...Drink muthatrucka!!!
Anyhow, A few weeks ago I had this pretty insane drumming sesh. What was great about it was that it was about 15 hours over a weekend (which is pretty massive, particularly with all the shit I've got going on) and all-consuming (which is always awesome). The great thing about the consuming nature of a good practice session is that you get into this trance-like state, which is appropriate if you're playing...
...
Trance.
Anyways, I used my time to focus on the left side. The famed "left-side" that always intimidates drummers; you'll noticed the intimidation in how a particular drummer sets up his drums. There is no symmetry, only all the drums you could think of on one side, and on the other... well, that that's the side you can access your seat to sit down.
I worked predominantly on my feet, as they have been my Achilles' Heel since I've been playing (pun intended... get it? get it?). I played WITH my pedals against a pad, and worked mostly on consistent double strokes at moderate tempos. I felt that my left leg would tense up, and that I would start to have to alter my leg position to accomplish the double stroke. I thought that it was a good thing to do, as it would keep the consistency of the pattern, but most importantly it would allow for the neural networks to develop throughout the right side of the brain (which affects the left side of the body) and for the nerves to build myelin on the way down the leg (THE SHANK!!!).
Apologies for my outbursts... this is what happens when coffee and cookies are your main source of nutrition between meals.
After double strokes, I'd give myself a minute or so to reset, readjust, and work on paradiddles. After doing the double strokes, paradiddles seemed more effortless (or less effortful) as they are a combination of single strokes and double strokes. I was only able to work on the first pattern with the accent on the first note of each side's paradiddle.
After working on paradiddles, I then started working on different subdivisions. The doubles and paradiddles really worked wonders to loosen my legs up, and I was able to accomplish foot speeds, accuracy, power, and consistency like never before. So much so that I was able to perform Metallica's "One", which had been a measure for me to be able to play on drums. I'm a lot later than some of the dudes I've played with over the years before, but felt good as an accomplishment.
So much so that I needed some external validation, so I set up my cell phone vidicam to send a brief video of the "performance" to my brother. As I was playing on the pads, it took a couple of takes before I was able to complete one viable "performance". I posted it to YouTube and he was able to watch... few days later.
Another thing that practice session allowed me to work on is unison hand/foot patterns where I will hit the same side hand and foot in unison (which takes some effort for me to accomplish right now). I alternated hands and feet and this has made different rhythmic accents tighter and has allowed me to become more versatile in the kinds of phrases I can play. Since I don't have to always accent with my right hand to a cymbal (with the right foot striking the kick), I can do the same for the left side (left hand and foot hitting a cymbal/kick in unison). This way, if I want to be able to start a phrase, I can do so with one hand, or another, depending on how I feel.
Anyhow, really proud of this week's breakthroughs! Will try to update again soon!
Chris
