Hey everyone,
I wouldn't classify myself as a newbie at all. I've been playing drums since I started 5th grade (got my first kit at the end of 6th grade), have taken lessons with a great drum teacher (they just didn't fit in with my busy life anymore :| ) and I can hold a beat and read rythms pretty well. However, I have read a lot of posts here saying "make sure you don't develop the wrong technique!" This has gotten me worried since I took a break during 9th grade since I had no kit then, but this year I have a kit and I've wanted to start playing again, but I want to make sure I'm doing it right! I've started to work on rudiments finally, and last night I began rudiment #1 off the Vic Firth site (single stroke rolls). I noticed good improvement even after just an hour of practicing that, but I started to doubt if I was holding my sticks correctly and if I was really using my wrist instead of my arm to hit with my left hand. Can anyone help me correct myself (if I need correcting at all!) It's been so long since I had drum lessons...
I hold my sticks like this / \ and with them being straight extentions of how I have my arms. If I put the two stick tips together they almost make a 90 degree angle.
Thanks!
Also, if anyone has any good exercises/tips to help my practicing and sharpen my skills, that would be appreciated. ;]
(Geez, I'm sorry for my super long posts. I'm awful at getting right to the point if you can't tell...)
I wouldn't classify myself as a newbie at all. I've been playing drums since I started 5th grade (got my first kit at the end of 6th grade), have taken lessons with a great drum teacher (they just didn't fit in with my busy life anymore :| ) and I can hold a beat and read rythms pretty well. However, I have read a lot of posts here saying "make sure you don't develop the wrong technique!" This has gotten me worried since I took a break during 9th grade since I had no kit then, but this year I have a kit and I've wanted to start playing again, but I want to make sure I'm doing it right! I've started to work on rudiments finally, and last night I began rudiment #1 off the Vic Firth site (single stroke rolls). I noticed good improvement even after just an hour of practicing that, but I started to doubt if I was holding my sticks correctly and if I was really using my wrist instead of my arm to hit with my left hand. Can anyone help me correct myself (if I need correcting at all!) It's been so long since I had drum lessons...
I hold my sticks like this / \ and with them being straight extentions of how I have my arms. If I put the two stick tips together they almost make a 90 degree angle.
Thanks!
Also, if anyone has any good exercises/tips to help my practicing and sharpen my skills, that would be appreciated. ;]
(Geez, I'm sorry for my super long posts. I'm awful at getting right to the point if you can't tell...)