Self discipline?

[anders]

How to become better at it? Share your tips!

[drumbum1977]

I dedicate 1 hour of my time for the drums.....no matter what happens I have that hour to myself every day....no questions asked. Then it becomes routine.

[Wavelength]

You'll be more likely to practice more efficiently if you don't scare yourself with too demanding goals: If you decide to practice for just ten minutes, but end up playing half-an-hour, it's a great achievement. However, if you plan to woodshed for an hour, but get bored after thirty minutes, you have failed miserably. Start low and build up from there, and your motivation will increase. Eventually practice will become a pleasurable routine.

[samthebeat]

As you see results from discipling your self to practice efficiently, you will get better at practicing and your motivation will increase, but you got really kick your sefl up the ass in the first to practice in a disciplined way if your a lazy sod.

[jazzsnob]

Get a digital kitchen timer. I have to disagree with Wavelength, because the the week after I graduated highschool I just starting increasing the length of time I do all my exercises. So instead of doing singles for three minutes, I do them for 20 minutes. Then doubles for 20, accents for 30, blah blah blah. The only thing I can suggest to you is to JUST DO IT DAMN IT. Just set the timer and don't stop for anything.

[Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan]

I don't see a role for discipline at all in drumming. In fact, I don't like that word at all. It is 100% negative. Also, I take issue with "1 hour a day no matter what". If I come home from work tired, really, really tired, and force myself to play, I won't produce good results. You have to engineer a space for yourself where you are fresh, motivated, and able to produce results. "Discipline" practice will produce "discipline" results.

Dom once commented on my practice discipline, but really it's just because I WANT it. I didn't use to want it that bad, so I practiced less. When I found Dom he delivered a structured approach for learning, and the fact that I wanted certain results, plus the structured practice structure, made results possible, even in a busy working life.

A good way of getting into a new habit is to ask: what is my goal, truly? Not what does my band, teacher, girlfriend, mom want me to learn or be....what do

you

want to learn? And when you know what you really want, start creating the space for it. If you are willing to do that, then you will get a more fulfilling practice and playing life. DPS

[Auger]

All good adivce, but I think the word that's missing here is inspiration.

Find your inspiration -in my estimation, that's what makes the 'want' that DPS talks about. All artists need inspiration to make art. Like the good doctor, I take a lot of inspiration from my teacher. I also get inspriation from the music that I listen to and from the feeling that I get from expressing myself. Some of those things inspire me to practice my technique, some inspire me in other ways, but, in my opinion, that's where motivation comes from.

I'd go so far as to say that if you don't want it, you haven't found your inspiration. and, I'll agree with DPS in saying you have to want it.

[jazzsnob]

I don't see a role for discipline at all in drumming. In fact, I don't like that word at all. It is 100% negative. Also, I take issue with "1 hour a day no matter what". If I come home from work tired, really, really tired, and force myself to play, I won't produce good results. You have to engineer a space for yourself where you are fresh, motivated, and able to produce results. "Discipline" practice will produce "discipline" results.

Dom once commented on my practice discipline, but really it's just because I WANT it. I didn't use to want it that bad, so I practiced less. When I found Dom he delivered a structured approach for learning, and the fact that I wanted certain results, plus the structured practice structure, made results possible, even in a busy working life.

A good way of getting into a new habit is to ask: what is my goal, truly? Not what does my band, teacher, girlfriend, mom want me to learn or be....what do

you

want to learn? And when you know what you really want, start creating the space for it. If you are willing to do that, then you will get a more fulfilling practice and playing life. DPS

I'm sorry mr. powerstroke, but I strongly disagree with you. Discipline is an incredibly wonderful part of drumming. Forcing myself to be disciplined in my practicing has really helped me in the rest of my life, because for some reason commitment and willpower issues that others have problems with are easy as pie for me. Also, practicing for an hour even when you don't want to is GREAT practice, because YOU WILL have to perform or rehearse at some point in your life even when you aren't up to it. I've had some rough school and work days with immediate band practices following, and it sucked sometimes, but I don't think I would have remained in those bands if I called to cancel because I "was tired" or "didn't feel like it."

Besides, you just stated yourself that you had discipline and that it helped you out and your teacher appreciated it.

Discipline isn't bad for a drummer, though you may have a point about some drummers don't practice for themselves but that's different from discipline.There are so many drummers out there who are lazy and spend more time looking for speed shortcuts on the internet than buckling down and practicing singles. I'm no Tony Williams but I sure as hell wouldn't have a chance at being a decent musician one day if I didn't have discipline out the ass.

The more discipline the better I say, because any given students voice and musicality are fairly up in the air, but if someone has something to say musically AND they have a very focused, disciplined approach, there is a much better chance that they will grace the world with some good music.

[aahznightsky]

I don't see a role for discipline at all in drumming. In fact, I don't like that word at all. It is 100% negative.


And when you know what you really want, start creating the space for it. If you are willing to do that, then you will get a more fulfilling practice and playing life. DPS

That's called discipline, buddy. And it's a very powerful tool.

[Illicom]

I personally structure my practice not so much by time, but what I want to accomplish. When I sit down to practice, I'll play some random stuff for a few minutes to warm up, and then think about what I want to work on. Depending on how focused I feel and how much time I have to spare (as in, if I have 20 minutes I'll pick something different than when I have an hour) and choose one thing I want to work on. One day it might be learning a simple snare pattern, and another day it might be banging out a new groove. For me it's a great way to practice because I always accomplish something when I do it. The sense of accomplishment you get from achieving a goal--even if its a 4-bar snare pattern--is immense, and it makes me want to practice again as soon as possible because I can't wait to learn new stuff.

Of course this doesn't work always. For example, if I want to work on my ride cymbal playing, it's hard to set a goal for something like that. In those cases, I do use the time-based method and say "I'll work on this for 10-20 minutes." But I always make sure I accomplish something tangible.

This may not work for some people, but for me it's the best system. I set realistic goals and focus on accomplishing them in every practice session, and end up focusing a lot more than if I sat down with a clock and said "I'm going to force myself to practice for an hour." That kind of practice feels forced, as though you're completing an assignment for class.

[emmerson]

what im just starting to do now is ive got a motivator (which is to get into humbar) and what im doing is right after supper i practice for one hour on my drumkit and take a shower after my shower i work on ghost notes and snare work from my syncopation book ... i want to eventually have that routine but also not just do snare drum practice but bass drum practice too

[thebrza]

It's good to take a day or two break every couple of weeks as sort of a minimum. helps prevent strain and you'll feel refreshed for another go.

[Chip]

If I find the motivation I can extract the self-discipline. I really feel as though I could put in 4-5 hours at once (and have!) ... if I had something to pratise for that long... I can practise single strokes or practise Gladstone at 60BPM for say 45 minutes at a time... But that's on the pad. I can't find something to practise for 4-6 hours on the kit. I think I need a good method book.

[theduke86]

I have a middling viewpoint on the issue. Those of you who know me may be aware that I often spend hours on menial technical issues in the practice room, but I don't think self discipline is an important aspect of practicing drums. Forcing myself to practice is usually not fruitful. I can get stuff under my fingers, but that's not the important thing, at least at the point where I'm at. I need things to ABSORB into my subconcious. If you really want something, self discipline isn't even a question. When I work that boring Stick Control stuff, I never actually find it boring when I'm playing it, just when I think about it outside of playing it (like now). The solution is just to concentrate the sum of your being on playing the technical exercise or whatever with the sum of your being, putting 100% into it and making it music. That isn't a discipline thing, it just naturally follows from being involved in the music.
Of course, maybe the first step is forcing yourself to sit down and do it, before sitting down and doing it isn't even a question anymore. I already know by the time I get up in the morning whether it's going to happen. Be the Drumming Zen Master... be at ease with the instrument, give it your total commitment, and good things will happen.

[jazzin']

I have a middling viewpoint on the issue. Those of you who know me may be aware that I often spend hours on menial technical issues in the practice room, but I don't think self discipline is an important aspect of practicing drums. Forcing myself to practice is usually not fruitful. I can get stuff under my fingers, but that's not the important thing, at least at the point where I'm at. I need things to ABSORB into my subconcious. If you really want something, self discipline isn't even a question. When I work that boring Stick Control stuff, I never actually find it boring when I'm playing it, just when I think about it outside of playing it (like now). The solution is just to concentrate the sum of your being on playing the technical exercise or whatever with the sum of your being, putting 100% into it and making it music. That isn't a discipline thing, it just naturally follows from being involved in the music.
Of course, maybe the first step is forcing yourself to sit down and do it, before sitting down and doing it isn't even a question anymore. I already know by the time I get up in the morning whether it's going to happen. Be the Drumming Zen Master... be at ease with the instrument, give it your total commitment, and good things will happen.

Yeah I agree Duke,
I think people get bored easily when they sit down to practice something like stick control because they will set a time for themselves...say 20 minutes and 5 minutes into it are thinking 'Oh man, only 5 down, still fifteen left!!!'. When you are focused in the moment time basically becomes irrelevant and often 20 minutes doesn't seem long enough.

Something I do when I have one of those days where my mind refuses to rest on a specific task is to instead of going through my usual routine, I will go in, sit down, say hi to my drums and just slowly start tapping away with no thought as to what comes next. Kind of like Kerouac's stream of consciousness prose i try to just let what is in my mind flow out on the drums. This not only gets me focused again but I also tend to find really cool new ideas popping up from previous practice sessions and it's also a good exercise in expression.

It might sound cheesy but I find this really works nearly every time I get stuck. Often this will show up problem areas in the technical side of my playing as well. If I'm feeling kind of restless or angry and I try to express that by playing as loud and fast and insanely smashy as possible it will start well but then disintegrate into hitting rims, whacking sticks together and so shows that I need to work on speed/mobility/facility around the drums. I'll be happy to go and work on those things after because I have just found that there is something I cannot say that I might want to if or when the time for it comes up.

Yeah, motivation, inspiration, discipline all food for thought.

[Chip]

When you are focused in the moment time basically becomes irrelevant

This is similar hypnotic-like state you enter when reading a book or watching TV. After developing a more critical (read: perfectionist) eye for the detail in strokes and motions, exactness and precision, you can get so focused on doing all these things that you get into this state. I believe this state is the key to focus or self-discipline. When you are focusing on doing the actual exercise rather than looking at the clock or waiting for the time to pass. It feels like you learn more (hence, you probably do), and it feels as though time elapses faster.

In conclusion, that would be my tip for self-discipline; go into your practise with something to do, and do it. Do not focus on the time, but focus on the task. I think Wavelength and myself are on the same wavelength. Although you do need the initial discipline to go and do it.

I need to set out a routine that I can work on for hours...

[Wavelength]

The week after I graduated highschool I just starting increasing the length of time I do all my exercises. So instead of doing singles for three minutes, I do them for 20 minutes. Then doubles for 20, accents for 30, blah blah blah. The only thing I can suggest to you is to JUST DO IT DAMN IT.

Apparently you didn't have problems with self discipline. Neither do I, for that matter; two solid hours on the pad is a norm for me. Heck, if I had more time I'd probably practice six hours a day on a pad!

The approach I wrote about works well for people lacking in the discipline department. Just like technique, discipline is best learnt gradually. It's better to start low and build up from there, rather than starting with two-hour exercises right off the bat. We are talking about improving self discipline, aren't we? According to my experience the first ten minutes or so are the most difficult. After the ten minute mark, thirty minutes doesn't sound as daunting (which it isn't).

[Wavelength]

After developing a more critical (read: perfectionist) eye for the detail in strokes and motions, exactness and precision, you can get so focused on doing all these things that you get into this state. I believe this state is the key to focus or self-discipline. When you are focusing on doing the actual exercise rather than looking at the clock or waiting for the time to pass. It feels like you learn more (hence, you probably do), and it feels as though time elapses faster.

It feels great whenever this happens, be it during practice or a live gig. Last night I thought I'd just warm up a bit before doing my daily Stick Control routine. I ended up playing singles, doubles, accents, flams, drags and buzzes for an hour and a half, yet if felt like ten minutes.

[jazzsnob]

But Duke, you and the others talking about discipline aren't talking about discipline really, you're talking about worthwhile practice. It still takes discipline to practice and absorb, and as far as I know, it takes practice to learn how to practice well. For the first few years of my playing I practiced and didn't really like it, but now I do. Just takes time and focus and discipline.

[nhzoso]

LOL, you guys kill me sometimes.. if it takes discipline to practice, and practice to learn, what does it take to get discipline?

Can I go from discipline right to learning and skip practicing alltogether or do I have to practice? And how do I know I have absorbed it? is there some kind of absorption test? Do I need discipline to take the absorption test?

what do I do if I have practiced absorbing but was'nt really good on the discipline side would that mess up my practice?

Cue the benny Hill theme!!

[h3r3tic]

I dedicate 1 hour of my time for the drums.....no matter what happens I have that hour to myself every day....no questions asked. Then it becomes routine.

Same thing works for me ;)

[JAHdrumming]

Then for others of us teh drive to practice come from the face that we dont feel alive until we are behind the kit letting the magic happen...just a thought on the lighter side...

[JAHdrumming]

My spelling sucks.....

[gusty]

LOL, you guys kill me sometimes.. if it takes discipline to practice, and practice to learn, what does it take to get discipline?

Can I go from discipline right to learning and skip practicing alltogether or do I have to practice? And how do I know I have absorbed it? is there some kind of absorption test? Do I need discipline to take the absorption test?

what do I do if I have practiced absorbing but was'nt really good on the discipline side would that mess up my practice?

Cue the benny Hill theme!!

thanks for confusing us all lol.

obviously everyone has different ideas on discipline and practise...which is great for me, thats wat the thread is for, and this has helped me so far.

insparation, discipline, practise

its a bit of a cycle

[jazzin']

it takes practice to learn how to practice well.

This is so true and a much over looked part of drumming practice. Everyone picks things up differently. Some like to practice things fast then slow it down to perfect it, some practice real slow to perfect it then can speed it up, still others don't really need much of a routine to get decent results, some need a very focused routine.

It all differs.

[Wile E. Coyote]

LOL, you guys kill me sometimes.. if it takes discipline to practice, and practice to learn, what does it take to get discipline?
A goal, and being conscious of what you're doing is not good enough.
Discipline makes the difference between a good and a mediocre drummer. A good drummer would say: "I'm not good enough, let's practise one more hour"

[Chip]

I stumbled upon this yesterday, and was lucky to do so;

I am lazy by nature, so I have to trick myself into a situation where I create an environment of pressure and challenge around me in order to achieve my practicing goals.
Since I am also vain and I strive for aesthetic execution, I like things to sound and look effortless and smooth. This is how I motivate myself (and I have been doing this for at least 15 years by the way):
I have a diary which is my worst enemy, but also my best pal in terms of discipline and regularity. I set a goal for myself and define a timeframe in which I need to reach it. I know from experience and from checking with previous diaries how long it takes to develop certain ideas on the drums (sometimes it’s only hours or days, sometimes years). Depending on the degree of difficulty, I then set a goal and a timeframe, which then is divided into days. That way I know how much time per day I need to invest in developing one particular idea in order to reach a goal within a preset amount of time.
For example, if I determine a particular exercise takes one hour of practise daily over a three month period to perfect, I can then calculate a flexible practice schedule for that exercise.
I could do two hours on Monday and Tuesday and choose a different two-hour exercise on Wednesday and Thursday, that way I don’t get bored or frustrated too easily. Also it keeps my mind fresh and focused throughout that time frame. (The time frame may represent months or years, so staying focused and able to concentrate is of major importance!)
I take notes and I write down comments about progress and quality of execution as well as tempo/speed information during every practice session. If I encounter the same handicap or problem more than once in a row, I know what to eliminate immediately in order to proceed more efficiently.
The fact that I’ve had this approach for so many years now, gives me a lot of information about my progress in terms of tempo/speed increase, quality of execution, quality of sound, accuracy and precision, mechanical and motor skill fluidity, physical and mental effort, and of course: image! Image should never be underestimated since showbiz is the mname of the game. Usually, what looks effortless and smooth and what is presented with casual understatement is what I personally enjoy watching and listening to the most. (Note: I mentioned “watching” first, because the visual part of playing the drums is still the most powerful part of the performance, especially for your non-drumming audience. Plus, the drummers who’ll watch you play will appreciate an aesthetic, organic performance and feel.)
One of my early teachers recommended practising in front of a mirror to check if what I was playing also looked right and I have included a visual check into my practising routine ever since.
I write down tempos and the exact amount of time I spend on each exercise every time I practise it. Once I start working on something new, I try to not spend less time on my new endeavour than the time I spent on it during the very first day of developing the excercise, I try to keep up the momentum of my new goal until I feel comfortable with the exercise and have mastered it. Then, I only come back to check on it every now and then to refresh my memory and to secure it in my exercise vocabulary. This is also the time when I try to apply the newly mastered exercise in different ways and work on musical interpretations of it. I also start pushing the tempo at this time.
Every once in a while, I record audio and/or video documents of all the new things I’ve been practising to inspect them passively with a very critical pair of ears (and eyes!). That’s when I decide whether to really apply things the way they are, or whether to change them or loose them completely.
It’s sometimes tedious but this method ensures I don’t incorporate stuff into my playing that is superdifficult yet doesn’t sound good at all.
It’s important to me that I like my playing and that I feel comfortable with how I sound. I’ve discovered that I like my sound the most when other musicians or audiences have a good time playing or listening to it. It’s as simple as that. I never really like what it sounds like when I’m just playing things that are difficult, things that usually make no musical, only mathematical sense. Other, very advanced drummers can sometimes appreciate that, but even they get bored quickly.
I never spend any more than maybe 6 or 7 hours practicing per day, and this has only occured a few times I’m sure. Usually my routines last between 3 and 5 hours.
Depending on my shedule, I now am happy to do about 3 to 4 hours a day, that’s plenty of time for me to stay in shape and work on new ideas. It also gives me more time to practise bass, write songs, work on production ideas and record in my home studio.
Sometimes, there are periods of time when I don’t get to practise at all for weeks, sometimes months due to touring and recording schedules, but I’m always playing and thinking drums.
Sometimes the fact that I haven’t been practicing much makes me even more focused and creative and forces me to be more efficient in my rare practising sessions. This is the main reason why I had to come up with a new approach to practising wherein I combine various exercises into one overall complex exercise. Why just work on my hands when at the same time I could be working on my feet!? So, I do it all at the same time, adding another dimension to technical training which is coordination and independence. For example, I could practise flamtaps around the kit while I play flam triplets with my feet and so on…
I always try to carry a little practice set on tour, which I use to warm up on but I also use it to work on new ideas. It’s also a good way to kill time on tour and stay in shape.

Enjoy!

[gusty]

I stumbled upon this yesterday, and was lucky to do so;



Enjoy!

thank you very much
from the man himself eh

[RudimentalDrummer]

To me Self-Disclipine comes from Motivation & Inspiration (it can be any kind of motivation or inspiration)...and what really motivates will be different to different people. To me

(1) I set myself an objective - To be The Best (It might Be UnRealistic) - but at least - I've a direction to move towards to.

(2) I've a Good Instructor who Gave me Encouragement, let me realise my own improvements and telling me the Truth - that DRUMMING takes Many Years to be good at - not 1 or 2 years only....He made it known to me in the 1st place - and I decided to go-ahead to fufill that dream knowing the truth. I do not want to bring down my instructor good reputation in my country....as a top drummer here

(3) (Don't laugh at me on this one) - I spend money on my drums (I pay for my lessons, spend $$$$ on my Cymbals, Drums, accessories, books, DVDs, Magazines and I'm not rich)...so this somehow motivate me - telling myself - "Don't Throw My Money Down The Drain For Nothing".

(4) I disclipine myself working harder everytime, people tells me - I'm not that good in my drumming - cause I want to proof to them - that I will be good oneday...I mean real good.

(5) Most importantly - I disclipine myself and work damn hard (all my time put into it)...cause I'm no longer young...I'm already 45...it's now or never...

(6)I have a Passion & an Obsessive Desire To drum well......so do I have a Passion for beautiful girls - I wish to show-off to these beautiful chicks....but I'm not obsessed with them (Kekekeke it's true)....ALso I've less dates nowadays, no chicks date me out like before - so I spend time at home drumming. Too much dates less timke for practice (like I used to)..it's a good thing.

That's my confession to all you bros of DrummerWorld on my - Self Disclipine, my Motivation To Being Good........Hey am I too frank here ???? Kekekeke !

[Wavelength]

If you haven't read Kenny Werner's book Effortless Mastery, I suggest getting a copy and reading it asap. Some might consider the concept a bit jive, but it sure works for me.