Simple Beginner Practice Routine

A good practice routine is consistent, and yields results. Here is a look at what a practice routine includes.

1) Warm up - 5 minutes. This can include rudiments, stick control, and all limbs. One fun warm up I like and my students like is what I call “the reverse pyramid”: Start with 8 strokes per hand, then 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 stroke per hand. Then switch to feet, 8 strokes per foot, then 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1stroke per foot . Do this 4 times through starting with the Right, then Left. To help keep you steady, use a metronome or a song that you can play along to.

Book Suggestion: Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone

2) Grooves - 10 minutes. If you’re new, you will need to work on and memorize grooves. These are the foundation of drumming. Choose 1-2 grooves to work on.

Book Suggestions: Tommy Igoe Groove Essentials 1.0 and The Drumset Musician by Rick Mattingly and Rod Morgenstein

3) Fill development - 10 minutes. This skill is individual, but for beginners, use some solid parameters to create fills. Some parameters might be RLRL or RLKL. I like using linear patterns as they create really interesting fills. Develop your fill, write it down if it isn’t written out (you can video or record it so you don’t forget it), and practice it.

Book suggestion: Linear Drumming by Mike Johnston

4) Bring together your groove practice and your fill. You can do this by using a play along track, or playing with your favourite song.

5) As you get better at these first skills, you will want to tailor your practice routine around your goals. Did you want to gain foot speed? Do you want to work more on 4 way coordination? Is there a style you want to work on learning? Is there a song that has caught your ear? Set goals, and use those goals to set up a practice routine. For example: Learn to play Uptown Funk.

1) Warm up with single strokes and flam-kicks.

2) Learn and practice the main groove in Uptown Funk

3) Learn how to play the main fill in Uptown Funk(&a 4E&A) or (tica tica tica)

4) Practice transition from main groove into the fill, 1 bar groove, 1 bar fill bar.

5) Play along to the song.

This practice routine can be changed depending on your goals, the songs you’re learning, and the skills you are developing. Having a private teacher is a great way to motivate you to practice, pick out your specific playing and technique challenges, and to tailor your practicing help you achieve your goals.

To book your Zoom lesson or learn more, contact Celene.

Celene Yohemas is a Percussionist, Drummer, and Educator from Calgary, AB Canada. She teaches clinics, private lessons, and group lessons.