Drum Practice Tips, Tricks, & Hacks: Learn MORE Faster!

[@BladeHudson]

I'm late to the party but I'm here now! Brian is a GREAT Guy. And a PRO player.

[@BrianStephensOfficial]

Thanks, buddy!!

[@Shona_thecatalyst]

Hi Brian, thanks for this video, i only started keeping a practice journal 2 months ago, and i can say it's been encouraging to see the work i'm putting in, it just makes sense to practice and keep track on progress using a practice journal. I agree to slowing things down. This is helping me. I've learnt a number of things by ear and didn't really understand what i was playing. but now, i'm giong back to the basics to build a better foundation to help me be a professional drummer.

[@BrianStephensOfficial]

Awesome!! Glad to hear that the journaling is helpful! Always remember to take it one day at a time and you’ll reach all of those goals you set. Keep it up!! 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@ashleycrashdissinger8021]

I think it was Neil that said "If you sound good when youre 'practicing' youre not practicing." So according to that philosophy im practicing everytime i pick up a pair of sticks. I spend a ridiculous amount of time hitting things with sticks. I cant get enough. I have several practice pads that are never far away from me. I jus turned 56 and only decided to pursue my life long passion for drums 3yrs ago. My biggest struggle is the feeling that anyone else that spent the time i have would be good by now. Fortunately im not in a race and as long as sucking drives me more than it discourages me i guess im ok.

[@BrianStephensOfficial]

Glad you finally got around to joining our club, Crash!! Neil was completely right. I’ve often told my students that if they stood outside my practice room door while I was working on stuff, they’d never know I’ve played drums professionally for almost 3 decades. It sounds like I barely can sit up straight! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Keep those stick in your hands, buddy! It’s a marathon, not a sprint. (And I know exactly how you feel. Have been back in guitar lessons for the first time in 25 years over the last 6 weeks and “rank amateur” wouldn’t even begin to describe what it sounds like. 🙉)

[@ashleycrashdissinger8021]

I think the uncertainty comes from having NO idea how long it takes other people to pick things up. Bonham triplets sound easy and nobody on the Internet says how long it took them-understandably-or how long it could take an average knucklehead to dial em in. I don't mind admitting that it took me WAY longer to make RLK (and sometimes LRK) sound right than I thought it would. One of the first things I heard you say was how an engineer called out your playing. Very rare-and badass-for someone in your position to share. My current hurdle is one handed 16ths on the hats. Everyone with a channel makes it look and sound easy but-unlike Bonham trips-anyone can see it's not. As long as the "I can't believe that was me that just played that!"👍😲feeling outweighs the " I'm NEVER gonna get this!" feeling ill keep trying.

[@BrianStephensOfficial]

​@@ashleycrashdissinger8021 You're totally correct. No one can tell you how long it will take to learn any concept, really. Everyone is totally different in that some ideas just seem to come "naturally" or "easy" while others take much more time and effort. 30 years of working on linear groove ideas and I still don't feel like I play them all that well despite how much I know about them and how many I've worked on over the last 3 decades. But week after week, I still put in the time and they get a little better all the time. "Don't Stop! Keep Going!" is my ever constant mantra. You're welcome to borrow it for yourself, too!