Sebastian
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Sebastian I want you to work on the stroke exercise that we worked on as well as this Stick Control Exercise.
How to practice effectively: For the stroke exercise remember that it comes in 4 parts. Part 1: two full strokes starting and stopping way up high, turning from the wrists and not so much from the arms. Part 2: two down strokes that start high but use the weight of the hand and fingers, without pressure, to end low over the drum. Part 3: two low strokes that start low and end low. Part 4: two up strokes that start low and then end up high, using the wrist again to move the stick more than the arm. Isolate each of these sets of strokes individually at first and then try them all together. For the Stick Control Exercise, work on each sticking with full strokes that start and stop in the same place.
Great first lesson man, awesome to meet your pets and cant wait to keep working with you!
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to work on the Lesson 6 beats again doing them at least two times through and writing the counts the bass drum notes fall on underneath the notes.
How to practice effectively: Good work so far with this Lucas, it just needs a little bit more practice! I want to see you write out the counts for all the bass drum notes since those are the ones that are changing each beat. I would also build each beat up like we’ve done in the past, start with the hi-hat since its constant, then add the bass drum while counting out loud, it will help you line it up with the hi-hat accurately. Then once thats solid you can add the snare drum. Repeat this process for each beat and it will become easier and easier!
Keep up the good work Lucas! Hope the hi-hat height makes it easier to play!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to work on the beats and hand exercises again for Lesson 11 and play them all for me next week.
How to practice effectively: For the hand exercises Jonah I want you to write the rhythm above the notes in your book and I can check it next week. Remember the difference between notes that are counted 1+2+ and 1e+a 2e+a. Once you can count and play the rhythm and stickings accurately, I would try playing each exercise faster and then for an extra challenge try playing them all in a row with no pauses in between! For the beats be sure to write out the counts and count out loud as you need to.
Great job this week Jonah, see if you can push yourself to accomplish the whole assignment!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: Next week Samson I want to hear you play from the beginning to the second chorus in Todd Rundgren’s It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference. Here is the UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION.
How to practice effectively: Good job absorbing the material so far! This week work on getting the fill into the chorus and the chorus beat. Listening and practicing along with the song is whats going to help you the most so listen to the song at least once every practice session to get it into your ear!
Great work and focus this past week Samson, keep it up!