The Art of practice.
Are You Struggling to Get Better Despite Lots of Practice? Here’s How to Make Every Drum Practice Count with Rich's Expert Tips
As drummers, we've all been there—putting in the hours, working on techniques, and drilling patterns over and over, yet not seeing the progress we hope for. Practicing for hours without a strategy often leads to frustration, plateaus, and even burnout. But what if you could unlock a way to make every minute of practice count?
Rich, an expert on maximizing drum practice efficiency, has refined a system that helps drummers of all levels break through these plateaus and reach their potential. With years of experience, he knows that it's not just about time spent practicing, but about how you practice. Here’s a breakdown of his insights on making practice sessions more effective and enjoyable.
1. Set Clear, Realistic Goals
Rich’s number-one piece of advice is to set specific, attainable goals for each practice session. It’s easy to sit down and aimlessly jam or go through a routine without a clear target. Instead, approach each session with a specific objective in mind.
For example, rather than practicing “fills,” try focusing on “improving 16th-note triplet fills at 80 BPM with clean, even dynamics.” By narrowing down your goals, you give yourself a concrete focus that allows you to track progress and stay motivated.
2. Quality Over Quantity
Spending hours practicing isn’t necessarily better. In fact, extended, unstructured practice can lead to fatigue, both physically and mentally. Rich emphasizes quality over quantity, recommending shorter, concentrated practice blocks—20 to 30 minutes of focused work on a specific skill is often more productive than a two-hour session of scattered exercises.
When working on something specific, like hand speed, play a focused exercise and then take a break. This approach prevents overuse injuries and keeps your mind fresh, which is especially critical for retaining what you’ve learned.
3. Use a Metronome and Vary Your Tempos
A metronome is a drummer’s best friend. It forces you to stay disciplined with your timing and helps you develop a strong internal clock. Rich recommends practicing exercises at a variety of tempos, not just your comfort zone. This variation challenges you to adapt, which can reveal weaknesses in your technique.
Try using slow tempos to focus on precision and control, then gradually increase the speed to build confidence. Practicing at slow tempos is often the hardest but most beneficial because it exposes every flaw and forces you to correct it. Remember, accuracy comes first, speed follows.
4. Break Down Complex Patterns
It’s tempting to tackle complex drum patterns all at once, but it’s often more effective to break them down. Rich’s approach is to dissect challenging patterns into smaller, manageable pieces. For instance, if you’re working on a groove that combines bass drum syncopation with hi-hat variations, focus on just the bass drum pattern first, then add the hi-hat slowly.
Once each element feels comfortable on its own, start combining them. This step-by-step method builds muscle memory and gives you a solid foundation to tackle the full pattern.
5. Record Yourself and Listen Critically
One of the most powerful yet underused tools in drum practice is recording yourself. It’s tough to be objective about your playing in the moment, but playback allows you to hear your timing, dynamics, and consistency clearly.
Rich suggests listening with a critical ear, but don’t just focus on mistakes—identify your strengths as well. Notice if there are areas where you tend to rush or drag, or if there are certain dynamics that get lost in faster tempos. By addressing these issues, you can make adjustments and track progress over time.
6. Embrace the Power of Visualisation
Visualising your drumming can be a surprisingly effective practice tool. Rich believes that mental practice, like imagining your hands and feet executing a complex rhythm or fill, helps reinforce muscle memory and prepares your brain for actual play. Visualisation is especially helpful when you’re away from your kit but still want to reinforce new concepts.
Take a few minutes each day to close your eyes and mentally “play” a challenging pattern. This technique strengthens your mind-body connection and can make learning complex rhythms faster and easier.
7. Stay Consistent but Flexible
Consistency is crucial, but it’s important to listen to your body and your mind. Rich encourages drummers to establish a regular practice schedule, but if you’re feeling mentally drained or physically sore, it’s okay to take a rest or focus on a different aspect of drumming.
Drumming is a physically demanding skill, and overuse can lead to injuries or burnout. Be mindful of your physical condition and take rest days as needed. Remember, a few minutes of mindful practice is often more effective than an hour of fatigued drumming.
8. Enjoy the Process
One of Rich’s core messages is to enjoy the journey. Drumming should be a joyful expression, not a grind. While setting goals and working on technique are essential, remember to celebrate small victories and enjoy the music. If practice feels like a chore, mix things up—try playing along to a favourite song, experimenting with new styles, or improvising freely.
Drumming is a lifelong journey, and the path to improvement is more enjoyable when you focus on learning and progress rather than perfection.
Final Thoughts
Progressing on the drums is about more than the time you put in; it’s about the intentionality behind every hit, roll, and rest. By applying Rich’s expert tips to your practice, you can avoid the pitfalls of stagnant routines and make real, tangible progress. Remember to set specific goals, stay disciplined with timing, break down challenges, and keep an open, positive mindset.
So, next time you sit behind the kit, think of it as an opportunity to unlock new levels of your drumming ability. You might just find that with these small adjustments, your practice not only becomes more productive but a lot more enjoyable. Happy drumming!