Happy Friday! Let’s get started.
We’ve been focusing on ways to make the hands more dexterous. This next drill will do just that–It’s time for paradiddles.
Focus: Timing, Dexterity
Watch for:
1. Pay attention to the spacing between hits. Not only should the first beat be on the down beat, but the timing should be precise for all 4 hits of the phrase.
2. Make sure the non-emphasized hits (beats 2, 3, and 4) are equal in volume, as well as the height your sticks come off the drum in preparation.
One goal with this drill is to provide an opportunity to bring together everything we’ve practiced so far. So, think about your non-emphasized hits as the base beat, but we’ll mix up which hand is the base hand. The bold marks are emphasized hits:
R L R R L R L L
That’s it! Simple enough, right? It’ s a very effective way to review the skills and mindset I’ve introduced so far. Repeat for 15 minutes straight, daily for 7 days, and come back for more next week. Remember to keep those guidelines for metronome speeds in mind, as described in TGIF 3.
Gambatte ne!