Re: Practice Exercise
This is what I do when I'm playing on a pad, but I've adapted it to use when I play drumset. A lot of drumlines have what they call a 60 second warm up which is basically just an exercise that goes through most of the different strokes that you use when playing drums to warm you up as fast as possible.
This is one one that I have drumlines I teach learn as it has worked really well for my own personal practice. A couple times through it and my hands are ready to go.
It starts out with just basic 8th notes, going from 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4, just to make sure I'm not mindlessly playing 8th notes.
Then it goes to 16th notes, starting at 3 inches then crescendoing to 16 inches then all the way back down to 3, and then it switches to the same thing only left hand lead. Next it does the same kind of thing, but only the lead hand does the crescendo, so since the first one is right hand lead, the right hand starts at 3 and gets all the way up to 16, then back down and then it switches. This is again to make sure my mind is working and to check heights between hands.
Next it goes to a basic accent tap exercise, just to make sure my hands are playing good solid heights, and that I'm using good sound quality, whether it's on a full 12 inch accent or a small 3 inch tap, they all should have good quality. Weak taps are lame.
Next it goes to a basic double beat exercise, to get my hands playing doubles and ready for the diddles coming up.
Finally it goes to a section of paradiddle-diddles, alternating between right and left. This is where you can really see if your hands are warmed up, as this is for sure the hardest part. Making the accents 12 and the rest of the rudiment low is the most difficult part of this. If you're not used to doing these on the left, this will prove very difficult and will take lots of slow practice. The lefts even get me still...
Finally it ends with a little lick, a "tag" if you will, this is mostly because whenever I write an exercise for drumlines I like to add a little "tag," a cool lick to catch the attention of anybody watching. It also is good to check to make sure your hands are completely warmed up.
Edit: I totally forgot to say how I incorporated this on drumset! I guess it's not really too exciting. I usually just place my pad on my snare, use marching sticks (if you have never seen them, they are HUGE compared to drumset sticks) and then play bass-hat-bass-hat-bass-hat-bass-hat with my feet on 8th notes, to make sure my hands can play in time with my feet. If you don't read music this might be a bit confusing, but if you do I for sure would suggest giving it a try. I usually go through it about three times and my hands are totally ready to attack the drums!
Sorry for the crappy looking music, I just kind of threw it together really quick.
Last edited by isaacvining; 08-18-2011 at 02:02 PM.
Kits:
-C&C Player Date 13/16/22
-65' Ludwig Super Classic 13/16/22
Snares:
-DW Nickel Over Brass 6.5x14 snare
-Ludwig Black Galaxy Acrolite 5x14 snare
-Ludwig 65' Super Classic 5x14 snare
-Ludwig 64' Pioneer 5x14 snare
-PDP Classic Wood hoop 6x14 snare
Rides:
-Zildjian 22" Constantinople
-Zildjian 22" Kerope
-Zildjian 20" Constantinople
Hats:
-17" A Medium crash over K custom dark crash
-DW 9000 pedals
Bookmarks