PERCUSSION
Stephane Chamberland is a drummer , clinician , educator , and author . He is an independent solo artist that has been playing and recording with countless musicians , performing hundreds of live shows around the world . He is endorsed by Mapex Drums , Sabian Cymbals , Vic Firth Sticks , Shure Microphones , Gon Bops Percussion , and Evans Drumheads . For more information , visit www . stephanechamberland . com .
By Stephane Chamberland
Practice Like A Jedi
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Do you practice a lot ? Do you feel like you need to practice hours per day ? Do you feel guilty when you don ’ t practice enough ?
I want to share some interesting things I have learned over the years that have helped me achieve better results in less time with less effort using better principles of practice . That ’ s what we all want , right ? To have fun , learn fast , and keep the motivational cycle going for unending improvement ?
Finding A Coach Having a great teacher is like having a great trainer at the gym . Finding someone who can evaluate your level and build you a personalized program based on your goals and interests will bring you to developing …
An Effective Practice Program A great program could contain a little bit of technique on the pads for hands and feet and a number of reading exercises focusing on the snare drum and the whole kit . Also , great drumset exercises might focus on groove-and-fill in various styles with a number of variations while incorporating developmental exercises such as independence , interdependence , and coordination . Another thing you should be doing is using playalong tracks and , most importantly , …
Playing With Other Musicians When you learn something new , call your musician friends to come jam with you . Start applying your new ideas and exercises in a live setting . This will push you towards becoming a great performer . It will also help you to connect your musical evolution by playing in form and filling in between . Regardless of how good you are in solo practice , you will open a whole other world in a real , honest-to-goodness live musical setting . Your brain will work differently and your playing will improve tremendously .
Goals & Time I believe in setting precise goals and staying with the same material for a good period of time . I remember when I was so excited about learning new stuff that I would practice five or six books per day – all different subjects – and felt like I was pushing myself to the top . It was shocking when , many years later , I realized that I had only mastered about 20 per cent of that material . By taking our time , we actually save time in the long run . Focus on the same material for at least two weeks . There is a huge difference between “ knowing ” your material “ owning ” it .
Record Yourself I can ’ t stress it enough . The way you think you play is not necessarily the way it actually sounds . Like when you speak , the way you hear your voice and the way people hear you could be different . If you start recording your speech and getting used to your own voice , you will get a better idea of what others are hearing . Set up a camera on your drums and make sure you spend the same amount of time listening to yourself as playing and recording . Recording only the audio is a great start but I am a big fan of using video as well . Drumming is all about motions and emotions . Study your sound and your technique and compare it with your favourite drummers .
The Power Of The Pause When facing a challenge , it ’ s not necessary to keep pushing too hard and beating your head against the wall . Your brain and body can only absorb so much . Like eating , you can eat as much as you want as long as you let your body digest the food before the next meal . I am sure you have had the experience of practicing something seemingly impossible one day , only to play it with ease after you stop and come back to it the next day . This is what I call the “ power of the pause ” – a concept borrowed from Dom Famularo ’ s book , The Cycle of Self Empowerment .
Relax , Relax & Relax One of the secrets of a great practice is to empty your mind and relax . Abandon physical and mental tensions . If you start thinking too much , you will disconnect from the moment . Practicing is like meditation . Observe yourself and understand how you learn and treat yourself as if you were your own student , because that ’ s exactly what you are ; you are simultaneously the teacher and the student . Tools like perseverance , patience , and focus are must-haves .
This approach will help you not only in your drumming , but also in your life when attempting to accomplish anything . Have fun and share your experience with as many people as possible so your talent will grow .
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