DRUMS
[ PRACTICING WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW | Carl Albrecht ]
OK, let’s say you’ve really got your act together just work on rudiments, or maybe I’ll just work resource. If you don’t subscribe to MD… get it!
and you don’t need to work on the music your on songs. But over time I’m always touching on The twist for me is to try moving parts around.
band is doing. If that’s TRULY the case, then each area of that list. It just helps with general For instance, if it’s just sticking patterns I will try
what do you practice? musicianship, and mostly it keeps me from to move the notes around the kit rather than
getting bored. I often practice with headphones just playing the written part. Or, if it’s a written
My 5-part practice routine looks like this: ** on, using a click or drum loops to create a feel drum part I’ll put the sounds on different drums.
Divide into even time slots** of some kind to my routine. I will also record We call this “orchestrating a part.”
1. A Rudimental Workout – On a pad and what I’m working on to go back and listen around the kit. to what it really sounds like. “The tape does Learning New Songs – Well, as the title says…
Reading Exercises – Usually a snare drum NOT lie.” work on something new! Mix it up everyday.
2.
book and a set technique book.
3.
4.
5.
Yes, modern worship may be your world, but
Learning New Songs – In various styles. Time is so valuable! (No pun intended, find different styles to work on. Country, rock,
Never get stuck in one musical world. drummers) So the focus in your practice time jazz, Latin, etc. They’re all available in Christian
Groove Exercises – 8 bar exercises with a is to challenge yourself with things you don’t music… or beyond, if you’re OK with that.
click; playing variations on a concept. know how to play. Again, this is in respect to my Soloing – Playing a “free time” solo; and opening statement… Be sure you’re “nailing” Working on grooves should also be challenging.
then going into one that grooves. the music for your gig/ tour/ worship-set first. Start with what you know, but then quickly
If there’s anything in those settings that need work on variations of grooves to the point of
work, then get it done. But when that’s not pushing the boundaries of your coordination.
the case… Practice what you DON’T know. I For example: Invert patterns where the snare
remember reading this in an article years ago leads the bar and the kick is on odd counts.
about Dave Weckl. The writer noted that Dave Or try playing everything leading with your
was always using his time to work on things he weaker hand. These are just a couple of basic
could not do yet. ideas. But be sure you go slow enough to play
I’m flexible with this routine. There are days I
them well… no stopping and starting. Mix up
So, what does this look like?
your groove playing between the four primary
groove families: 8th notes, 16th notes, triplets,
When I work on rudiments I look for ones that I
and shuffles.
don’t use so much. Always using a metronome,
I’ll start slowly and then gradually increase Soloing is a challenge for everyone. Work on
tempo. Usually I’ll use a practice pad OR your “groove thing” first. But, if you’ve been
maybe two stacked together. *A little one on playing for a while, dive into this world. Play
top of a larger one, and then I’ll mix up which “freely” first… just creating color and tone with
pad I play on. I recently saw someone else do the drums, cymbals, and anything you can hit.
this and borrowed the idea. I will also look for Hardware; rims; shells (if you don’t mind doing
YouTube lessons about different approaches that) and percussion instruments… etc. Be as
to technique building and try it out. This is an creative as you can be. Then work your way
awesome thing to do if you feel stuck in a rut into a groove of some kind and build solo ideas
with ideas. So much great material is online. over that. Again… go to YouTube and watch
Use it! drummers solo to get ideas.
Reading exercises can be from any of the Have fun! Practice hard. *Contact me if you
classic drum books, or Modern Drummer have questions. www.CarlAlbrecht.com
Magazine lesson articles. They are a great
36
November 2017
WorshipMusician.com