Private Drum Lessons | Drum Instruction | Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Raleigh, NC

Using Stick Control for Drumset

Stick Control  by George Lawrence Stone is a classic text for learning how to play drums.  I think one of the reasons for this is it's step by step approach in teaching stickings, rhythm and coordination as you progress through the book.

Most people see this book and think it's only applicable to Snare Drum.  I've found there are many interesting and challenging things you can do with the exercises in this book that can help you with your drumset playing as well.

Here are some ways you can use this text to help you with your drumset coordination:

1. First off, try playing Quarter notes with your Right Foot (or Left Foot) as you play each exercise with your hands.
2. Next try playing Quarter or Eighth notes with one of your hands (on
   the bell of the cymbal or hi-hat for example) while your FEET play the
   exercises - Right Foot plays R, Left Foot plays L.
3. Now, continue playing Quarter or Eighth notes with your Right Hand
   on the hi-hat or ride cymbal, and have your Right Foot play the R in
   the exercises, while your Left Hand plays the L in the exercises. 
4. Repeat step 3, but play the cymbal with the Left Hand, while the
   Right Foot plays the R in the exercises and the Right Hand plays the L
   in the exercises.
5. Try step 3 or 4 with a diffferent rhythm in the cymbal hand, such as a dotted eighth followed by a 16th.
6. Another variation I like to try is to play each exercise twice:
   once as written, and then repeat the exercise - but this time play it
   in double time.  This gives you a chance to see if your hands are
   really getting the stickings down.

Hopefully these suggestions are helpful to you as you continue to use Stick Control in your studies.  And for those of you not yet familiar with this wonderful book, I urge you to purchase a copy at your earliest convenience!

Profile on Gary Chaffee

Today I thought I would introduce you to Gary Chaffee.

From his website:

"Credited with teaching some of the most successful and influential players on the contemporary drumming scene, Gary Chaffee has earned the respect of musicians worldwide for more than 30 years."

"Chaffee has authored many books demonstrating his unique concepts. Among these are his highly popular 4-volume Patterns series: Rhythm & Meter; Sticking; Time  Functioning; and Technique; and his new Linear Time Playing."

I like to use his books for teaching drumset independence and coordination.  Specifically I use his Sticking book and his Time Functioning books.  His approach is logical and his concepts are simple to understand.  I like to use his books in conjunction with the other books that I use for teaching, such as Stick Control and Johnny Rabb's Jungle Drum and Bass book.

Please take the time to visit Gary's website and learn more about this highly influential educator and performer. If you ever have the chance to take a lesson with him or see him perform live, please be sure and take it!  You won't be disappointed.

Practice: How often and how much?

Students and parents often ask me, how much time should I spend practicing?  This article will attempt to answer that question.

Practicing is necessary if you want to learn how to play drums. Some weeks you will feel more motivated to practice and your practice time will be something you look forward to.  However, other times it will be difficult to find time to practice or it may seem that your desire to practice is not as strong as it has been in the past.

Because drumming is a skill that involves muscular and neurological coordination, it's important to spend as much time each day practicing the material covered in your drum lessons.  Said another way, practicing is the act of training your brain and your muscles to act together.  The more time you can spend "training" the quicker you'll progress.  So, on the days when you don't feel motivated to practice,  I encourage you to still try and spend at least some time working on the materials you've been assigned.  Even 5 minutes is preferred to no time at all. 

Drumming (like many skills that are learned) becomes easier and more fun the more you are able to practice.  Your improvement as a drummer is directly related to what you practice and how often. Some of my students find it helpful to make a chart so that they are able to track their practice progress throughout the week.  Others find it helpful to divide their lesson assignment between the days until their next lesson. I even know of one student who sets a timer to ensure he puts in his allotted practice time each day.  I encourage you to find or use any tools that will help you develop and become consistent with your practice regime.

Consistent and correct repetition is key when learning any new skill, including drumming.  The more consistent you are in setting aside time each day to work on your drumming (whether you feel like it or not) the quicker you'll reach your drumming goals.  And by spending the necessary time and energy to make sure you are playing your lesson assignment correctly, the more likely you'll be able to progress further at your next lesson.

I encourage you to keep up your work, stay focused on your goals, and to enjoy your journey as you become the drummer you wish to be.  At times, learning how to play drums can be hard work, but if you persist with your practicing and stay determined, you will succeed in accomplishing your goals.