Practicing On A Pillow Drum Lesson
Dennis Chambers is also big on this.
JU N E , 1942
Buddy Rich Advises
Using a Pillow
For Practicing
By BUDDY RICH
In Conjunction with Henry Adler
Many young drummer wonder why
their technique fails to improve in pro-
portion to the amount of time they
spend on a practice pad.
The answer to this problem lies in
knowing the proper method of practic-
ing, with special emphasis on developing
a technique.
Technique. to begin with. is the ex-
clusive property of a drummer with
Strong wrists. You therefore should
practice in such a manner so as to
compel your wrists to do most of the
work in the execution of your studies.
The first step is to eliminate complete-
Iy the arm motion commonly used in
drumming. In order to do this properly.
it is best to keep an eye on your arms.
while playing to check up on any un-
called for movement from them. If you
only took the trouble to look at your
arms, you would be amazed at the
amount of sledge-hammer arm motion
you unknowingly use while practicing.
The next step is to eliminate com-
pletely the bounce. I would suggest
practicing on a pillow as the best, yet
simplest, object to answer the need of a
bounce·less pad. I would also suggest
using your own pillow, so as not to an-
tagonize any members of your family
against your playing drums.
I might add at this point that it would
be a very good idea for you to main-
tain a firm grip on your sticks with your
fingers. In this position. you will find
it more natural to play on the pillow
with your wrists.
Now that you are armed with your
bounce-proof pillow and your determi-
nation to eliminate all arm motion. try
practicing one of your rudiments. Play
the rudiment very slowly at first, and
Walch Your Arms. If you become a
little tired, stop and rest for a few sec-
onds. Never over-strain yourself. Keep
practicing slowly until your’re able to
pIay in that particular tempo with ease,
entirely without any strain. Not until
then should you attempt to increese the
speed of the rudiment. Thus, very grad-
ually are you to increase the rate of
speed in your practicing.
This method of practicing is one
which requires plenty of patience and
consistent effort on your part. If you
do practice patiently and faithfully every
day, you will be more than amply re-
warded for the extra time you have
spent in studying. Your wrists will
gradually begin to develop to such an
extent that you no longer will have to
use your arms unnaturally in order to
play. What‘s more, the newly acquired
power in your wrists will enable you to
execute your musical problems in a
manner so relaxed as to make practic-
ing, as well as playing, a new and satis-
fying pleasure.
Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey’s famous
drummer, offers regular advice to
METRONOME readers. Send him your
questions ; he’ll be glad to answer them.
http://www.cactusjack.com/music/Buddy%20Text.pdf
Dennis Chambers is also big on this.
JU N E , 1942
Buddy Rich Advises
Using a Pillow
For Practicing
By BUDDY RICH
In Conjunction with Henry Adler
Many young drummer wonder why
their technique fails to improve in pro-
portion to the amount of time they
spend on a practice pad.
The answer to this problem lies in
knowing the proper method of practic-
ing, with special emphasis on developing
a technique.
Technique. to begin with. is the ex-
clusive property of a drummer with
Strong wrists. You therefore should
practice in such a manner so as to
compel your wrists to do most of the
work in the execution of your studies.
The first step is to eliminate complete-
Iy the arm motion commonly used in
drumming. In order to do this properly.
it is best to keep an eye on your arms.
while playing to check up on any un-
called for movement from them. If you
only took the trouble to look at your
arms, you would be amazed at the
amount of sledge-hammer arm motion
you unknowingly use while practicing.
The next step is to eliminate com-
pletely the bounce. I would suggest
practicing on a pillow as the best, yet
simplest, object to answer the need of a
bounce·less pad. I would also suggest
using your own pillow, so as not to an-
tagonize any members of your family
against your playing drums.
I might add at this point that it would
be a very good idea for you to main-
tain a firm grip on your sticks with your
fingers. In this position. you will find
it more natural to play on the pillow
with your wrists.
Now that you are armed with your
bounce-proof pillow and your determi-
nation to eliminate all arm motion. try
practicing one of your rudiments. Play
the rudiment very slowly at first, and
Walch Your Arms. If you become a
little tired, stop and rest for a few sec-
onds. Never over-strain yourself. Keep
practicing slowly until your’re able to
pIay in that particular tempo with ease,
entirely without any strain. Not until
then should you attempt to increese the
speed of the rudiment. Thus, very grad-
ually are you to increase the rate of
speed in your practicing.
This method of practicing is one
which requires plenty of patience and
consistent effort on your part. If you
do practice patiently and faithfully every
day, you will be more than amply re-
warded for the extra time you have
spent in studying. Your wrists will
gradually begin to develop to such an
extent that you no longer will have to
use your arms unnaturally in order to
play. What‘s more, the newly acquired
power in your wrists will enable you to
execute your musical problems in a
manner so relaxed as to make practic-
ing, as well as playing, a new and satis-
fying pleasure.
Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey’s famous
drummer, offers regular advice to
METRONOME readers. Send him your
questions ; he’ll be glad to answer them.
http://www.cactusjack.com/music/Buddy%20Text.pdf