[gyutae]

A lot of times I get frustrated because I'm impatient and can't really wait to see progress in my drumming. How long did it take you for you to see a noticeable gain in your drumming speed and technique? How many hours of practicing single strokes and paradiddles before you got a lot faster with your hands?

[DrummerMom]

I understand. However, getting impatient does help your progress. I found that out the hard way.

[full metal]

I would have to say the only time I ever really noticed my progres was when I would take a break from drumming for a little while.
when I would get back on the kit I would notic that I could play things faster and with a lot cleaner, and I have also noticed the same for just sitting down with a pad and working on hands.

But do get me wrong I am not saying to stop practicing by any means. I am only saying that if you should have anouther activity that is going to take up more of your time try and get involved in that for a while then come back to the drums.

when I first joined the navy and went out to sea I didnt see a drumset for almost 3 years and it really sucked but when I finally got back behind one I had found that I could do things on there that I couldnt do before.
I am not saying take a break for that long because you will hate it but maby a few days, a week, or even a month and when you get back on you will be able to tell the diffrenice.
I say it kinda like seeing children that you dont see that often. you see them one month and the next time you see them they are huge, it is kinda the same thing.

[gyutae]

full metal,
Wouldn't the long lay off actually deteriorate your skills rather than make them better?

I would think that not playing drums for 3 years would make you really rusty and that you'd lose a lot of your speed and coordination.

[malletjazz]

I've found that whatever new material I'm working on, it always takes a little time for it to start showing up in my playing. The results may not make themselves apparent right away, and that can be extremely frustrating. One of the great lessons I've had to learn over the years is to be patient with myself, and to trust that if I put in the work, that I'll reap the benefits eventually.

[full metal]

you would think that a long lay off would and it did kinda hurt me, But I guess with me a little time off dosnt hurt me.
I went thru the same thing on my skateboard, I wasnt not able to land the tricks that I was working on everyday and took a break for about a month and when I got back on the board I could do the tricks that I had been working on.

Like I said I wasnt meaning to take a break for 3 years and in my case I didnt have much choise(I couldnt even get on the practice pad) but I would say just take a week off and do other activites and then get back on it and bet you can see a diffrence.

[Russ]

Progress of any kind takes time and honestly you're not going to see results overnight. You're just going to have to have faith that what you do today will produce some benefits tommorow.

Put your head down and get in the habit of practicing things even if you don't see immediate results. In the long term, you will definitely be rewarded for your struggles on the drums.

[Mapex4Ever]

Originally Posted by gyutae

full metal,
Wouldn't the long lay off actually deteriorate your skills rather than make them better?

I would think that not playing drums for 3 years would make you really rusty and that you'd lose a lot of your speed and coordination.

It definately did for me!!!! 5 year lay off and the I realized I'd forgotten more than I knew!!! There's frustration!! As far as the how do you know when you've improved any? Well it's tough because you hear yourself everyday. I recorded myself for 2 weeks doing paradiddles and double paradiddles, as well as other rudiments, and when I listened to the first recording then the latest ....... I swore it wasn't me!! Never give up. If it's boredom more than frustration, well try another rudiment or anything else other than what you may be practicing for a long period of time.

[skinslapper]

I find the more I practice the better I get. Whenever I'm off the kit for extended periods, I get very sloppy, slow and weak.

Staying consistant helps all those little musclesyou don't think about stay in shape.