Speed and Strength

[darknessdude16]

Hi all. In one week I finally finished University for the year, yeah its stupid, I get like 4-5 months off for summer its great. So anyway, as soon as I break up then i want to get back into my drumming seriously. I've decided that i really want to build up my speed and arm and leg strength. I'd just like some ideas please, some of your practice routines maybe or something, also I really want to build to the strength in my left arm (im obviously right-handed), i'd like more control overall. any tips please everyone? I'm sure you all have good tips in your head, but cant be bothered to type them :-) x

[Wavelength]

Start lifting weights if you want strong arms. If you want strong strokes, start working on the free stroke.

[Therma lobsterdore]

What exactly is a free stroke then? I can't find any decent information on it, is it an application of the moeller technique or somesuch?

[Alexdrum75]

Hi all. In one week I finally finished University for the year, yeah its stupid, I get like 4-5 months off for summer its great. So anyway, as soon as I break up then i want to get back into my drumming seriously. I've decided that i really want to build up my speed and arm and leg strength. I'd just like some ideas please, some of your practice routines maybe or something, also I really want to build to the strength in my left arm (im obviously right-handed), i'd like more control overall. any tips please everyone? I'm sure you all have good tips in your head, but cant be bothered to type them :-) x

Gary Chaffee's method "Technique patterns": there's an exercise that from 16ns builds up to 32ns single or double rolls.
It's a killer. The greatest of all.
Use it also with the limbs.
In one week you'll notice improvements.

[Wavelength]

What exactly is a free stroke then? I can't find any decent information on it, is it an application of the moeller technique or somesuch?

How about searching this forum?

[Therma lobsterdore]

Good call, don't know why I didn't do that in the first place. I've definitely seen/tried the technique before but I've never really practiced it specifically.

darknessdude16, the 8 to 1 pyramid thing really strengthened up my arms and helped balanced out my hands (feet too). If you don't know it you simply do 8 strokes on one hand/foot, then eight strokes with the other hand/foot, then you do 7 on each, 6 on each etc...going all the way down to 1 on each and back up again.

You can also dedicate some time to playing open handed and leading with your left hand, I always try to start my rudiments and whatnot with my left hand.

[Alexdrum75]

How about searching this forum?

It's basicly what Dawe Weckl teach us, and before him Freddy Gruber.
Hold your stick loosely between your third finger and your thumb (that will become the fulcrum) and lay your index finger on the stick, very loosely.

Then strike the drum and without opposing resistence let the stick rebound back.

Then try to incorporate this technique practicing single strokes. This will make the rolls effortlessly but it takes a while to master: Dawe Weckl is still mastering it...

[Wavelength]

It's basicly what Dawe Weckl teach us, and before him Freddy Gruber. Hold your stick loosely between your third finger and your thumb and lay your index finger on the stick, very loosely... Then strike the drum and without opposing resistence let the stick rebound back.

The last sentence is what free stroke is all about: accepting the rebound and letting the stick do what it wants to do. It doesn't rely on any particular grip. You can free stroke using the traditional grip, the French grip, German or Whatever grip; it's all about the quick initial stroke and quick relaxation afterwards.

[darknessdude16]

Thanks for all that everyone. I shall definately try more ofthe Free Stroke and that Pyramid thing seems to be simple yet effective. I'm going to try to make a smal practice regime to do everyday and then add new things everyweek, that seems like a decent idea x

[defunkt]

the 8 to 1 pyramid thing really strengthened up my arms and helped balanced out my hands (feet too). If you don't know it you simply do 8 strokes on one hand/foot, then eight strokes with the other hand/foot, then you do 7 on each, 6 on each etc...going all the way down to 1 on each and back up again.

What kind of tempos are you doing this at? Also are you doing quarters, eights or sixteenths?

[darknessdude16]

Sounds to me like it would take a while to do but i'd start at quarters and go through the pattern and then move upto 8th and 16ths, like I say it may be very tedious but thats what its about x