

PHASE TWO – Drumkit

Some parts of the pieces I need to improve on:

My list:

1. Accents throughout the pieces
2. Groove in 7evens using hi-hat foot
3. Solo in overture
4. Not rushing in overture when playing fast ride cymbal

Putting it together

You’ll be working on these topics for thirty days straight (schedule permitting)!
So, get back to what you’ve written/typed down and add this figure to every topic: 0/30.
When you’ve completed a day of practise, you add a number to that figure. So after three practise sessions your log should look like this for each topic: 3/30
Woodshed until you reach 30/30.
If you feel really comfortable with a groove or technique after only 20 days/practise sessions, pick something new and start from 0/30.
If you think you need more work on some things, add 10 more days. Or start from zero (that will surely be the case when developing hand or foot technique and/or advanced coordination).
Focus for 20min a day on each of the techniques/grooves/concepts you picked.
Work exclusively on that! Don’t lose focus!

My schedule
I will work on each of these for 15 minutes a day. This adds up to 2 hours practice a day which I can just about fit in.

January/February 2013

Improve accuracy of drags 60/60

Pata fla fla pattern with triplet hi hats (3 against 4 pattern) increased speed 60/60

RllrrLRllrrLRllrrLrrl pattern in 7/8. 60/60

Chops (between hands and foot - RLBBRLBBRLRLBBRLRLRBB etc)/also as triplets 60/60

Accents throughout the pieces 60/60

Groove in 7evens using hi-hat foot 60/60

Solo in overture 60/60

Not rushing in overture when playing fast ride cymbal 60/60

The Results

If you stick to your practise routine, preferably practising on a daily basis, 30 practise sessions n a row, you will be astounded by how much your technique, grooves, chops will improve!
And now the best part of it!
You’ll need one hour and ten minutes at the practice pad and the same amount of time behind the drums.
It totals up at 2h20min for your daily practise routine.
It’s not that much is it!?
If you’ve got more time on your hands, you can choose to dedicate more time for each area.
The idea is to develop a focused, systematic practise routine and achieve a lot more in less time.
Let’s say you can’t put in the hours for a while because you get really busy gigging, teaching or working at the office, when you get back to it, you’ll know exactly where you’re at and for how long have you been working on each area of your playing.
Give it a shot and you’ll feel and hear the difference!

I have successfully completed 60 days worth of practice of this. Admittedly it took a little over two months as there were some days where I just didn't get round to doing the practice. I have however definitely improved upon these things. The improvements didn't come quite as quickly as I expected, but they are definitely there. I am not sure how fast I would have improved just practising my normal way in comparison, but I don't think I would have got these things up to scratch as well in the time period!

I am very pleased with the practice routine. Although I have since stopped following it (Due to being very busy with A levels) I have generally noticed that my practice has become a lot more focussed since I followed this, and I am seeing faster improvements in my playing these days than before. I am going to continue to use the routine I used and adapted here, and continue to adapt it until I have a practice routine that works perfectly for me. I am taking my grade 8 very soon now, and am pleased that I have learnt how to more effectively practice. I will be putting this routine back into use shortly, and I hope that it will help me get the distinction I am aiming for!