Once you build up memory and speed, you can then play a game to help you learn improvisation, which is a great tool to have when you want to throw a few custom fills into your drumming library.
The difficulty of this task is Moderately Easy.
You will need:
- Tape recorder or click track machine
Memory Game
Step 1
Play a basic four-bar drumbeat at a speed between 50- and 100-beats per minute for your student.
Step 2
Instruct your student to play back the four-bar drumbeat in the exact manner as it was originally played. If performed incorrectly, have the student repeat the drumbeat until he can repeat it. If played successfully, proceed to the next step of the game.
Step 3
Play an eight-bar drumbeat as a faster speed than you played the first drumbeat. Increase the difficulty level. Once the student can repeat the drumbeat verbatim, continue to increase the difficulty and speed of the patterns. This game is essentially a pattern-matching game that helps to increase memory.
Speed Game
Step 1
Record a click track for your student. Start the click track around 50 beats per minute or BPM. After every four bars, increase the speed by 25 BPM. Continue this until you reach 200 BPM. The tape should continue in succession without stopping.
Step 2
Play the recorded track back to the student while she attempts to beat a single drum to match the click track. Start with a drum the student is comfortable with, such as the snare drum. Once she completes this successfully, have the student repeat the process with a drum she is not comfortable with. Repeat this until the student can complete the game with a single drum.
Step 3
Place the recorded track again but this time, incorporate rhythms that require multiple drum usage. This not only builds up constantly timed speed, it helps to tech the student how to move around her drum set while playing at increasing speeds.
Improvisation Game
Step 1
Play a four bar drumbeat for your student on your drum set. Keep the pattern basic and within the student’s skill level to repeat.
Step 2
Instruct the student to play the beat several times until he can play it by memory.
Step 3
Play the four-bar drum beat for the student. At the end of the four bars, tell the student to play a “fill," which is an improvised one-bar drumbeat. Then, instruct the student to transition back to the original four-bar drumbeat.
Step 4
Play a fill for the student when he completes the four bar drumbeat, and then take over and complete the next four bars or drumming. Continue to trade off “improvising” on drum fills until you feel you have enough material to discuss.
Step 5
Compare your drum fills to the student's and discuss the positives and negatives of the student’s improvisation. At this point, give the student points on where he could improve his skills.
Tips
If you are the student, pass these games off to your teacher and have her create the drum patterns for you.
Author: Zyon Silket
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