Hi everyone,
Here are your practice assignments for this week:
Aidan
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The jazz/swing snare drum exercises that I wrote down for you as well as the main beat from Chameleon by Herbie Hancock.
How to practice it most effectively: Remember that the most important part of the beat is not the snare drum part, but rather the foot pattern and the right hand part on the ride cymbal. Focus on keeping the snare drum soft as you play through each exercise. This will help you to keep the main part of the beat steady. For the really tricky patterns, play each hand separately with the feet, then both hands together without the feet, then all parts together. Take it slow!
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Will
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: Practice the 16th-note beats that I wrote down in your book, #1-7
How to practice it most effectively: First, identify which bass drum notes are played together with the right hand and which are played together with the left hand. Then practice them slowly and try to maintain a steady pulse with the 16th notes. It is important that all the 16th notes are the same length. Once you can play the beat steadily, then try playing it a little faster.
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Elliot
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes per day
What to practice: The drum beats and rhythm review that I wrote down in your book.
How to practice it most effectively: Count out loud each beat and rhythm before you try to play it. Don’t play faster than what you can play consistently. You should be able to play each beat and rhythm at least 8 times in a row without stopping.
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Alexy
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The latin-style beats that I wrote down in your book.
How to practice it most effectively: For this week, just try to get the rim-clicks on the snare together with the bass drum and the hi-hat parts. Don’t worry about the toms just yet. Focus on keeping a steady rhythm and playing each part consistently. Be careful not to let your bass drum get off when you add in the snare drum.
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Oscar
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The transitions between sections in Fool In The Rain by Led Zeppelin and the B section of Log Cabin Blues.
How to practice it most effectively: When playing the xylophone, you should use mostly your wrists to generate the movement of the mallets – not your elbows! On your right side, you’re pretty good at this, but on your left side you’re using too much elbow. This makes it much more difficult to play quickly and accurately. Focus on keeping your hands low (close to the keyboard) and just bending your wrist to lift the mallet.
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Nate M.
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The intro to Spirit of Radio by Rush and Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2.
How to practice it most effectively: Take time to listen to the recordings of these two songs. Look at the notes that I wrote down in your book for Spirit of Radio. Count the rhythm out loud and then try to play it around the drums. Remember the triplet rhythm that we practiced. Don’t just play a drag instead.
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Nate O.
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The 16th-note beats that I wrote down in your book.
How to practice it most effectively: Practice each beat slowly and make sure that each of the bass drum notes is lining up exactly with one of the 16th notes on the hi-hat. Don’t try to play anything faster than you are able to. The main goal is accuracy and consistency. Counting the rhythm of the beat out loud will also help if you’re having trouble.
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.