Is it all in the head?

[AjminSko]

I´m sorry to post a question about single strokes and speed as I´m sure it´s one of the most frequent topics but I haven´t really found the answers I´m looking for so I´ll go ahead and ask anyway.
If the questions already been answered feel free to post a link and give me a real kick in the ass:) .
Anyway I´ve been playing for about 11 years and still havent gotten the single stroke speed thing right yet...
Believe me when I say it´s not lack of practice as I´m a bit of a perfectionist with way to much time on my hands.
Anyway it seems like the more I practice at getting my single strokes smooth and up to speed the worse I get:confused: .
I´ve tried the pillow thing, "Stick Control" until my hands were numb and just about every other method or exercise that came my way, and still minimal or no progress...
This has made me think that it´s perhaps something mental?
Anyway I´m a bit interested in how much time you spent everyday on developing single strokes and getting them up to speed?
Half an hour? an hour or two?
As i said earlier I ´suspect that it´s a mental thing so I would greatly appreciate it if someone has a few tips on that area, or perhaps a link?
Maybe it´s a "blurry" question but basically i´ve always had a huge prob with speed and it´s really getting on my nerves and I´m in a desperate need after all the help I can get!:

[Mapex589]

My friend....after reading your post I think you need to look into a drum teacher. I'm sure it is not lack of practice but you need to be practicing the correct way and a good instructor can and will help you with this. It sounds like discipline is not your problem I just think you need to get a teacher. A good teacher wont cost you much and you will see drastic improvement very quickly. Good luck to you.

[Spreggy]

That's some sage advice from Mapex, and not heard often enough. My own personal experience is that after being self-taught for 25+ years, a year with a teacher did more good than that whole 25. You obviously have the commitment to be a good player, but you need a guide to check out your technique. Call your local music school, music store or whatever to find someone. Even a once-a-month lesson can be huge.

[AjminSko]

Thing is I´ve had a few very good teachers throughout the years.
Although we never really focused specifically on the problem.
Guess I thought that as long as I kept practicing I would get it up to speed eventually.
Focusing on technique and letting speed "come by itself" sorta thing.
Hmm... Shows me..

[Scatman]

My teacher always told me if you don't practice correctly speed will never happen
Some drummers practice so tense they get slower as they practice
Don't take it for granted you will get faster because you practice a lot

[classic*beat]

A good teacher is key. Just so you know you're on the right path. Try working on sixteenths straight for 5-10 minutes. Stay at a low dynamic level at a comfortable tempo. I've been working on this after I got the idea from another discussion on this site. I started at 168 and have been working my way up. I just try to keep things even and relaxed. Speed is not my main goal.
I gained better control over singles by working with an exercise called "Stone Killer". It is from Joe Morello's book Master Studies. It would be a lot to write out. It is a killer though.

[ledzepjb]

Practise doesent make perfect, perfect paractise makes perfect:)you should look into getting a teacher

[wy yung]

We all have what is known as twitch muscles. These are speed reflex type muscles that pre-dertermine the maximum speed at which our individual bodies can move. Somebody born with medium speed twitch muscles will only ever develop medium speed. There is no way around this individual physical attribute. What is more important is to embrace one's natural physicality and work within the parameters available.

It is quite possible you possess medium speed twitch muscles.

If this is frustrating, remember: it is more important to be musical than fast.

[Pete Stoltman]

You mention being a perfectionist and that makes me think that perhaps you may be worrying too much. Fast singles is sort of a vague thing. What is your goal? How fast do you want to be? Is it a realistic goal? How fast are your clean singles now compared to your goal speed? These are a few things that you might want to consider when determining whether you don't have the physical ability to acheive singles at the tempo you want or if it's just a mental block that you need help getting past.

[wy yung]

You mention being a perfectionist and that makes me think that perhaps you may be worrying too much. Fast singles is sort of a vague thing. What is your goal? How fast do you want to be? Is it a realistic goal? How fast are your clean singles now compared to your goal speed? These are a few things that you might want to consider when determining whether you don't have the physical ability to acheive singles at the tempo you want or if it's just a mental block that you need help getting past.


Exactly! Well said.

Plus, what is the definition of fast?

It's all relative.

[AjminSko]

Well I don´t really have a specific goal when it comes to a certain speed.
Perhaps a part of the problem?
I´m almost 100% sure that it is some kind of mental block, I´ve previously reached speeds at 16ths at well over 200bpm, at that time I was in a ska band and I basically had no other option than getting faster or quitting the band.
But it required several hours a day focusing only on speed.
So I kind of refuse to belive that I reached my natural max playing 16ths at 170bpm... =)

But again, It has to be some kind of a mental block. And perhaps a technique thing?
I would atleast like to reach 200bpm without having to devote my entire practice routine to it.
There are like you said alot of other aspects of drumming that needs work and attention as well.

[jazzin']

If you did at one stage reach well over 200 but you can only get to 170 now, then something is seriously wrong and I don't think it's mental or whatever. Going down (I'm imagining well over 200 means up to maybe 220 or so?) around 50 bpm if you are still playing without having taken a long break is just weird. You shouldn't lose much speed if as you say you practiced speed many hours a day and were up to well over 200.
Maybe you picked up some serious tension somewhere. Re-learn to relax. Take it all from the start again. Practice speed drills/sprints and lots of endurance as well. If you did get to well over 200 you will get there again easily if you have patience and practice correctly.

[Paul Quin]

I suspect the problem (if indeed it should be considered a problem) may well lie in a physical rather than a mental problem. Mental issues, such as overthinking, lack of focus, lack of confidence etc., are more likely to result in timing and groove problems than in issues related to to speed. Mapex589 is right and I am sure you should consult a teacher. I suspect that the problem lies in your grip. If that is the case it can be one of the easist problems to identify and, if you have been playing for a while, one of the hardest to correct. It seems, however, that you have the discipline to address the problem once it has been identified.

Good luck - but remember speed isn't everything!

Paul

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I was just reading this long article and the last sentence seems to say, "don't practice"??

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/exercisephysiology/a/aa080901a.htm


Can Training Change Fiber Type?
This is not entirely understood and research is still looking at that question. There is some evidence showing that human skeletal muscle switches fiber types from "fast" to "slow" due to training.

[AjminSko]

I did have about a year of not playing at all due to an injury caused by "overstraining tendons in my left hand". Or so the good doctor said..

Regarding the article..... I read some of the studies they linked to.
Correct me if I´m wrong but interval training actually decreased fast twitch musle fibers??
English is not my native language and "scientific language" may add to the confusion. =)