Learning Process

[tak22thegoat]

I am very confused right now on what to learn.
I have the book Rudimental Workshop by Matt Savage, Groove Essentials by Tommy Igoe, and a Stick Control type book, and many others. Yesterday, after going to Nutha Jason's website and reading his inspiring articles I decided to start back on focusing on rudiments, technique, and groove.
But then today, I ran into a problem. As I was doing stick control, rudimental workshop, and groove essentials, I got frustrated because I couldn't do something. Also, there was too much to learn I didn't know what to learn first! I also get bored and then I start playing along with an mp3 player.
I also have a teacher who I visit once a week for 30 minutes.

How should I learn and how will it make me a better drummer?

[fourstringdrums]

You need to break down your practice session into parts. Don't overwhelm yourself with all there is to know all at once.

Always start your practice session by warming up and working on rudiments. After that, work on your foot technique for a bit. When you're done that if you want to do some things out of books, take one book at a time. Maybe do one book a day. Then work on grooves incorporating rudiments and maybe things out of those books if applicable. Save playing along with songs until the end.

You have to try and not get frustrated with what you're doing and just forgetting about it and doing what you know you can do, like playing with songs. You're not going to get anywhere doing that. If you get frustrated, either slow down and take it step by step, or if it's really not coming move on to something else that is structured, but come back to it. Don't forget about it and move on to playing with songs and things that you know are easy for you because I believe if you do that, you'll fall into a slump and not want to go back to what was frustrating you. It's like if you're doing homework and having a hard time, so you take a break and watch tv. Most likely you're not going to get back to your homework, or if you do, you're not going to feel any better than before you took your break. If you have to, put the frustrating part of your practice aside for the day. Depending on what it is, take a break from the kit all together just to clear your mind.

[Dibalo Jonze]

I got frustrated because I couldn't do something. Also, there was too much to learn I didn't know what to learn first! I also get bored and then I start playing along with an mp3 player.


How should I learn and how will it make me a better drummer?[/QUOTE]



Sounds like the first thing you need to learn/understand is that learning to play the drums, then learning to play the drums well, takes a lot of time. I'm sure all the great drummers on this forum get frustrated time to time trying to learn new beats but we all know that with patience and practice it will come. Take the boring out of learning and realize that continually challenging yourself will make it more fun when you do go jam to your mp3 player.

It sounds like you have some useful learning materials and the fact that you have 3 new books can be overwhelming. Take your time and divide each practice session (or the days of the week) between your books so that you spend time on rudiments, then on new grooves, then on stick control, and at the end treat yourself to mp3 jamming. Make sure your teacher is aware of your frustration too so he/she can help u through it.

The piece of advice you'll most often hear from drummers is - for a good reason - to PRACTICE!!! and that doesn't mean just jamming. Learning ANYTHING can be a challenge and with drums the improvement you experience with committed practice always makes the effort well worth it.

Take your time and have fun!