To practise brushes

[Mette]

I recently decided to strart putting some time into brush playing. My question is not HOW to play, because there's really good videos on youtube and I have the AoBD-book. But how do you practise it in a good way? By just sit and play to records? Is there something I should think about when I'm practising?

[mrchattr]

It's not different than practicing anything else. Find a good resource, play through it, play along with albums, play with real people. Think about technique, and make sure you are listening to yourself. Same as anything.

[Funky Crêpe]

look at jojo mayer's video on the drummerworld main site....his brush play is fantastic

[G123]

2 tips; I'm no jazzer, but both helped greatly when I neede to learn some feel for brushes:

1-play sticks or brushes on a pillow or non-rebounding surface. "Picking up" each stroke is critical to brush work. Yes, there is some rebound to brush work, but it is helpful to learn to lift each hit. This tip does not help at all with sliding, or circles, or drags, or any continuous sound stuff, but may still be helpful.
2-experiment with the end of the brushes to find out how many different sounds you can make WITHOUT lifting the brushes from the drumhead. You can read or observe all the material out there about playing brushes, but until you take alot of time to find out how your brushes react on your snare head, it means nothing,
Have fun learning and let us know your progress!

[masonni]

When I wanted to improve my brush playing I picked up Clayton Cameron's book Brushworks. I would check that out.