Intentional Drum Practice

Time

• Use a metronome — always
• Play slow — speed comes from accuracy, not rushing
• Play until it’s muscle memory before increasing tempo

Posture

Poor posture leads to back pain after 15 minutes. Fix it:

• Legs at 90–110 degree angle at the knee
• Sit up straight — don’t hunch over the kit
• Everything within comfortable reach — don’t overextend

Staying Relaxed

Tension is the enemy of good drumming:

• Posture — relaxed and upright
• Breathing — steady, don’t hold your breath
• Fluid motions — let the stick do the work
• Don’t hit so hard — volume comes from technique, not force
• Relaxed grip — less wrist, more fingers (Moeller technique)
• Shoulders — let your arms hang naturally, bring them up to playing position, and keep shoulders dropped
• Don’t bury the beater in the bass drum head — let it rebound

Tongue Position

Keep your tongue relaxed and in your mouth. Tension in the jaw and tongue transfers to the hands and arms.

Left Hand Development

Focus areas for building the weaker hand:

• Strength — practice rudiments leading with the left
• Precision — match the tone and volume of the right hand
• Practice pad work with left-hand lead patterns