What do you do as practice when you don't have sticks with you?

[takkatakka]

Let's say you're on a long journey somewhere and you're craving to play the drums?

[Arky]

No sticks? Make sure you have some around. If not...

* Work on your reading skills. Or prepare interdependence patterns in your mind by visualizing how to play them.

* Do some exercise(s), e.g. JoJo Mayer's "power clapping". Doing 100 fast repetitions (each repetition = 8 claps, with an accent on the '1') is... hard!

* Slap your hands on your thighs. Apply various rudiments (doubles/drags are hard to do).

* Practice polyrhythms (L vs. R side - hands only, hands vs. feet, feet only, switch sides = lots of variations)

* Feet: Practice rudiments and/or flams.

* Make up music in your mind and "play" it (with or without air drumming)

* Practice counting - can be done in combination with pretty much all of the above.

* If you have sticks but no pad - play on your thighs (or on anything suitable) or do some stick exercises to strenghten your forearms/fingers

[zazylaw]

4-Way Coordination: A Method Book for the Development of Complete Independence on the Drum Set

http://www.amazon.ca/4-Way-Coordinat.../dp/0769233708

Ever since I got this book, I've *always* had something to practice without sticks :-)

In fact, I probably practice this stuff too much, since you can subtly tap-out most of these exercises in business meetings, at dinner, and other places where you should probably be paying attention to the people around you instead of practicing ;-)

[Longfuse]

Learn to tap dance with your hands

http://vimeo.com/10144967

The Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcellos used to do something similar, so "patting juba" must have come over from Africa (it was certainly around during the days of slavery).

[Anthony Amodeo]

not that its anything to practice.....

...but since I was young I have always done this rhythm with my fingers on a table thing.....palm down and thumbs and fingers grooving

I have developed this serious strength in my fingers just from this little habit......nothing I was aiming to do of course .....just from this unconscious habit that formed when I was very young and drove all my teachers in school and my dad at the dinner table crazy

rest dads soul....I think of him every time I catch myself doing it

but I find that I actually use it to work on things on a train, in the van on tour, at a table out at dinner, on my chest while sitting around......has always worked for me...but nothing I ever had to work on ...just was always there from before I can remember

you will see guys use this type of thing in drum solos, Joe Morello, Keith Carlock etc.....

[DPTrainor]

Originally Posted by takkatakka

Let's say you're on a long journey somewhere and you're craving to play the drums?

Ah, tap your hands and feet to music. Anywhere. In the car, on the beach, in a bar, anywhere you are. I actually developed my left foot to play bass drum (I am a righty), by tapping my left foot while I was driving (over many years). And using hands to tap on drivers wheel and thighs. Amazing how much coordination you can develop by driving a car and drumming to the music. No drums need apply! But don't try this at home! Hahahaha.

[Dre25]

I never did it personally but Gavin Harrison has some exercises for singing rhythms while clapping/tapping. These are on the Rhythmic Horizons dvd.

[Silverfox]

I do various polyrhythm combinations with my hands, 4 limb tapping, and various finger strengthening/speed exercises.

[BYUDOG]

Counting. I will listen to the radio and count out loud in my head.

[drstrangefunk]

i work the part through in my mind, air drumming as i do. i air drum on a full kit, often employing the left side floor tom that i don't have (yet).

just beating on stuff is not a thrill for me. it's about the sticks in my hands-even if it's just air drumming.

the only time beating on random stuff thrills me is if it sounds good. at which point i try to figure out how i would mic it. then i walk away quickly after a few taps (and far away trances into space) lest peoples think i'm crazy.