Jonathan Curtis
Silver Member
Those that know me know that I am a budding professional drummer, right at the start of what will hopefully be a long and successful career.
As a person, I am very analytical, and have been criticised in the past for "thinking about it too much". Well, this is certainly true for my drum practice. I practice a lot, generally around 3-4 hours a day, excluding band rehearsals, gigs and teaching (which is actually beneficial to me as well).
My query is, how beneficial/damaging are days off?
For instance, this week, I have done over 9 hours of solid, dedicated practice from Monday to Wednesday. Today, Thursday, I just feel like I want a day off from it. Tomorrow, I have another rehearsal in the morning, and will practice in the afternoon. I have read many articles about practice, and the sophisticated professionals all seem to advise 2-3 hours a day is plenty, and days off are healthy. However, there is a stigma related to these demi-gods of music like, say, Vinnie, D. Weckl etc. etc. that they practiced dozens of hours a day, every day, and you'll never play like them if you don't do the same.
Where does reality lie? Somewhere blurred in between? I make no bones about it, one day I want, and fully intend, to play as well as those heroes of mine, but I'd like to know I'm getting there as efficiently as possible.
For those interested, my practice at the moment is roughly divided evenly between pad work, the 4 G. Chaffee Patterns books, and play-along material/improvisation.
I'd like your thoughts on this.
Cheers
As a person, I am very analytical, and have been criticised in the past for "thinking about it too much". Well, this is certainly true for my drum practice. I practice a lot, generally around 3-4 hours a day, excluding band rehearsals, gigs and teaching (which is actually beneficial to me as well).
My query is, how beneficial/damaging are days off?
For instance, this week, I have done over 9 hours of solid, dedicated practice from Monday to Wednesday. Today, Thursday, I just feel like I want a day off from it. Tomorrow, I have another rehearsal in the morning, and will practice in the afternoon. I have read many articles about practice, and the sophisticated professionals all seem to advise 2-3 hours a day is plenty, and days off are healthy. However, there is a stigma related to these demi-gods of music like, say, Vinnie, D. Weckl etc. etc. that they practiced dozens of hours a day, every day, and you'll never play like them if you don't do the same.
Where does reality lie? Somewhere blurred in between? I make no bones about it, one day I want, and fully intend, to play as well as those heroes of mine, but I'd like to know I'm getting there as efficiently as possible.
For those interested, my practice at the moment is roughly divided evenly between pad work, the 4 G. Chaffee Patterns books, and play-along material/improvisation.
I'd like your thoughts on this.
Cheers