My "drumming for speed" articles are based on my experiences related to placing
third at the "2004 International Fastest Drummer Competition" (also
called the World's Fastest Drummer Competition) held at winter NAMM in California. The WFD was a great all-around experience. All the drummers involved were very supportive of one another. So much so, it really didn't "feel" like a competition. It seemed more like a gathering of drummers (famous and not famous) enjoying a good excuse to talk about "drums and drumming". But there are still plenty of other topics covered inside. So, please check out ALL of the drumming articles in the drum
tips and techniques section. I really do hope you find something useful for your drumming. BTW: Some video clips will be coming soon too, so stay tuned! |
Since most drummers don't "practice to be fast", many wonder "why even do it at all"? Some say, "how do you do it". Others simply don't care - and that's cool. Although I "fell" into the whole national elimination process by chance, at one point I realized I could get a "free" trip to California if I worked a little bit - so, I started getting serious.
It was difficult coming up with ways to "safely" improve endurance and speed at first; since there's little information available on the web (especially for the 60-second WFD playing time standard used). But I did eventually find my own techniques that did help me improve. I even tried MANY muscle building gadgets; some did more harm than good and others were just a waste of time. More importantly though, I noticed other playing benefits resulted from the whole process! BUT SINCE 2004, after working with professional trainers, physiologists, and doctors, I've "finally" learned which drumming warm-up, stretching and endurance exercises really help MY OVERALL DRUMMING in ways other than simple speed generation. And, as I mentioned earlier, almost all of them are forms of the drumming speed and endurance exercises I WAS using for the WFD competition!
Now, by using these exercises in different ways, rehearsal and time is much safer and more productive.
Presently, I'm focusing on improving playing "precision and feel" between my hands, my feet, AND, BOTH my hands and feet. I really don't care if I increase my drumming speed in the process either - because keeping great "time", creating and playing great "grooves", and working on my "bag of tricks" is more of "where it's at" as a pro drummer.
Anyhow, I update this site
every couple of weeks. So, take care, keep checking in, and "bang on
dee drum all day"! |
