I would like to share a percussion fanatics tip on how to learn and enjoy studying drumming on a continual basis. Many of us get overwhelmed by the wealth of information available to us on the internet and other sources. Because there is so much information it can cause the same effect as no information. We get overwhelmed and don’t learn anything.  The key is repetition.

I have found that for me , I learn in several different ways. I learn by feeling the rhythm, memorizing parts and also assimilative learning from hearing things over and over in repetition over a period of time. Here is what I do.

I pick one rhythm I want to work on, only one. I focus on that rhythm. I find videos of either classes I took or possibly  Youtube video(s) of this rhythm. I am a visual person but audio works just as well.

1. For Feel.

The first tip is to play along with the actual video. As much as you can. You need to get the idea out of your head that you are going to learn all of the information. It’s just to get the feel. For me it’s fun and you will be surprised as I always am how much you can “get” just by trying to play along with out trying to remember or anything else. Just play along.

If you play along with the video many times you will indeed eventually pick up much of the feel.

2. Memorizing phrasing

Then I “pick a lick”. That means I tell myself I am going to take just one phrase and that is all I am going to try to memorize for that day. That’s it. I will play it again later and the next day as well. I keep going like this until I have about 10 phrases.

3. Assimilative learning

I listen to the same CD over and over in the car. Sometimes it is a special learning CD I make for myself. Eventually, I learn or pick up much of the CD’s information on an assimilative basis. The drumming becomes sons, just like songs on the radio and eventually I am humming along with the licks and rides or rhythm patterns I want to learn.