Learning to play the drums is no easy task. It is one of the musical instruments that require more discipline, commitment, and overall patience. The truth is, there are no shortcuts if you want to become an exceptional drummer!
Nevertheless, specific tips of what (and how) you should practice can go a long way.
— July 29th, 2021
Today we want to share some very effective ways to practice and learn to play drums, as explained by Marc Dicciani, a professor of Drumset and Music at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
1. Identify your goal
If your goal is to make music with other artists, always keep that in mind when choosing what to practice and study. For instance, if you want to improve your jazz or Afro-Cuban drumming, identify or have your teacher suggest specific pieces to work on and listen to that are consistent with that goal.
2. Practice what you want to play
Tip #1 brings us to tip #2. It would be best if you always practiced what you ultimately see yourself playing. Meaning, don’t just practice free-form: play along to recordings, loops, etc., and in a wide range of tempos, volumes, and styles.
3. Track your process
Feedback is critical to your development and to avoid falling into bad habits. Hence, listen to recordings of yourself to track your progress and recognize any weaknesses or mistakes.
Beginning students should share those practice recordings with their teacher, so he/she can identify issues to work on.
But, whatever level you are in, it is highly encouraged to record yourself every time you practice, even if it’s just for a few minutes, to evaluate what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.
4. Focus
Keep your practice focused and free from distractions. Do not text, watch TV, or check social media while practicing. Even if you think you can multitask, odds are you are not paying enough attention to the task at hand.
Remember, learning and developing advanced skills requires intense focus — so make sure you are 100% immerse in your practice and leave distractions out of the room.
5. Understand what you are learning
Memorizing and having the ability to play several tunes is not enough. It would help if you took the time to internalize and truly understand what you are learning.
Read and study articles, interviews, transcriptions, books, magazines, and websites. There’s are plenty of resources available online and offline; take advantage!
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This article is a re-post, with minor modifications, of “Top 10 Drum Practice Tips,” an article published on hub.yamaha.com by Marc Dicciani.
