Learning a New Rhythm or Variation

Speak the Notation: Joshua recommends tapping a slow, even pulse while you point to each period in time in represented by the notation. Speak each drum syllable as you point to it, leaving a rest (silence) as you point to each dot or empty cell (p 111).

Speak and Step: Set your metronome to 60 bpm, step from side to side on the pulse, and speak the rhythm. When you can speak it flawlessly, on time, five times in a row, you’re finished with this part, and can move on.

Find the Spots on your Drum: Turn off the metronome, pick up your drum, and play the rhythm (you may find it helpful to continue to speak the rhythm as you play). At first, go as slow as you need to, and don’t worry about perfect timing. This exercise is about your hands learning to move between left and right strokes, and between tek and dum strokes. Once you feel your hands know how to get to the correct place on the drum in the correct order (regardless of how bumpy the timing is or how yucky the sound is), then you’re finished and can move on.

Find the Spots in Time: Set your metronome at 60 bpm and play the rhythm. Concentrate on getting your hands into the correct place for the correct stroke and on time (don’t worry for now about how it sounds). Once you can play it through three times in a row right on the beat, you’re finished, and can move on.

Improve the Sound: Turn off the metronome. Play the rhythm slowly, concentrating on good form and good sound. You might do this in front of a mirror so you can visually check your posture, hand positioning, stroke motion and tension levels. When you are satisfied that you have gotten consistently deep dums, and crisp teks and kas while playing the rhythm three times through, you’re finished, and can move on.

Stretch: Turn on the metronome at 60 bpm. Play the rhythm with good timing and good sound. When you can do so three times in a row, increase the speed on the metronome by 1 bpm. Repeat. When you get to a speed where good timing or good sound becomes difficult, even after several minutes of playing (notice if you feel muscle tension or fatigue), stop for now. Make a note of the tempo where you ended. The next day, start a few bpm slower than the previous day's ending tempo, then increase little by little as before. With daily stretching, you will gradually play faster while maintaining good timing and sound. 

Happy practicing!