Practicing without drums

[chopshop]

In a past issue of ModernDrummer I read something about things you could do to practice drumming (or excercises rather) without actually being at the drum set. I don't really remember any of them, but I wanted to see if anyone has techniques that they use to practice this way, or if they remember any of the techniques. Reason I'm asking is because I can't always be at my set as I'm usually not at home.

[Pete Stoltman]

There was a time in my life when I had to work on the road quite a bit. Staying in hotels and obvioulsy couldn't be offensive to other guests. I just brought sticks along with me and maybe a technique book and played on pillows. Could do that till 2:00 in the morning if I wanted to and not disturb others. In some cases it forced me to slow down what I was doing and really work on the technique. Also beat the heck out of watching re-runs of sitcoms till I couldn't stand it anymore.

[Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan]

Just bring a pad and a snare stand. Find a nice flimsy one so it isn't too heavy. I bring Stick Control with me whenever I travel, especially if I travel alone. There are so many things you can practice. Any technique book like Stick Control, also with your feet: practice Stick Control with your feet, for example heel down (without shoes works best). It is an excellent workout.

I also take my pad to the beach. That way, while my wife is sunbathing I can shred. It is great. Not least because drumming is such a manly thing to do. On second thought, maybe a drum pad and repetitive plonk plonk plonk isn't so manly after all. But my wife swears she likes it!
Casper

[drum.lad]

i just bring my knees with me where ever i go and tap away

[DestinationDrumming]

i just bring my knees with me where ever i go and tap away

I do that, tapping hands on legs and stomping foot. Easily transfers onto the kit when you get home. You do get funny looks in the bus queue though!

[drum.lad]

yeah it does annoy pople but its the best thing when away from the kit

[fat in the middle]

I often subdivide or sing while I walk.....I work out clave things, and polygrooves etc..

[contemplativedrummer]

Coodination (http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-Coordination-Development-Complete-Independence/dp/0769233708/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199930943&sr=1-2) and Syncopation (http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Steps-Syncopation-Modern-Drummer/dp/0882847953/ref=pd_sim_b_img_4) books are great for practicing while away from the set. And ALWAYS bring a pad and a pair of sticks for actual "physical" practice when you can.

I heard of some foot exercise a while back (I think Jason Bittner uses it, not sure) that involved doing fast foot taps (heel down) for about 5 mins straight. Doesn't sound healthy to me, but apparently it really helps stamina.

[yammiefan]

I used to tap paradiddles on my steering wheel when driving to work; it helped with coordination but got boring after a few weeks. I take sticks with me when I go on vacation to use on the hotel room pillow. Practising's great fun when you have trouble sleeping.

[Sprock]

i just bring my knees with me where ever i go and tap away

i do that most of time and always get in trouble! my parents and brother think i have a hyper disorder! i cant help having a love for the drums and just wanting to tap all the time hehe!

i use tapping on legs with my hands of sticks.

or use my 8" pratice pad holding it in one hand and practice single and doubles with one hand then swap over after 5-10mins

[rmandelbaum]

I travel all over the world, I bring a practice pad, sticks and my trusty stick control book everywhere. I do try to play quietly but I think that is a great exercise all its own.

[Knowthyself]

when i think about practicing bass (main instrument) i think of it like songwriting
which is something that i also do

there are 2 aspects of both of these

there are creative and technical

and both can be done with or without your instrument --

great song ideas for instance like

woozyfly.com/girlinacoma

i know for a fact came from not "thinking" about it


you find your next awesome lick when you are walking down the street and something clicks

Kenny Werner a piano player is big on this ZEN thing and talks about remaining "open" to your instrument and sometimes the best way to do that is not to be touching it

[rendezvous_drummer]

I made a homemade practice kick drum and use just a normal pratice pad for snare work. I play rhythms with my mouth. There's so many ways of practicing without drums. Practicing the guitar or bass with help out as well with your timing and groove.

[Drummist222]

Independence and polyrhythms are good things to practice, since they're sort of more mental than physical. Try this one: with your left hand, play "Left-rest-Left-rest-rest" over and over again, and with your right hand play "Right-rest-Right-rest-Right-rest-rest", so that you're playing a 5 note phrase with your left hand and a 7 note phrase with your right. Assuming these are 16th notes, this gives a phrase that fits perfectly in one bar of 35/16. It should take a while to work through the whole bar. Then switch your right and left hands. To be fair, I stole this from Gavin Harrison, who detailed this in a Modern Drummer article.

Also, you can try accenting triplets, quintuplets, etc. on every fourth beat, then play them as paradiddles. Have fun!

[Eric]

I'm often in this position while touring, so I bring a pad and sticks for the hotel room. Does anyone know of a really lightweight practice pad stand? I know remo makes one (st1000) that looks light, but I haven't checked it out yet. European flights in particular make a big deal about weight by charging a lot for checked baggage, sometimes carry-on too, so it's a real issue.

[Piecebypiece22]

Ya bring a practice pad, and tap your feet, lol. Also, you could drum on your steering wheel, if you can drive with your knees. Stick this on your steering wheel -

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vic-Firth-Drum-Practice-Pad-with-Snare-Sound?sku=447073&CJAID=10381297&CJPID=1609763

[aydee]

You guys heard the one about someone walking up to Dennis Chambers while he was home relaxing in his lazy-boy, eyes closed, smoking a cigar, listening to music and the guy asks him " Hey Dennis, watchudoin? "

...and he says " Practicin' "

[JCM]

I do quite a bit of mental practice, watching a lot of other drummers and soaking in whatever I can.