DRUMS
DON’ T WAIT TO FEEL LIKE IT, PRACTICE EVERYDAY! | Carl Albrecht
Here’ s a great routine to have as a“ default motivator,” especially when you don’ t feel like practicing.“ Just Do It!”- As they say * – everyday! And if you miss a day, just get back to it the next day. So here’ s the routine:
• Rudiments and Technique
• Reading Music – using charts and the method books
• Listening to Music and playing what other drummers play- Copy, Copy, Copy!
• The Four Groove Groups
• Soloing
Whatever amount of time you have to practice break the routine into even segments. Of course there’ s nothing wrong with focusing on one area occasionally. There are times you will feel inspired to work on one concept. But don’ t make that the norm.
RUDIMENTS AND TECHNIQUE The idea here is start every practice session with a time to warm up and watch your hands. Yes, you can add your feet to warm ups also. Start with hands alone at first if this is new to you. Set a metronome to one tempo for five minutes. Play a basic rudimental pattern on a pad or just start on the snare. Play as relaxed and smooth as possible. Then as you go along mix up the dynamics and accents. If you’ re doing this on the drum set move the pattern around the kit. Keep it relaxed and smooth as possible. After five minutes. Stop. Select a new tempo and a new rudiment and go for another five minutes. If you only have an hour to practice that’ s it. Two rudiments are enough.
READING STUDIES I always work in a snare drum book and a set studies book. Start where you are comfortable. Even if you’ re an experienced player, if your reading is weak, start with very basic level books. Read smoothly, count out loud, and play relaxed. Even with basic patterns always play it like it’ s real music. It IS! Never play without“ soul.” Every musical piece deserves its honor. If you get stuck, slow down, and count through the study until you’ ve got it. No starting and stopping. I call that“ musical stuttering.” Practicing slow is a great teacher. Be patient. Keep reading smoothly and steady. And gradually build speed as you grow.
LISTENING TO SONGS AND COPYING All my students think this will be the easiest part. But what you want to do is grasp the smallest details of whatever music you’ re trying to emulate. Don’ t just“ jam” along with the songs. Really listen carefully and play the drums exactly like the drummer does on the recording.
THE FOUR GROOVE GROUPS Most drum grooves fit into four categories … 8 th note patterns; 16 th note patterns; triplet grooves; and shuffles or swing time. When you do rudiments you’ re watching your hands and feet and focusing on technique. In the method books you are reading music and developing eye to hand coordination. Listening to songs and copying, forces you to use your ears and listen carefully. In this section you get to build your own groove and fill ideas. Set the metronome to one tempo and play for five minutes. Play one groove idea for eight measures without changing anything. This is what happens in most songs. Even though you’ re creating your own ideas the discipline of controlling a pattern for eight bars is very important. In measure eight you can play a fill of your choosing to lead into the next section, which should be a variation of the groove concept you are playing.
SOLOING I practice solos in two specific ways. One is to just think in colors or emotions, creating sounds spontaneously and out of time. I usually do this by thinking I’ m playing for a movie score as if I’ m creating special effects. The goal is just to let things happen, don’ t think so hard about it. Being creative and spontaneous is the goal. I might start with cymbal rolls or percussion sounds using different pieces from my stick bag. Then I just go with the moment and see what happens.
The second approach to soloing is to build from a groove idea. I often play a pattern for two bars, and then play a solo for two bars. I’ ll keep building ideas as I“ trade off” between grooves and solos. Then you can expand the idea and play 4 bars of time then 4 bars of soloing … build it to 8 measure or more if you like. Don’ t work all your ideas into one section. Take your time and let your drum solos become a story that you’ re telling with music. Watch videos of great drummers soloing and you’ ll get the idea.
This five-part practice routine has been very helpful through the years to me and to my students. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. You can contact me at any of my socials. If you discover other things that help keep your practice time exciting let me know. I would love to hear from you. Let’ s keep growing together.
Blessings.
Carl Albrecht Professional drummer for 30 + years, playing with Paul Baloche, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Abe Laboriel, LeAnn Rimes and others. He’ s also a clinician, author & pastor. Contact Carl for coaching, online lessons, producing, or sessions. I’ m still growing too... www. CarlAlbrecht. com carlralbrecht @ gmail. com
92 October 2025 Subscribe for Free...