15 WAYS TO PRACTICE BETTER | Jazz Drummer Q-Tip of the Week

[@Anonomisy]

This is to add to the bonus q tip. Christian McBride is a SICK drummer. He learned drums to improve his bass playing He’s an artist of residence at Montclair state university. And while watching me and my combo play. He told me to hop off the set. He hopped on and played a killing chorus with the band

[@BennoSattler]

I do not practise for hours. I practise for results. And that sometimes takes hours ;)

[@drumqtips]

Smart Benno:)

[@maikdrummusic7232]

Smart.

[@willautohelp5606]

Q, great tips! As a Dad and working adult I practice as much as I can every day that I can. A little is always better than nothing.

[@fordsmith5346]

The morning great practice with the brain fog afternoon is exactly what I deal with at school 🥸 sometimes I feel like my studio has a culture of ‘if you don’t stay until 3am practicing you’re not serious’ but I’ve never been able to focus well even past 3pm! It’s great to hear someone else deals with that same afternoon brain fog, makes me feel better about my habits. I thought the afternoon struggle was just something I needed to work harder to manage.

[@drumqtips]

We're in the same boat Ford! Glad this was helpful:)

[@jygmusic78]

Dude!!! Q!!! So timely like you have no idea !! You’re the best thank you : )

[@drumqtips]

You are so welcome brother Young!

[@jygmusic78]

@@drumqtips it’s great! Would you ever consider filming your practice session so we can groove along with you? Or is that too weird ? Ha ha ... thanks Q

[@guillermoarista6383]

Thank Quincy, you are a great drummer!

[@sundog12100]

Liked before even watching. You’re the man Q

[@drumqtips]

Ha! I appreciate that Nelson as always:)

[@russellesimonetta9071]

Uhh Heyman. You put the spark back in me! I was a drummer since nine years old. I,m 69 now. I was semi pro from 14 went full time after high school. Went to college doing the percussion performance thing to fine tune technique and surround myself with like minded peers!! Worked out of lost wages ,Las Vegas, for years doing the lounge and show thing with gigs to Reno, Atlantic city ect but multiple six month gigs to Japan!! I got married and lived back and forth for decades! But stopped playing and went ligit!! I live near Utsunomiya in Japan ok? It,s known as jazz city!!!14 different venues and chances to play jam sessions. All house drums!! And they are Pearl road show types. Rock and roll drums! I bought a set of bop drums and I,m getting good again! At my local venue the house drums went into the storage room and the bop drums are now the venues house drums!!! I,m trying to start a trend away from the big sets in rooms that limit occupancy to 30 people!!! As for practice ,I,m doing pad work. No drums in the neighborhood!!! It ,s not good manner here in Japan!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for sharing Russ. Glad my video gave you a spark:) Hope to make it to Utsunomiya some day!

[@yannmounier2123]

Thank you Quincy, very inspired tuition

[@tomcarr4630]

All excellent advice! I loved your mention of dynamics. When young students tell me it’s impossible to swing hard and fast at low volume, I show them video of Connie Kay with MJQ. A MASTER!!! I still work on it.

[@drumqtips]

Absolutely Tom!

[@glntchrisandy]

This is very helpful, I'll start applying it to my next practice sessions.

[@Joethedrummer]

Thanks Quincy, that's great advice for all musicians 😁

[@drumqtips]

You bet!

[@plustric]

Thank you Q ! Great tips as usual

[@A.ChristopherJohnson]

TY QD !!

[@JoelCarbonellGonell]

As always, very informative and inspiring! I count the time I spend listening, digging the masters, watching your super videos/drummer2drummer, etc as practice time! In the future I SURE will do your video feedback! This summer I will record some sessions or gigs, and pick a highlight to send it to you! Thanks again! (btw, as every time the drummer2drummer with the master Payton was great!)

[@drumqtips]

Wow, thank you! I look forward to working with you Joel!

[@BrianFergusonMusic]

Fantastic stuff! #15 is great reminder to focus on those we are performing with. Thanks Quincy!

[@drumqtips]

Absolutely Brian!

[@emontzka]

I know this is an older post but I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Benny Greb’s book Effective Practicing for Musicians. He talks about maximizing your time, setting goals, tracking progress, all KINDS of important stuff!

[@proziggy3634]

Thankyou this is gonna def help me organize my session ✌

[@drumqtips]

Happy to help!

[@elwoodwhite2499]

Thank you once again fantastic directions on how improve ones practices on drums and mental preparation and thought process there of will try to emulate your greatly appreciated by many definitely me keep being you I’ve learned a lot thks

[@drumqtips]

Thanks as always for the support Elwood!

[@davidgiesel2095]

That’s so incredible! You become one of my favourite teachers, although we haven’t seen each other! Your videos helped me a lot! It’s always inspiring to listen to your advice and playing. Big thanks!!!

[@drumqtips]

Wow, thank you David! I appreciate that man.

[@maikdrummusic7232]

A great musician, and a great menThor.

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Maik!

[@antonioaugustoferraz6673]

Man, by far the best advice in the world! Thank you very much.

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Antonio. Thanks for watching and for your support!

[@mikeanscombe9883]

Thanks, Quincy - as always, helpful, instructive and easy to understand. I think (I hope!) I’m already following some of your advice, but there were points in there that really opened my eyes. Your time and efforts are very much appreciated!

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Mike!

[@billheideman4322]

You have great ideas and so well-articulated that I had my wife watch the video too. She’s not a musician and really didn’t realize how important practicing is to my mental and physical health. Your point about what time of day to practice is huge. Like you, if I get my session in first thing in the morning my brain is so much sharper and the rest of my day is way less stressful, it’s like doing meditation. If I try to practice after work, I’m sitting behind the drums but my brain is a million miles away churning over the events of the day and processing the stress, not very productive. Thanks for the downloads, I grabbed the objectives work sheet and the single stroke pyramid transcription. Great to write down my objectives and hang it on the wall for quick reference. Gigs will be starting up for me next month after over a year off. Without writing my goals down it’s easy to forget about my personal objectives, spend too much time focusing on the details of the band’s music and not enough time working on becoming a better drummer overall. Your video was very motivating and inspirational, THANKS!

[@drumqtips]

Loved reading your comment Bill. Awesome you had wifey watch too:) Thanks for your support.

[@tdrum21]

Great points here. Love this 👌🏽 We have the full list somewhere?

[@drumqtips]

Thank you Follow the links in the description and throughout the video for PDFs.

[@Massbateria]

Hello from Spain!!!

[@krioni86sa]

Hola!

[@drumqtips]

Hola! Thanks for watching:)

[@Massbateria]

I love your great job with the drums

[@peterevans366]

Thanks 😊very helpful and thought provoking 👍

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Peter!

[@chrissadiq4497]

Would love a demonstration of Grady Tate's patterns on" Walking in Space," Quincy Jones, loved his feel and texture. You're a inspirational teacher, it shows you love what you do and you want others to be their best. Thank you !!

[@drumqtips]

Good idea Chris. I'll add it to my list. Thanks for watching!

[@derekscherzerberlin]

Thank you so much for these amazing tips!

[@drumqtips]

You're so welcome Derek!

[@mixinkperranporth]

Great advice as always good good stuff keep em coming very helpful 👍🍻

[@drumqtips]

Thanks, will do Mike!

[@ThatJazzKat]

Hi Quincy! I have a question! For #7, you mean that do not practice on just playing? Such as noodling on the drumset? Also, what if you are noodling on the drumset just to see where your playing is at and trying out new ideas while noodling on the drums? Thank you so much for responding to our comments! You are a great teacher! :)

[@drumqtips]

Noodle with purpose👊🏾

[@ThatJazzKat]

@@drumqtips Makes sense! Thank you!

[@JohnSturino]

Great video as always, Q!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks brother Sturino!

[@mikeshouse2000]

Great tips!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you think so Mike!

[@demianlarrivieremendoza581]

I think that frustration is something I i have to deal with, not just avoid. I try to play relax all the time (breathing, felling my hands and wrist so I don't hurt them) but, when pushing my limits (and I think i've to) i know that i'll get it or not. That's also life, dealing with your emotions, especially at emotion expression which is music. Maybe it's just for me and all musicians who have this explosive personality, but I feel confuse when I hear " man, you have to be relax all the time". Man, for me, that's impossible.

[@drumqtips]

Depending on the person, relaxing is either easy or hard but it is crucial to try to get to that relaxed state so that our motor skills and senses are working optimally.Keep pushing for your goals and trust that just by you pushing and working, you're already winning. Thank you so much for your candor and for sharing Demian.

[@handyboen]

Great Quinc 😁👍 Thank you so much for your sharing.....could you please raise the narration's volune up ? It's too low....eventhough I use an in ear monitor....

[@drumqtips]

Noted! I was still trying to find a good balance between drums and voice on this lesson. I think that balance is much better in my latest videos. Thanks for the feedback Handy!

[@handyboen]

@@drumqtips Welcome Qiuncy 😁🙏

[@R3ap3RGirL]

Definitely caught that stick pun ;)haha

[@drumqtips]

Ha!

[@yuriselukoff]

I’ve got the same floor lamp as yours in the back

[@drumqtips]

Great minds think alike Yuri:)

[@pickinstone]

Sign up's for Summer lessons? I think I might have to get in on that once again, and I don't even play drums. That said, if we play jazz--then we are all playing the drums in our mind as we play our own instrument, whether it's a saxophone or bass. Quincy is great drummer, that's a given. But what's rarer still--he's a great teacher of music. So you all better get on that list before I tell my guitarist friends to fill up all the lesson slots :)

[@drumqtips]

I take anyone on as a student! I appreciate your kind words:)

[@hannahstansfield4034]

Were you ever at the gig where somebody stole your skills in stead of cymbals ? If I join the lesson can I get university diploma of Oklahoma

[@drumqtips]

Very confused by this comment, but I think it's funny? lol

[@danday3741]

gREAT sTUFF q tiP!

[@nayaleezy]

Do you mess with practice pads?

[@drumqtips]

Of course!

[@michaellundgrendrums1058]

Are you still accepting videos for Feedback? This would be a huge help!

[@drumqtips]

Not currently Michael but I am offering group lessons. Have a look at my website: www.quincydavisjazz.com.

[@phaedraforcet4808]

Don't forget drum practice pad work out

[@drumqtips]

Good call! I completely forgot that.

[@ChontosDrumLessons]

Professional practicers 😂

[@drumqtips]

Ha!