4 Ways to Practice Drumming without Drums

It is always exaggerated that you won’t progress until you practice it in a real thing. Although it is mostly true for most instruments, it is a different story for drums. But first, why should you practice without a drum kit, will that even help you improve? The answer is Yes, because you should practice keeping in mind that you do it to improve your muscle memory and your timing which are essential parts for any instrument. So how do you make sure that you practice something that is gonna help you apply it in the real kit. Here are some examples:

1. Pillow Practice for Your Hands

Start with a pillow because that is the most readily available practice pad you can find. Sticks are important in this practice because then you can play the exact finger and hand motions that you would perform when playing a drum set too. Another advantage of this is that since the pillows are soft, it doesn’t offer you much rebound and you end up strengthening your muscles doing the lifting. This will be difficult in the beginning, but that’s why you are practicing, to get better. As you adapt and return to your drum set with considerably more rebound, you’ll notice that you have developed speed in your playing. 

2. Air Drumming for Your Arms

Here is a strange one but one every one of us is familiar with. Everyone had that one air drumming moment that releases you from all the stress. However for a drummer, it can be more than just an imaginative play. You can practice your movement and practice being conscious about your limbs. You can choose to have sticks or can practice even without it. All you have to do is take a groove or a piece of sheet music, visualize your kit in front of you and play it as it is required. You will be surprised to see the awareness it needs to be perfectly executed. You have to make sure that your hands move and play the parts as it should be played, otherwise the whole point of practicing through air drumming is a waste. For example, if in a section you have to hit the cymbals, your arm has to reach approximately at the same point in air as if there was a cymbal.

3. Ground Drumming for Your Legs & Feet

Ground Drumming is for your legs and feet. One of the best ways to practice your feet is to get a foot pedal and arrange it in a way that the beater hits the wall. Since the wall provides no rebound, you will start feeling some pull in your thighs and it will strengthen your muscle. You can play along with a music piece and practice the bass drum part in a way that you build coordination along with some necessary muscle so that you can play it on a drum kit for a long period. You can also do this practice without any pedal and just tap the parts on the ground. Once you shift to a real drum set you will able to recognise the increase in speed and lack of fatigue in your playing.

4. Clap for Your Timing

Keeping rhythm is one the fundamental skill a drummer should have as they are the metronome for any band they are playing for. So, you would not want to let your bandmates down. So this is to improve your timing and one of the best ways is a clapping exercise. Download a metronome and and clap along with it. Make sure that your clap purely and completely synchronises with the beat. Once you can do that, here is one fun exercise. On your metronome there are different time signatures, make it 8/8. Now, let the first four beat be heard but mute the last four beat. Now clap along with it. Your aim is to be on time and that will be determined by your 9th clap which will come after your 8th clap which was muted. If it completely synchronises with the beat, you are on time but if it is ahead or behind, then you have to start over again. You can also vary your clapping exercise by leaving some claps in between beats and start being more adventurous with the metronome.

BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company that provides Music Education and  Recording Studio services. BlueTimbre also works with schools to provide end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools. 

The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.

Reference : https://www.kickstartyourdrumming.com/practice-drumming-without-drums/

3 Reasons Why Music is the most Important Subject at School

Music is everywhere. All you have to do is listen. It also teaches us a lot of things and can play a vital role in one's growing up. There are many benefits to gain from music if you are involved with it from an early age. In this write up, we will talk about how having music as a subject in school, how it benefits a child not just from educational point of view but the all-round development.

Personality

It shapes your personality. Learning music makes you more aware and teaches you to approach your tasks more logically. It also enhances your motor, visual and auditory skills. It is encouraged to be part of the curriculum of school as it is one of the most unique subject that has the quality to teach all the right traits and can act as a stress buster from learning all other educational subjects. Due to the structured and logical nature of the theory of music, it helps children to fare better in their other subjects. Also, it helps one to connect with each other through the language of music not just in school boundaries but with anyone  and anywhere. It encourages them to be more social and feel a sense of joy in playing together with their peers. 

Creativity

The most important reason to include Music in every school curriculum is its ability to cultivate creativity in students. In this modern era, creativity is often the trait that sets a person apart. You can be creative in any field, it is the talent to think of a problem logically and efficiently so that any task given to you, if not by the norms, you can still solve or overcome it your way. Every child should be given that opportunity, to let them able to think on their feet and there is nothing better than music to inculcate that skill in them. In layman terms, in music you are taught how to play but once you come out the other side as a skilled musician you can choose to play your instrument however you like and that freedom of choice grows your curiosity and hence your creativity.

Proof of its Success

Finland has one of the best education system in the world where learning music and musical instrument has a vital and crucial role to play. They have produced some very talented classical musicians and soloists in recent times but have also have the record of having highest academic achievements according to UNICEF report of 2007. So this proves that including music in one’s regular activities doesn't always mean you are forcing your child to be a musician, you are just allowing him to learn all the subjects from different fields and then they can decide what to pursue. Remember, music should never be a chore for them like other subjects, everyone should be allowed to grow in their own pace, build their own interest in it and that's when you will see the best effect of music on a child. 

BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company that provides Music Education and  Recording Studio services. BlueTimbre also works with schools to provide end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools. 

The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.

3 Reasons Why Learning Music has no age limit!

Music is universal. There are no boundaries in music, it can reach huge masses. It has got the ability to connect with you emotionally, spiritually as well as provide the best company when you need it. Almost everyone loves to listen to music, so if you wish to learn it, your age should not be stopping you from learning or playing music. There is no age limit to learn music, all it requires is your time and you will be playing tunes in no time.

1. Virtue of Patience: You might have heard the classic stereotypes where they say it is harder for older people to absorb things quicker. It is not entirely true. Modern day requirements put a lot of stress in an individual and it deprives them of valuable time that is required for themselves. Learning music is one really good way to come out of that stressful vibes and spend time in learning something new. Learning music has benefits for all, age has nothing to do with it. It can help develop a kid's personality as well as act as a stress relief for adults. Now you do have to be be little bit more conscious if you are starting late as it requires extra patience compared to the youth who are already in a state of mind where they are used to learning things every day from their daily co-curricular activity. For adults, you have to put a little more effort in activating the learning part of your brain but as long as you are prepared to enjoy the progress and necessary steps in learning an instrument with a little bit of patience, there is nothing to worry about.

2. Universal Language : Music can be understood by all. It is perceived and felt by all from different ages. If you wish to play along your favourite music or create your own, it is never too late in music. All you have to do is find time for practice from your schedule, follow the exercise and lessons and learn the practicality of it. Just a little commitment from your side and your dream to play a musical instrument will be fulfilled. The sense of music can be instilled even in toddlers which has a positive impact on their intellectual ability. And as they build a relationship and enjoy the music around them, they get more accustomed to an instrument and helps them figure out the techniques and lessons more efficiently. Music is a gift that anyone who wishes to learn should find time and make use of it to their benefit, may it be for fun, remedy for stress or developing important personality traits.

3. Simple Needs: To start your learning, all you need is an instrument at home and assigned time for practice. Those are the ingredients for learning an instrument, your age has absolutely nothing to do with it perhaps only your daily schedule can decide if you can give your time. It is an amazing outlet for those who wants to free themselves from the stressful monotony of work and we have already discussed numerous times how it benefits children.Everyone has a different pace and system in learning something, but we assure you its not about the age, it is all about how you can trick and use your mind to process and understand the lessons and make it second nature for your muscles to be able to play those by sheer commitment to practice and effective repetition.

BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company that provides Music Education and  Recording Studio services. BlueTimbre also works with schools to provide end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools. 

The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.

References

• https://www.musictoyourhome.com/blog/age-limit-learning-instrument/