Unlocking Progress: How to Journal Your Practice to Identify Sticking Points
Unlocking Progress: How to Journal Your Practice to Identify Sticking Points
Practicing the drums can feel incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with its share of challenges. Sometimes, no matter how hard you practice, certain patterns, grooves, or fills just don’t click. That’s where journaling your practice can make a world of difference. By keeping a detailed log of your practice sessions, you can pinpoint specific sticking points and work more effectively to overcome them.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to journal your practice sessions to identify and address your drumming challenges.
1. Start with a Clear Objective
Before you even pick up your sticks, set a goal for your practice session. This could be anything from mastering a specific rudiment to nailing a tricky section of a song.
Journal Prompt: What is today’s main focus?
Example: "Today, I’m working on the paradiddle groove at 100 BPM."
2. Record What You Practice
As you work through your session, write down the specific exercises, tempos, and durations. This helps you track your progress over time and provides a snapshot of what’s working and what’s not.
Journal Prompt: What did I practice today?
Example:
Warm-up: 10 minutes of single strokes at 120 BPM.
Groove practice: 15 minutes on a funk groove at 80 BPM.
Fills: 10 minutes on a triplet fill exercise.
3. Note Challenges and Observations
While practicing, pay attention to moments where things feel off. Are you struggling with timing? Is your left hand weaker? Write down what isn’t working and any observations about why.
Journal Prompt: What challenges did I encounter today?
Example:
"I’m having trouble staying consistent with the paradiddle groove at higher speeds."
"My left hand tends to lag when playing the triplet fills."
"I lose the beat when transitioning from the groove to the fill."
4. Analyse the Sticking Points
Once you’ve identified the issues, reflect on why they might be happening. Is it a technical problem, like poor hand positioning? Or maybe a mental block, such as losing focus under pressure?
Journal Prompt: Why do I think I’m struggling with this?
Example:
"I think my left hand weakness stems from not practicing enough rudiments with it."
"I’m rushing the fill because I’m not fully comfortable with the transition."
5. Develop a Plan to Overcome Sticking Points
Now that you know where you’re stuck, create a strategy to tackle the problem. This might involve slowing down the tempo, breaking the exercise into smaller chunks, or focusing on specific techniques.
Journal Prompt: What’s my plan to address this issue?
Example:
"I’ll practice the paradiddle groove at a slower tempo (80 BPM) and gradually increase it by 5 BPM each day."
"I’ll dedicate 5 extra minutes to left-hand exercises in every practice session."
6. Reflect on Progress
At the end of each practice session—or even weekly—take time to review your journal. Look for patterns in your sticking points and celebrate any improvements.
Journal Prompt: What progress did I make today?
Example:
"I was able to play the paradiddle groove consistently at 90 BPM, which is better than yesterday."
"The triplet fills are still rough, but I’m getting better at keeping time."
7. Use Your Journal to Stay Motivated
Journaling isn’t just about troubleshooting—it’s also a tool for staying motivated. Revisit older entries to see how far you’ve come and remind yourself of the progress you’ve made.
Final Thoughts
Journaling your practice sessions is a powerful way to identify and overcome sticking points. It transforms your practice from a repetitive process into a purposeful journey of growth and self-improvement. By writing down your goals, challenges, and strategies, you’ll gain clarity and make consistent progress. So, grab a notebook or start a digital log, and watch your drumming improve one entry at a time!