Hi everyone,
Here are your practice assignments for this week:
Aidan
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: Beats #7-12 on the sheet I gave you.
How to practice it most effectively: Continue to strive for consistency with each of these beats. Playing them once or twice in a row and then stopping is not a good test of whether you can play them consistently. Try to play each beat 8 times in a row without stopping. If you can’t do it, then try it slower. If you still can’t do it at a very slow speed, then go back to counting the bass and snare rhythm out loud and try to do that 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.
Will
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: The second Chorus from “Can’t Stop” by the Chili Peppers.
How to practice it most effectively: Read the new drum fill that I wrote down in your book from the second Chorus. Then count the rhythm out loud: “4 e a.” Practice the rhythm on the snare drum first, then practice it in context with the rest of the beat. Listen to the song for a reference to how it is supposed to sound. Also, take a look at how the second Chorus ends (it is different from the ending of the first Chorus).
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: Practice the rhythm exercises and the bass/snare exercises that I wrote down for you in your lesson.
How to practice it most effectively: Remember to count the rhythm out loud before you try to play it. Then, continue to count it out loud as you play it. Go slowly at first so that your hands don’t get ahead of your brain. Don’t worry if you make a mistake. Just try to match your playing to your counting. Loop each exercises several times in a row.
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
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The final Chorus of “Californication,” particularly the fill.
How to practice it most effectively: As with the previous fill that we worked on, be sure practice the rhythm of the snare and bass separately from the cymbal in order to establish the correct rhythm and to get the sound of it in your ear. Refer to what I wrote in your book to help you practice it. Then, once this part is secure, put it together with the cymbal and play it in context. Start slow and then see if you can get closer to the speed of the song.
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: 15-20 minutes per day
What to practice: The main beat from “Ride” by 21 Pilots.
How to practice it most effectively: Practice this beat in small sections (1 or 2 beats at a time). Focus on keeping a steady rhythm on the hi-hat and not allowing the bass drum to slow you down. The notes played by your feet should fit within the 16th-note grid that your hands are playing. Focus this week on trying to play the beat closer to the speed of the song. Remember to stay relaxed and play from the wrist (not from the elbow).
How parents can support practice: Encouraging your child to practice regularly and helping them develop a routine is the best way to be supportive.
Daniel
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 minutes per day
What to practice: The snare drum etude, the xylophone lessons, and the 4-mallet exercises.
How to practice it most effectively: Going forward with your new teacher, I would recommend continuing to focus on snare drum and xylophone. Try to work up to speed the snare solo that I gave you. Focus on the dynamic changes and developing consistency with the rhythms and rudiments. On xylophone, continue to try to work through one lesson per week, focussing especially on the rag time exercises. Also, start to practice the four-mallet exercises I gave you a little bit at a time. It’s better to practice these slowly and focus on developing the mechanics of movement in your hands with precision.