“Practice” is a word we’ve all had to come to grips with. As musicians, we must practice even if we don’t want to. So the question becomes what and how to practice. How can we make it interesting so that we get the most out of the time spent? Here are some suggestions and products that have helped me over the years.
1. Get organized
I can say with great certainty that if you make a plan for your practice time, where each thing you’re working on has a set time and a goal you want to achieve, then you’ll get better results — even if you only have 15 minutes.
2. The basics
Don’t neglect the basics. For drummers, basics could be rudiments (both hands and feet!). For melodic instruments and singers, it could be scales. You can never practice the fundamentals enough. They are the foundation of your playing and need to be solid.
3. Flow
Practicing flow could mean anything from getting around a song smoothly to how you improvise. Musicians who play with great flow can solo on their own and make it very musical. Knowing how to create energy levels from low to high only comes from practice. One example for how to practice flow is to start with a theme — something short that you can play easily. An example for drums could be a one-bar pattern using all eighth-notes repeated twice (two bars). Then improvise for two bars. After improvising for two bars, get back to your theme for two bars. Continue alternating between your theme and improvising. The key is getting back to the theme smoothly. It helps you stay grounded, and if you are performing live, it gives the audience something to lock on to.
4. Time
Good time is essential for all instruments and singers, not just drummers. A click track or metronome will help you stay in time. I highly recommend using one whenever you practice.
5. Practice with others
One thing that can make practice boring is always practicing alone. If you never get the chance to musically communicate with someone, then you can’t know if you’re actually improving. Most music is meant to be played and shared with others. If you’re not in a band, then find a jam night somewhere in town. Sit in, and you’ll quickly find out where you need to improve and where your comfort zones lie.
