| As for beginning drummers, the whole concept of | | | | One way for a drummer to develop his or her weak |
| drumming is coordination. It's learning to do more than | | | | hand or foot is to make a special, concentrated effort |
| one thing at a time. As a child, do you remember trying | | | | to specifically practice and develop these. |
| to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same | | | | What I do is put on a tape of my favorite songs and |
| time? That was pretty difficult at first, but then we | | | | simply play with my left foot on my left bass drum. In |
| eventually got the hang of it. | | | | the same way, I'll use my left hand to play the hi-hat |
| Just like patting your head and rubbing your tummy, | | | | instead of my right. Also, many drummers only use |
| once you get the hang of doing multiple things at once | | | | their dominant hand to crash cymbals, but in practice, |
| on your drum set, it then only becomes a matter of | | | | you should use both hands. |
| practicing to develop your skills. | | | | Practicing this way can be frustrating, a little boring, and |
| Once new drummers begin to get the hang of it they | | | | not much fun, but well worth the investment of your |
| begin to favor one hand over the other. This is okay to | | | | time. When you develop the drumming skills with your |
| an extent, but ideally, they should try to develop both | | | | weak hand and foot to the point where they are |
| hands to their max. | | | | almost as loose as your dominant hand and foot you |
| If you have been playing drums for any length of time | | | | will really excel at being a great drummer. |
| you may have already developed one hand or foot | | | | The whole idea is to develop your drumming skills |
| way beyond the other, leaving you some weak spots | | | | completely. This way, you're ready for anything... and |
| that you can improve on. For example, if you're right | | | | you will have more fun. So, where there's a weak |
| handed, which most of us are, our left hand and foot | | | | spot... fix it. Don't run from frustration, embrace it! |
| are obviously less inclined to do as much. Therefore, | | | | Frustration is your friend. It is showing you where you |
| leaving them underdeveloped. | | | | need work. |
| These underdeveloped hands and feet are a real | | | | Just a quick note, it's not realistic to expect your |
| menace to your skills as a great drummer more so | | | | weaker hand and foot to ever be as developed as |
| than you may think. The fact is, once you feel free to | | | | your dominat hand and foot for obvious reasons, but |
| use any hand or any foot the coordination to do | | | | developing your weaker parts will make a huge impact |
| something new becomes much less of a challenge. | | | | on your overall drumming skills and abilities. |