I seriously have no idea what to do when it comes to practicing!
I take lessons 2 to 4 times a month (depends on how much cash I have). I will learn techniques, rudiments and sometimes a new groove for HH or BD independence. I go home practice new rudiments then run through old rudiments, new groove, then free style, then I'm done... all in 30-45 minutes. Super short, right?
I've been playing for 10 months now and I dont' think I'm doing enough. I know I have high standards because I watch and listen to great drummers all the time but, I know I can do more and I don't know what is missing. I also want to know how to gain the creativity to do fills and such. Ugh. I feel like for someone who's been playing for almost a year... i'm not up to par.
i agree with all the cool things people have mentioned so far.
first of all there is no "par". your path is as valid as the next guy, its not a competition with other people. its only about you pursuing your music, your playing and developing into the player you want to be.
being inspired by other people is fantastic and can be great motivation to work through a challenge. i think comparing yourself to other players doesn't create positive results but can feed a negative mental attitude.
a few things i think that might help you are
- be goal driven - set some short medium and long term goals with your teacher and each practise gradually work away at them. all the while understanding drumming is a gradual thing, you can't rush and if you're practising everyday thats going to definitely show over time.
- think in concepts not specifics - if you approach and get confortable with many core concepts of drumming then mixing and matching and creating your own things will be a simple process. you'll notice when studying a certain style or groove concept that many patterns repeat, but are just on different drums, limbs or places in the bar. so really once you're comfortable with grooves or fill ideas concerning the main tiny physical patterns you'll be able to play hundreds more. you'll simply see that new grooves are often things you can already play with a few slight changes.
- use a metranome and play VERY slowly - whatever you're working on (unless it has a very particular bpm range it sits in) start at the slowest quarter note click (40bpm-ish)and play it relaxed and as precise as you can. gradually raise the bpm 4-5 or 10 bpm depending on the challenge, groove type and how you feel when you play it. by doing this you internalise what you're learning so it really becomes part of your playing, muscle memory and also how you think when you play.
- try to play what you hear on records - yes even if you think its ahead of where you're at have a go anyway. no one is going to hassle you about mistakes in your practise time. if its too much of a reach for something at the present time, try and create your own version that still musically fits. you can do this with grooves aswell, playing something simpler than the original but that still captures the feel of the tune.
- believe in yourself when you sit down to play or practise. stay positive and never tell yourself something is hard or that you can't do something. if you mentally approach whatever you go to practise as you're going to have a great time, it might take awhile but you're sure to get it - then you will live that. if you tell yourself its going to be hard, then its going to be hard.
like anyone/everyone it never ends with trying to improve and reach the next goal, but the above things have been really valuable to me in my practise. i hope they might help you in some way aswell.
matt