http://blog.makedrumwork.com Skill through struggle and sacrifice Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:47:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_1630" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Grocery Shopping. Soure: lu_lu"][/caption] Grocery shopping What are the basics? Picking what you want off the shelves. Ok, now imagine the scene: You go to a shop to get some groceries. You walk in and go straight to the shelves and start picking up what you need from ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/08/12/why-you-need-to-practise-every-day-building-your-shopping-cart/ [caption id="attachment_1587" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="If it's broke, fix it. Source: philip.bitnar"][/caption] Random doesn't work Too many people have their practise time set on "random." If you practise random things at random times, you'll get random results. Now that is fine for a beginner. When you start learning the drums, anything will work. ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/08/10/how-to-fix-a-broken-practise-schedule-react-repair-remodel/ [caption id="attachment_1541" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Smoke rubber, not cigarettes. Source: dicktay2000"][/caption] Disclaimer Building power is a worthy goal. But it takes time. There are no shortcuts. It must be built brick by boring brick. And the work must be done. Oh yes, the work must be done. Don't expect any quick fixes. With that ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/07/23/increasing-power-behind-the-kit-horsepower-vs-handling/ [caption id="attachment_1511" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Timing. It's easy to get lost. Source: fdecomite"][/caption] Everyone talks about the importance of having good timing. Or being able to play in time. Or good time-playing. It doesn't matter how you say it, it's the most important thing you need to develop. But also the most ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/07/20/the-myth-of-timing/ [caption id="attachment_1495" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Learning makes you smart. Source: austinevan"][/caption] First things first... Thanks to everyone who has been in touch and encouraged me to start writing again. I haven't been drumming much since February because of an old wrist condition that started to bother me. Other than keeping my gigging ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/07/19/exploration-and-xbox-result-of-4-months-without-drumming/ [caption id="attachment_1381" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Win. Source: dplanet"][/caption] Cheaters always win You've played the lottery before. If not, then you know what it is. But do you know how cheating at it can help your drumming? Obviously, you can use the money you win to buy new gear, build your own studio, quit ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/02/25/why-you-will-never-be-a-good-drummer-unless-you-cheat-at-the-lottery/ [caption id="attachment_1372" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Life is over. Source itsjustminna"][/caption] You begin to doubt yourself Maybe everyone was right. Maybe you're wasting your time. Maybe you're no good at anything. You wonder if you'll ever be able to play like your heroes. Does this sound familiar? I've felt like this a lot with my ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/02/23/what-to-do-when-you-lose-motivation-to-drum/ [caption id="attachment_1365" align="alignleft" width="283" caption="Key to the world. Source: azrainman"][/caption] Last part in the grip series By now you know why your grip is important, you know which grip you should be using, you know which part of your grip you have been overlooking and now... you can put all this information ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/02/16/7-simple-ways-you-can-turn-a-bad-grip-into-a-good-one/ [caption id="attachment_1346" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Notice that pinky. Source: Sonny Side Up!"][/caption] I use this phrase a lot but... This changed everything for me and it affected so many parts of my playing: Increased endurance More power Faster singles Less tension More control Less aches and pains No more blisters So far in my series on Drumstick Grip, we have talked ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/02/12/the-most-overlooked-part-of-your-grip/ [caption id="attachment_1324" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="French and German Drumstick Grip"][/caption] There's only one way to find out In the previous part to this series on grip, we talked about Why Your Drumstick Grip Is So Important. Now we're going to look at what type of grip you should be using. To know which ... http://blog.makedrumwork.com/2010/02/11/should-you-use-french-or-german-grip/