Working with Time: on and off the kit

Hello fellow drummers,

Drumroll please!

Welcome to the electrifying world of DrumFusion, where rhythm rules and drummers reign supreme.

In this edition of the DrumFusion newsletter, we've got some serious bass drum exercises, some groovy triplet grooves, and some warm-up exercises for you.

We’re all about time - with tips on getting back to basics to boost your inner metronome and a diary entry that discusses weekly scheduling.

Plus, we’ll be introducing you to up-and-coming drumming talent with a rather famous father...

So, if you’re looking to level up your bass drum speed and control (and who isn’t???), improve your timing or just get organized - then there’s some great content this week for you.

Enjoy!

• In his recent video, Stephen Clark is focused on improving bass drum speed and control. Great stuff! (Bonus points for wearing slippers too…)

• There seems to be a theme developing…El Estepario also has some bass drum speed exercises for you!

• Mike Mangini has also made a short video on foot technique. It’s with a focus on his own “know your enemies” class, but there’s some interesting ideas presented if you only have a few minutes and want to fill it with drums 🙂 

• If you’re wanting to spend some time looking at triplet grooves, then Jody Drums has posted some example triplet groove exercises that might be what you’re looking for. Playing grooves like these can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re more used to doing grooves in 4.

• Whilst we’re talking triplets, Rob Brown posted a set of cool triplet exercises that could help with your flow

• This tutorial has been around for a few weeks now, but I really wanted to mention a lovely rudiment-based warm-up from Mike Johnston on his YouTube channel

• For getting the best out of your gear, you need “Sounds like a drum” in your life! I love that their videos are really considered and methodical. Their recent video on floor tom sound has really helped me out.

• Into reaction videos? Stephen Taylor reacts to Danny Carey playing Pneuma with tool.

I recently discovered some big problems with my drumming.

My timing was suffering - I’d finish some tracks with the band faster than I started them and the tempo would fluctuate during the track. Not hugely, but enough for my fellow musicians to notice.

My fills were rushed or dragged and felt cumbersome.

I was having a general malaise when playing - something didn’t feel right or comfortable.

Deep down, I knew this was because I’d been neglecting the basics. However, the desire for my brain to associate progress with learning new things and pushing my own boundaries, laziness (“playing simple stuff repeatedly sounds like a real chore“) coupled with ego (“I don’t have to go back to practicing basic things, surely?“) stopped me from making the fundamentals part of my routine.

Once I got over myself and decided to get back to the fundamentals, I found that not only did my playing improve dramatically, but so did my enjoyment!

It even helped improve my mental state. One of the things I love about the drums is the sense of “flow” that can be achieved through playing. Ironically, some of the stuff I thought was a chore is the best - for me personally - in achieving that state.

Getting a click going, getting relaxed and settling into either a set of rudiments or simple groove to work on timing can really calm my mind.

I’ve written a post on the topic of getting back to fundamentals - I hope the thinking and some of the ideas can help you as much as it helped me.

It’s that time of year when we get to see the latest gear from the manufacturer’s at the NAMM show.

There’s usually a few of the usual suspects posting video reports, and I tend to just pick one and watch it before moving on to other things.

However, I did find this report on some weird and wonderful products (and some I probably wouldn’t put into that category) from Alejandro Sifuentes.

Personally, I don’t think I’ll be opening my wallet for graphic cymbals or an electro-acoustic handpan any time soon - and a stainless steel drumset really goes against my philosophy of a minimal gigging kit(!) - but they may work for some.

Nic Collins

Sadly, I lost my father last year. He was a huge fan of Mike and The Mechanics, which brought the enjoyment of their music to the rest of the family.

So we all ended up heading down to The Sage in Gateshead, UK to see them last week.

I hadn’t paid any attention to the roster of musicians ahead of the gig but was very pleasantly surprised to recognize Nic Collins on the kit once the show got going.

Nic first came to my attention last year when I heard he was playing drums for Genesis on their recent tour with his dad - Phil - who was unfortunately unable to play drums due to health issues.

I’ve subsequently had the pleasure of watching Nic’s playing in a bunch of online videos.

Nic is a fantastic young drummer - very technically proficient and versatile.

He played a solid show, with a fun end engaging solo spot - on a beautiful purple Gretsch kit 👌 

If he’s not on your radar yet, check him out - he’s a great player and seems like a really down-to-earth guy.

• Nic’s Instagram

• His drumeo session about playing with Genesis

“I just don’t have the time”

This week, I’ve been thinking a bit about practice routines and making time for the various things I’ve taken on.

I’m always in awe of drummers who can make very specific things part of their daily routine (“do this for 20 minutes each day for a month and see results!”).

I know this works and does yield results, but with the best will in the world, juggling other commitments outside of playing drums as well as scheduling practice sessions during “acceptable” hours, I usually find such commitments fall apart after a few days.

I have some long term goals too, so I need to factor those in.

And you need to do some play-alongs and have fun too, right? (Not that practicing isn’t or can’t be fun, but ultimately our goal is in making music).

My routine therefore tends to change depending on priorities and how I classify things.

In my mind, I think I categorise and prioritise like this:

• Urgent stuff: do I really need to get something under my belt? Is there a gig or band session imminent and I need emergency practice?!?!?! (Guilty secret: if I can busk something but still do it justice, then I may choose to do that and move on to other things…)

• Upcoming lessons: I still study with a great teacher, and I really like to work on the things we’ve spoken about in previous lessons before I turn up again. Nothing worse than feeling like you’re not committed and wasting everyone’s time.

• Long-term goals: I’m studying for a diploma at the moment, and although it’s not time-bound, I don’t want this to drift.

• Interesting new stuff: have I seen something recently and thought - “that’s cool, I really want to work on that”?

On top of all of this, I’ve also been trying to get this newsletter up and running (let me tell you, that this is much more work than I was expecting - and I was already expecting it to be tough).

Net result of this thinking: I’m trying to organise myself better, classify everything I’m doing so that I can get through each category and at least spend time on all of them.

“So, I kind-of-do have the time…”

This is what I ended up doing

1. Keeping notes on lessons: After every drumming lesson, I make sure to take detailed notes on what I've learned (including whiteboard or sheet music photos). I use these notes to guide my practice schedule and prioritize the areas that need the most work.

2. Noting cool drumming things: Whenever I come across something cool or inspiring in my drumming journey, whether it's a new song or a video tutorial, I make a note of it. This helps me to stay motivated and give me new ideas for my practice routine. (Obviously the best of this stuff will also be appearing in this newsletter!)

3. Tracking band commitments: I currently play in two bands, so I keep track of any upcoming gigs or rehearsals in Google Calendar. This helps to plan my practice schedule around those commitments and make sure I’m fully prepared.

4. Prioritized practice schedule: Based on everything I’ve noted, I prioritize my practice schedule accordingly. I focus on the areas that need the most work and set aside time for practice each day or week. I make sure to give myself enough time to prepare for any upcoming gigs, band sessions or lessons.

5. Being flexible: While it's important to have a structured practice schedule, it's also important to be flexible. If I’m struggling with a particular technique or piece of music, I accept that I need to adjust my schedule to focus more on that area. And some days I’ll just have fun and do whatever I feel like. Remember that practice is a journey, and it's okay to make adjustments along the way.

By keeping detailed notes on your drumming journey and using them to guide your practice schedule, you'll be able to make the most of your practice time and continue to improve your skills.

You may also be interested in my post on the application of atomic habits to your drumming routine.

If you’re in the business of taking drums to sports games, try not to get over-excited.

Until next time, have fun…