Drummer Talk 04/08/2011 – Learning to Practice (#159)
This week, we cover how to effectively practice. Mike, Kyle, and Andrew bring news of reactions to the new Foo Fighters documentary, Dream Theater’s “new” drummer, Police meets Monty Python, how Steve Adler is recruiting, and the return of the Pearl Reference reference .. kind of. Show notes after the break!
NEWS:
Clyde Stubblefield want his royalties – Buy it here
New Foo Figthers Documentry – Taylor Hawkins – Dave Grohl
Mike Mangini New Dream Theater drummer?
Stewart Copeland and Monty Python join forces
Blink 182 half way through new album
Steve Alder wants you to join his band
Pearl Release new Reference Reference Reference pure
Topic –
Learning to practice
set aside moment of time teaching your brain and muscles how to perform
developing a set of skills
learn something new
dont let frustrating rule
dont throw expensive things
play to metronome
dont waste time playing sections we already can play
practice too fast
practice little parts
come back to it frequenly
not stroking ego in practice
micro tempo – take a problem section and practice it slower than you want to, at least 1/2 tempo, it is slow enough so your brain can comprehend what you are doing
isolate and repeate – focus on one measure and loop it at micro tempo and slowly speed it up
over clocking – play the piece 5/10 bpm faster so that when you back it down it feels comfortable
make sure you practice nuience in the piece
Next week topic: cool new news from German namm or Musikmesse
April 29th : Latham Funk Studies
Apr 10, 2011 @ 21:44:21
Great show guys! It actually really helped make my practice sessions more efficient!!!
Apr 11, 2011 @ 13:54:31
Nice show! I’ve always heard “slow it down” to learn a new beat, fill, or rudiment. What about beats or fills that would require a technique change at higher tempos – like doubles? Do you recommend practicing with singles until the tempo dictates a double stroke? Thanks again!
Apr 11, 2011 @ 14:03:29
Rodney, I would practice it doubled at a slow tempo if the end result would ultimately be doubled. That way, it’s only a technique change and not a technique AND sticking change.
Apr 14, 2011 @ 08:50:55
Talk about yelling at the podcast in the car! I couldn’t believe how you kept insisting that Terry Gilliam was dead! Thank goodness British Mike came up with the correct dead Python. Terry Gilliam, who did all the cartoons and graphics (and the onlt American) of the Pythons), not only directed Brazil, but also Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Time Bandits, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys, and Heath Ledger’s last movie before he died, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, among other films…