One problem that all drummers face sooner or later is being bored while practicing. In the early years there are several reasons for being bored. First of all, the exercises for beginning drummers require dedication because they are so elementary. Keeping up one’s interest can be difficult. However, a student who completes the first year of study is over the toughest part. Toughest, that is, in the sense of remaining enthusiastic. Fortunately, for most of us, youthful zeal and desire carry us past the first year. The next problem usually occurs when the student has developed enough to play the rudiments and basic drumset patterns with a certain degree of skill. At this point, these same exercises and patterns can become very, very monotonous. Even though repetition is essential to develop skill, strength and control, it can also be negative. Repetition can become so boring that it discourages the student […]

October 1983 Issue