Coordination Practice

First task: Set your metronome to 60 bpm, step from side to side on the pulse, and SPEAK the rhythm below, one note per beat. When you can speak it flawlessly, on time, five times in a row, you’re pau with this part, and can move on.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K .

Second task: Turn off the metronome and pick up your drum. At first, go as slow as you need to, and don’t worry about timing. This task is about helping your hands learn to move between left and right strokes, and between tek and dum strokes. Once your hands know how to get to the right place on the drum in the right order (regardless of how bumpy the timing is or how yucky the sound is), then you’re pau and can move on.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K .

Third task: Set your metronome at 60 bpm – and play the rhythm one note per pulse. Concentrate on getting your hands into the right place for the right stroke on time (don’t worry for now about how it sounds). Once you can play it through five times in a row right on the beat, you’re pau, and can move on.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D . K . T . K .

Fourth Task: Play as before, but concentrate now on your sound. Notice how each stroke sounds, and strive for the next stroke to sound better. You may find checking your form (posture, hand positioning, drum position, relaxed, belly breathing) to help your sound improve. Practice for at least 5 minutes or until your muscles get fatigued. Notice how your sound, timing, or form may decline as you get tired. This is OK. The next day, do the four tasks again, but try to have the last step go one minute longer. Repeat daily.

Growing Your Coordination

Once comfortable with this very basic pattern, move on to other patterns. For example:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
T . K . D . K .
D . K . K . T .
T . K . K . D .

... and so on.