Most teachers have their own practice suggestions or requirements. Sometimes these practice suggestions or requirements can seem overly formal, strict, and unrealistic.

I believe the most intellectually honest way for me to share practice suggestions is to show you exactly how I practice. I share the techniques that have served me well in my musical career thus far. Some of these approaches have been passed down from teachers and other musicians, while others I have stumbled upon through experience. So here’s how I approach practice in my life:

Do I like to practice?

I enjoy practice. I look forward to practicing, as it is usually one of the best parts of my day. I don’t expect practice to be too hard, nor do I expect it to be easy. I might get frustrated, I might have an epiphany. My practice material might make sense, or I might be confused by it. I show up humble, curious, patient, and determined. I don’t demand something impressive from myself in the short term. I simply keep track of what I practiced, with some clear and honest notes about how it went.

I always keep in mind that if I show up to practice every day, I will be happy with the results I get in a couple weeks or a month. Much like growing taller, I know that I don’t have to notice results immediately after a 15, 30, or 60 minute practice session. I know those results will come with time, and the best predictor of long-term success is consistency. I really do try to practice every day, 365 days a year. I hang a calendar on the wall next to my drumset, and give myself a big, bold, colorful checkmark on days that I practice. I have been practicing instruments for 25 years and it still feels good to earn my checkmarks. I miss practicing on some days. I don’t even consider beating myself up when that happens. I work extremely hard to never miss two days in a row. 2021 was the first year in which I practiced every single day in a calendar year. I am aiming to continue this streak in 2022.

Interest cycles

We can’t overlook cycles. Some weeks I just don’t feel like it. Or I show up, but I feel like I have hit a brick wall. Some months are even hard. When June arrives with its wonderful weather, I would rather be outdoors than inside my practice room. I get creative when I can. I take my practice pad outside. I listen actively to music while I’m on a walk or run. Drums are one of the most flexible instruments to practice. If you have a pair of sticks, anything can be a drum. You can even work on coordination without any sticks at all, simply by stomping your feet and drumming with your hands.

Above all, I keep the golden rule of practice in mind: I will get out what I put in. If I want to excel at a particular piece or feel noticeable progress on a certain technique, I know that the two best ways to do that are:

1. Increase my amount of practice sessions

2. Increase the average length of time of those sessions

So What Do I Recommend?

Every teacher has their own approach to practice and suggestions for practice time. I keep mine very simple--practice every day. Some days, you will be busy, or the material you are practicing will not come very easily. If you can put in an honest 10 minutes of practice, you have done your job. There is an obvious loophole--does 1 second of practice count? Of course not. Choose a reasonable minimum practice amount. Parents can assign a minimum practice time if that works best for your family.

Do we really have to practice every day? We can’t miss any? I really do encourage you to strive for daily practice. It is fun and satisfying to watch your streak grow. But should you despair if you miss a day? Of course not. If you miss a day, get a new streak started the next day.

What counts as practice?

Teachers define this differently, but let’s go with a simple and clear definition. Practicing is actively working to play something which you cannot already play. There is also room for play. Play has two categories:

1. Playing things you can already play, without specifically aiming to improve

2. Hitting the drums randomly, mindlessly, or without focus

Play can serve to physically and mentally warm us up. Additionally, as a drummer enters final preparations for a performance, playing the performance song is the best way to improve comfort and memorization. Play is also really fun! We just want to be clear and honest with ourselves about when we are practicing and when we are playing.

Ultimately, the main rule of learning any skill holds true: you get out what you put in!

General Practice Strategies

If you are already an experienced practicer on another instrument, art form, foreign language, sport, or other skill, you likely already have some good practice habits and techniques. Let’s cover a few simple ways you can set yourself up for success:

1. Prepare your practice space:

   • Have all your necessary materials within reach before beginning: sheet music, pencil, metronome, headphones, drumsticks, water bottle

2. Limit distractions

   • Silence your phone or use do not disturb settings to avoid electronic distractions.

   • Metronomes on phones can be great tools. If you are easily distracted, consider purchasing a stand-alone metronome.

   • If necessary, hang a “please do not disturb” sign on your door. It may sound silly, but if you discuss it ahead of time with your family, it can be very helpful.

3. Have a plan and think long-term

   • Focusing on consistent incremental progress can help in avoiding discouragement if progress is slower than anticipated

   • Measure your practice in minutes and hours, but gauge your progress over weeks and months

   • Use tempo bookmarks and other metrics to have and enjoy a measurable sense of progress