Drum Tips and Techniques

Why Many Drummers Put Down "Speed Drumming"

I've noted some negativity swirling around speed drumming and the WFD (World's Fastest Drummer) competition sponsored by ExtremeSportDrumming. It seems that the negative comments I've read on blogs and forums come from drummers who obviously haven't tried any of the practice techniques involved with speed and endurance training - nor have even tried a Drumometer™. And basically, to "come down hard" on an issue without at least "some" knowledge of it, surely lowers the validity of the opinion.

It doesn't take much effort to become part of a WFD event locally, or, even at NAMM. But what's worse is that speed drumming and the related practicing techniques have even been slammed by some "big name" pro drummers; who also have never been involved with a WFD event? From another pro players perspective (me), I think this mainly demonstrates a great deal of ignorance!

The fact is, working on proper practice techniques with a Drumometer™ you will improve your time, balance your hand and/or foot speed, increase your endurance, and improve your overall playing precision. This is because the simpler effort of using it makes you "look-in-the-mirror" at yourself - so to speak. And this is not a bad thing! The fact is, utilizing proper speed drumming practicing techniques is truly a VERY POSITIVE approach to improving your overall drum kit and percussion playing.

About the Drumometer™ and Its Uses

For those who don't know about the "Drumometer™", it measures the number of "strikes" (with your hands, your sticks or bass drum beaters) over a set time period (60-seconds is the standard for WFD events). The device consists of a timer/counter "brain" (that enables you to set various practice intervals of your own), a metronome (to help you maintain various practice speeds), a foot trigger (to restart the device at its last setting to continue an exercise), and a triggered Remo pad striking surface (for stick playing). You can also use a piezo trigger mounted directly to your acoustic kick, electronic bass drum, or, on the surface of a practice head to count bass drum strokes.

Anyway, once you strike the triggered playing surface, the timer unit begins to count down to zero. As it does, the other portion of the unit keeps on counting the total number of strikes. Both the time interval, and the strike count information are displayed continually on the devices' screen in real-time. The current maximum time interval you can program into the Model II Drumometer is fifteen minutes. The minimum program interval is 1 second.

Back to the Controversy

I know the many benefits of speed drumming practice techniques "first-hand" because I competed in the 2004 WFD event at NAMM (and came in third). I must say that I never thought I would ever compete in ANYTHING music related. But I actually found it to be a very non-competitive, "fun" experience. When I returned from NAMM, many of the musicians I play with said things to me like, "You're keeping much better time," and, "You're really laying down killer grooves lately." They all wondered what I had been doing to improve so quickly. And this was when I put it all together; The DRUMOMETER™ WAS THE MAIN VARIABLE ADDED INTO MY PRACTICE ROUTINE!

Are There Any Negatives About Practicing with a Drumometer?

There is only one potentially negative I can say about practicing with a Drumometer™; and that would be to concentrate on using the device for speed drumming techniques ALONE. For less experienced drummers, I believe that focusing on this one phase of drumming will not help them become "well-rounded" drummers. This is simply because "speed" is only one aspect to MANY involved with becoming a well-rounded, professional drummer. Think about it; no one wants to play with a drummer who plays fast "blaziingly tasteless" fills, can't keep time, and doesn't really know how to groove with many different genres of music...

Final Points About the Drumometer™

When you think about it, essentially every electric guitar player utilizes a myriad of electronic devices to practice, record and perform these days. These devices have been designed to make them sound better - and even stay in tune! I guess that's okay, but a Drumometer™ is different. This device does NOT make you sound better. Instead, you must use it wisely to earn the benefits of its "guidance". It is first, and foremost, a personal practicing aid which is able to provide you true and lasting enhancement to your playing ability. This is a critical distinction in regard to a metronome alone, or other electronic devices that performers use live and in the studio.

In personal practice AND the instructional environment a Drumometer™ will find your weaknesses. However, admitting them to yourself, and then moving forward with hard work is required to accomplish improvement. and this IS a "tool" which can help you balance hand-to-hand and foot-to-foot strength, paying endurance, improve your time and feel, dynamics, and increase your sticking and "footing" accuracy - over a wide range of metronome speeds. But you must use it and work hard to earn any of this.

Forget whether you "approve" of the concept of a "World's Fastest Drummer" competition; instead, just buy a Drumometer™ and see what you think of it. If you do this, you will soon see it's vast potential as a practicing aid. Then, maybe, just maybe, the vast amount of crazy comments about speed drumming and the Drumometer™ will become more realistic and positive. Wow, what a thought?

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