Been using Stick control for decades and never followed that rule. Interesting. Going to follow up with this. Even gigging drummers can learn new/ old tricks!
Another great lesson, Stephen. You know exactly what's going on in the mind of many students, like me. I tend to rush through exercises. Or rather, I used to. But lesson like this one are changing my mindset. I cannot say how grateful I am for what you do for us, the non-glamorous drummers :-)
Ok. So I was just looking for follow along sticking exercises, when I found this video. It’s exactly what I needed to hear. Deep down I knew there was no shortcut, but I would keep searching anyway. I truly appreciate a hard truth over a false promise 100% of the time. Thank you for the practical quotes and guidance. Your straight forward advice and experience just earned you a new subscriber.
Stone’s stick control is pretty much the guide to being the best drummer u can be. It’ll get u outta the rut and yes it’s repetition. You have to look at it in a positive way instead of a chore. Your hands will be flyin!
Excellent video, Steve! I am sure repetition and patience is a good part of everybody's struggle while learning drums... I'll definitely would watch it again - after having my "moments of despair" ... when sometimes it seems I would never be able to really play the way I want to ...
I'm working on a series on my channel where I take stick control patterns and apply them to the drumset. It's been a ton of fun seeing how the orchestrations evolve. Also, I refuse to say a word in any of my videos, drumming only. So I'm glad there are teachers out here who have a lot to say so I can just play!
TY for the math. Yes, I would always lose track of the # of reps. I will prolly make it 90 sec just for the visual ease, glancing at the second hand on the clock. Whatever works, right? Thx again Stephen for the Friday Tip of the Week. 😉👍🏻 🥁😎
I'll have to pick up Stick Control.... I'm a snare drummer (and AUX percussionist, but that last isn't relevant here). At the time, our drumband instructor gave me some lessons on how to play the drums, how to play a buzz roll, how to play certain rythms so they are as smooth as possible..... but that's the level I got thought. I can read music OK (not the best, I'll admit that) and I think Stick Control will help me out! I definitely agree about needing repetitions though! i was asked by another band to help them out as they only had a bass drum player and they needed someone on snares. Got the sheet music 3 days before the concert, sat down and started reading through. 1st time: just skim it for any obvious stuff (repeats, Coda,....) and mark those. 2nd time, actually read it but no playing yet, just thinking the rythms. Between 2nd and 3rd time marking the difficult spots. 3rd time, playing on a pad without anything else (not even metronome). 4th-7th time, playing with metronome, 7th-10th time: look up the title + arranger (on youtube or via the site of the publisher, providing a MIDI mp3) and listen to it played from different bands (whenever possible) BUT NO PLAYING, just listening (to compare it matches up with what I was doing). Then after that, play a few times along to said recordings, then again without and alternate between these last 2 steps
I try to play each exercise for 15 minutes, both on the left side of the kit and on the right side, for which I have 2 beat drums and 2 hi hats, (of course if I play on the left side, R becomes left and L becomes R on the notation) that is how I train myself. weak R hand and R foot.
Kit trapped in storage while I seek a new band, hard to do without a car or cases and a trailer so I can portage by bike. That said, this very idea has me advancing in skills on a constant basis. One thing is I regularly follow a Drumeo vid with Heather Thomas leading a 30 minute run of Stick Control just for the calisthenics. That 20% makes the 80% of actual playing along with sound systems tapping feet and slapping thighs really productive. When next I get to play a kit my skills will be levels beyond where they were with the band I quickly outgrew from sticking to these things. When I joined the last band it was just what I needed as my skills were still stuck in my decades long beginner to intermediate drum skills from never having my own kit or considering myself a real drummer until 2018. Enter this channel and a few others like Drumeo of course, Rob Brown, and 80/20 Drummer are a few of my other favorites. Doing these kind of exercises is how I got my rhythm so tuned that I could no longer tolerate following the accordion that made me feel seasick with all the slop, and singers not skilled in leading the band with me the only one training rhythm accuracy, and also nutrition so I'm still getting better after 50, where they're all getting dim from not tuning their normal American feeding patterns. Deliberate practice is indeed how I've continued to develop strength, cardio, relaxation where I continue to feel better than I did even when I was 25, eating all the normal things and not exercising much. Now that my skills are out of the nursery I'll find my way into a band where I'm not the only one who happily does woodshed homework so that band practice isn't music school for members who don't do their homework just so we can nail a song arrangement.
I did discover a distinct difficulty in doing any unison hand hits as with snare plus crash or snare plus floor tom things really common in metal, prog and hard rock that I really enjoy playing. Thus even when I'm running the Stick Control patterns I periodically challenge myself to do a series of unison hits and smoothly return to the pattern, and that's getting a lot better as a result.
I feel this one, Steven. Pick a card from a deck of playing cards on Sunday - each of the suits are either sngls, dbls, diddles, or flams - 30 pad minutes each day that week with feet on the floor mirroring the hands at 55bpm - 1 year until all of the suits are pulled 13 times each. Sounds like the same page of thought.
What you’re saying is true…I’ve stuck through some grueling practice seasons thinking I’m getting nowhere then one day I’ll be playing and I’ll just instinctively go for it.. I’ll try something new and nail it. Sometimes I end end up playing something that I didn’t know I can play. Then I stop and think to myself…I just did that didn’t I?
Ive been practicing my rudiments on a practice pad, but doing 4 bars my my left hand starting then 4 bars with my right hand starting. Im going to extend my time on each one now
If you can't do it slow, there's no way you'll be able to do it at higher tempos. I loop for 5 minutes. Especially when I'm learning certain parts of songs that are important to the song. It forces me to stay focused (since it's really easy for me to drift off). Let the good times roll!!!
Different people have different views on this, but imo, when you make a mistake you should finish the count. If you don't you're training yourself to stop when you make a mistake, if you continue you're training yourself to recover from mistakes. Or at least recover first, then stop and restart the count.
I have been using repetition like this for new grooves or stickings, but I've no idea if I've repeated 20 times, more, or less. Is there an easy way to count, whilst concentrating on the new skill?
I use an app like Metronomerous, where I can set it so that it plays 20 bars and then have a two Bar Break, so that I know when I'm done. It took me a moment to find out how to set the app, but it works pretty fine.
My drum teacher made me get stick control and big practice sticks. If you want develop more endurance and speed I would suggest not using something with rebound like a pillow to practice force yourself to use your muscles on every note
I’ve been using the moon gel practice pad. Thing is, at higher tempos, it’s tough! Kind of impossible to use proper high tempo technique with those kinds of pads
@@Adixon5 well it’s not about using techniques, it’s purely about strengthening your forearm muscles for endurance and speed doesn’t come from practicing at real fast tempos but slower tempos. If you are using say finger technique that is all about rebound. But for single stroke rolls you don’t even need rebound with doubles or triples you should learn with rebound and without rebound. Like your feet there is no such thing as rebound so doubles and triples are from either techniques or calf muscles. If you want faster singles strokes practice doubles if you want faster doubles practice triples and so own that’s how to build faster speeds. Also high tempos should only be practiced at like 5 minutes or 10 minutes only for your whole practice time. Slower tempos build muscle memory. It’s kinda easier to play at 100 bpms vs 50 bpms but 50 bpms builds more endurance. The pillow trick came from a jazz drummer
Yes yes yes. Repetition. I am going to start doing this as if I was a beginner again. Why do we always stop doing the things we learned at the beginning of drumming.
Click bait! Many year former student of late drum legend Joe Morello here. Why does it take over 17 minutes to describe an 80 second practice routine? I was given many variations from Joe on how to utilize pages 5-8 and none of these required 17 minutes to minutes to explain.
I’m half way through this LONG winded introduction and have yet hear what the point of this is. Word of advice - tease a little bit of what we’re going to be learning earlier on. Because this is taking way too long to happen.
Yeah it’s a big problem with TH-cam generally. I think the video has to hit a minimum of 10 minutes to be eligible for monetisation although I may be wrong about that. Because of these people tend to waffle along for ages and not say very much. This entire video could’ve been compressed into about two minutes and still be valuable. When he actually says something, it’s useful. It is not however, a secret.
play 20 minutes the same thing over and over, sure but about casual player? People who want to enjoy the drums? Playing the same thing over and over is a chore , like a daily grind. It gives results but it's insanely boring to present this for a person just starting the drums and wanting to play a few of his favourite songs once in a while. I understand your concept completely as I repeat certain things over and over not for 20 minutes , but for 20 minutes or more every day for months and years so I can be perfect at my craft , but this is not for casuals. Tell your audience that is not profesional players how to improve in a more fun way :)
As a lifelong "casual" musician (meaning I only play what I enjoy, when I feel like it), I'm afraid you see it the wrong way. You shouldn't do this exclusively. You should continue to play your favorite songs once in a while as you say. That is what is important. This on the other hand, is technique. Something you need if you are casual or professional alike, if you want to truly get enjoyment when playing what you like. You don't have to do exercises all the time for ever and ever. You could do it so that you reach the level of fluidity you want. I promise you WILL enjoy playing a lot more when it just flows and technique is not a hindrance. Otherwise you would miss out on loads of favorite songs. Besides, the casual who is content and does not want to evolve surely don't watch these videos. :)
Why would it be? Stephen has sent me so many useful guides and aids to practise by email with no problem. It' would totally compromise his channel, surely?
Chester Thompson always requested a Drum throne with a height of 32 inches and still to be stable. He is almost standing just watch the Phil Collins take me home video concert. What makes zero sense is when someone criticizes others because it not what they do.
Everyone has different physiology, so each person's position at the kit is unique to them. Stephen plays kick heel down, and that really dictates the height of his stool, plus, he is a very tall guy. 😌
@@jeffreyward2353 Yes he actually has a video up where is talking about Kick pedal technique and Stephan says he is 6' something and he prefers a very high throne.
Been using Stick control for decades and never followed that rule. Interesting. Going to follow up with this. Even gigging drummers can learn new/ old tricks!
Another great lesson, Stephen. You know exactly what's going on in the mind of many students, like me. I tend to rush through exercises. Or rather, I used to. But lesson like this one are changing my mindset. I cannot say how grateful I am for what you do for us, the non-glamorous drummers :-)
Ok. So I was just looking for follow along sticking exercises, when I found this video. It’s exactly what I needed to hear. Deep down I knew there was no shortcut, but I would keep searching anyway. I truly appreciate a hard truth over a false promise 100% of the time. Thank you for the practical quotes and guidance. Your straight forward advice and experience just earned you a new subscriber.
Stone’s stick control is pretty much the guide to being the best drummer u can be. It’ll get u outta the rut and yes it’s repetition. You have to look at it in a positive way instead of a chore. Your hands will be flyin!
Excellent video, Steve! I am sure repetition and patience is a good part of everybody's struggle while learning drums... I'll definitely would watch it again - after having my "moments of despair" ... when sometimes it seems I would never be able to really play the way I want to ...
I'm working on a series on my channel where I take stick control patterns and apply them to the drumset. It's been a ton of fun seeing how the orchestrations evolve. Also, I refuse to say a word in any of my videos, drumming only. So I'm glad there are teachers out here who have a lot to say so I can just play!
This video is coming at the perfect time, since I'm getting Stick Control soon! Thank you for always putting out great drumming content!
Got this book for years! Still on the first page ;)
If not the most certainly one of the three most important book for drumers. I´ll still have to practice a lot of it.
TY for the math. Yes, I would always lose track of the # of reps. I will prolly make it 90 sec just for the visual ease, glancing at the second hand on the clock. Whatever works, right? Thx again Stephen for the Friday Tip of the Week. 😉👍🏻 🥁😎
@10:00 Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
Good Peripheral reference!
I'll have to pick up Stick Control.... I'm a snare drummer (and AUX percussionist, but that last isn't relevant here). At the time, our drumband instructor gave me some lessons on how to play the drums, how to play a buzz roll, how to play certain rythms so they are as smooth as possible..... but that's the level I got thought. I can read music OK (not the best, I'll admit that) and I think Stick Control will help me out!
I definitely agree about needing repetitions though! i was asked by another band to help them out as they only had a bass drum player and they needed someone on snares. Got the sheet music 3 days before the concert, sat down and started reading through. 1st time: just skim it for any obvious stuff (repeats, Coda,....) and mark those. 2nd time, actually read it but no playing yet, just thinking the rythms. Between 2nd and 3rd time marking the difficult spots. 3rd time, playing on a pad without anything else (not even metronome). 4th-7th time, playing with metronome, 7th-10th time: look up the title + arranger (on youtube or via the site of the publisher, providing a MIDI mp3) and listen to it played from different bands (whenever possible) BUT NO PLAYING, just listening (to compare it matches up with what I was doing). Then after that, play a few times along to said recordings, then again without and alternate between these last 2 steps
I try to play each exercise for 15 minutes, both on the left side of the kit and on the right side, for which I have 2 beat drums and 2 hi hats, (of course if I play on the left side, R becomes left and L becomes R on the notation) that is how I train myself. weak R hand and R foot.
Kit trapped in storage while I seek a new band, hard to do without a car or cases and a trailer so I can portage by bike. That said, this very idea has me advancing in skills on a constant basis. One thing is I regularly follow a Drumeo vid with Heather Thomas leading a 30 minute run of Stick Control just for the calisthenics. That 20% makes the 80% of actual playing along with sound systems tapping feet and slapping thighs really productive. When next I get to play a kit my skills will be levels beyond where they were with the band I quickly outgrew from sticking to these things.
When I joined the last band it was just what I needed as my skills were still stuck in my decades long beginner to intermediate drum skills from never having my own kit or considering myself a real drummer until 2018. Enter this channel and a few others like Drumeo of course, Rob Brown, and 80/20 Drummer are a few of my other favorites. Doing these kind of exercises is how I got my rhythm so tuned that I could no longer tolerate following the accordion that made me feel seasick with all the slop, and singers not skilled in leading the band with me the only one training rhythm accuracy, and also nutrition so I'm still getting better after 50, where they're all getting dim from not tuning their normal American feeding patterns.
Deliberate practice is indeed how I've continued to develop strength, cardio, relaxation where I continue to feel better than I did even when I was 25, eating all the normal things and not exercising much. Now that my skills are out of the nursery I'll find my way into a band where I'm not the only one who happily does woodshed homework so that band practice isn't music school for members who don't do their homework just so we can nail a song arrangement.
I did discover a distinct difficulty in doing any unison hand hits as with snare plus crash or snare plus floor tom things really common in metal, prog and hard rock that I really enjoy playing. Thus even when I'm running the Stick Control patterns I periodically challenge myself to do a series of unison hits and smoothly return to the pattern, and that's getting a lot better as a result.
I feel this one, Steven. Pick a card from a deck of playing cards on Sunday - each of the suits are either sngls, dbls, diddles, or flams - 30 pad minutes each day that week with feet on the floor mirroring the hands at 55bpm - 1 year until all of the suits are pulled 13 times each. Sounds like the same page of thought.
Very good Stephen. Exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks!❤
What you’re saying is true…I’ve stuck through some grueling practice seasons thinking I’m getting nowhere then one day I’ll be playing and I’ll just instinctively go for it.. I’ll try something new and nail it. Sometimes I end end up playing something that I didn’t know I can play. Then I stop and think to myself…I just did that didn’t I?
Ive been practicing my rudiments on a practice pad, but doing 4 bars my my left hand starting then 4 bars with my right hand starting. Im going to extend my time on each one now
I liked this a lot. I'm going to be more aware of my practice routine as a result. Thanks Stephen.
Awesome advice man...that lack of patience is a major human problem in our hyped up world...
Thank you for this video. I was able to follow and understand what you are saying and it is good way for me to look at how I am practicing.
Great information. Thanks.
Brilliant video Stephen. Your a fabulous teacher. 👍
Excellent lesson. Many thanks.
Great! 🤘😁🥁👍
If you can't do it slow, there's no way you'll be able to do it at higher tempos. I loop for 5 minutes. Especially when I'm learning certain parts of songs that are important to the song. It forces me to stay focused (since it's really easy for me to drift off). Let the good times roll!!!
Great lesson! Should I finish the twenty count even with a mistake or immediately start the count over?
Different people have different views on this, but imo, when you make a mistake you should finish the count.
If you don't you're training yourself to stop when you make a mistake, if you continue you're training yourself to recover from mistakes. Or at least recover first, then stop and restart the count.
@@pietzsche makes perfect sense. Thank you for your thoughts!
@@jkdavis2011 Yw :)
Thanks,Great Video!
Thanks
I have been using repetition like this for new grooves or stickings, but I've no idea if I've repeated 20 times, more, or less. Is there an easy way to count, whilst concentrating on the new skill?
Also struggle with keeping the count..I might just set a timer for 90 seconds..not sure if that's that lazy way but still lol
I use an app like Metronomerous, where I can set it so that it plays 20 bars and then have a two Bar Break, so that I know when I'm done. It took me a moment to find out how to set the app, but it works pretty fine.
I appreciate what you are saying, but I only have 30 mins to practice. Is there any way you could get to the point in less than 25 of my 30 mins?
This is fantastic. I picked up the book last year but never fully committed to it. Thanks much for giving me order for my practice routine!
My drum teacher made me get stick control and big practice sticks. If you want develop more endurance and speed I would suggest not using something with rebound like a pillow to practice force yourself to use your muscles on every note
I’ve been using the moon gel practice pad. Thing is, at higher tempos, it’s tough! Kind of impossible to use proper high tempo technique with those kinds of pads
@@Adixon5 well it’s not about using techniques, it’s purely about strengthening your forearm muscles for endurance and speed doesn’t come from practicing at real fast tempos but slower tempos. If you are using say finger technique that is all about rebound. But for single stroke rolls you don’t even need rebound with doubles or triples you should learn with rebound and without rebound. Like your feet there is no such thing as rebound so doubles and triples are from either techniques or calf muscles. If you want faster singles strokes practice doubles if you want faster doubles practice triples and so own that’s how to build faster speeds. Also high tempos should only be practiced at like 5 minutes or 10 minutes only for your whole practice time. Slower tempos build muscle memory. It’s kinda easier to play at 100 bpms vs 50 bpms but 50 bpms builds more endurance. The pillow trick came from a jazz drummer
What am I missing when you say free guide but when I go to the page it asks for $7?
Nevermind, I got the email. Thank you!
Regarding speed, remember that slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Nice Ks
good plan, slower is better.
Yes yes yes. Repetition. I am going to start doing this as if I was a beginner again. Why do we always stop doing the things we learned at the beginning of drumming.
Hey I thought the thumbnail said the video was just 90 seconds. Please keep them long form videos short clips are for Tiktok
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Bruce Lee
So he's basically saying the same thing for 20 minutes, which is exactly how he's telling us to practice. Meta.
Click bait! Many year former student of late drum legend Joe Morello here. Why does it take over 17 minutes to describe an 80 second practice routine? I was given many variations from Joe on how to utilize pages 5-8 and none of these required 17 minutes to minutes to explain.
That book seems easy but it really challenges your brain. It'll let you know your flaws with the repetitive exercises.
If you don't have Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone... you are doing it wrong.
I’m half way through this LONG winded introduction and have yet hear what the point of this is. Word of advice - tease a little bit of what we’re going to be learning earlier on. Because this is taking way too long to happen.
12:38 lol
Must be some benefit to getting people to watch for a long time. Hard to imagine why else he is being so wildly repetitive.
Yeah it’s a big problem with TH-cam generally. I think the video has to hit a minimum of 10 minutes to be eligible for monetisation although I may be wrong about that. Because of these people tend to waffle along for ages and not say very much. This entire video could’ve been compressed into about two minutes and still be valuable. When he actually says something, it’s useful. It is not however, a secret.
Scrub forward 👍🏽😊
money
Cannot think of anything more miserable and demoralising than learning drums with a PAD.
Get an E kit!
8:47 EARTHQUAKE
Please condense the intro or parse your videos so ppl can find the "meat" of the lesson... too much convo... not enough teaching.
play 20 minutes the same thing over and over, sure but about casual player? People who want to enjoy the drums? Playing the same thing over and over is a chore , like a daily grind. It gives results but it's insanely boring to present this for a person just starting the drums and wanting to play a few of his favourite songs once in a while. I understand your concept completely as I repeat certain things over and over not for 20 minutes , but for 20 minutes or more every day for months and years so I can be perfect at my craft , but this is not for casuals. Tell your audience that is not profesional players how to improve in a more fun way :)
As a lifelong "casual" musician (meaning I only play what I enjoy, when I feel like it), I'm afraid you see it the wrong way. You shouldn't do this exclusively. You should continue to play your favorite songs once in a while as you say. That is what is important.
This on the other hand, is technique. Something you need if you are casual or professional alike, if you want to truly get enjoyment when playing what you like. You don't have to do exercises all the time for ever and ever. You could do it so that you reach the level of fluidity you want.
I promise you WILL enjoy playing a lot more when it just flows and technique is not a hindrance.
Otherwise you would miss out on loads of favorite songs.
Besides, the casual who is content and does not want to evolve surely don't watch these videos. :)
stephen, is the pdf a virus??
Why would it be? Stephen has sent me so many useful guides and aids to practise by email with no problem. It' would totally compromise his channel, surely?
@@lindy-loumaddock5979 just making sure
A seated position that high makes zero sense to me.
Chester Thompson always requested a Drum throne with a height of 32 inches and still to be stable. He is almost standing just watch the Phil Collins take me home video concert. What makes zero sense is when someone criticizes others because it not what they do.
Everyone has different physiology, so each person's position at the kit is unique to them. Stephen plays kick heel down, and that really dictates the height of his stool, plus, he is a very tall guy. 😌
He’s really tall. 6’4” I think…
@@jeffreyward2353 Yes he actually has a video up where is talking about Kick pedal technique and Stephan says he is 6' something and he prefers a very high throne.