How to practice when you can't play?

A drummer's life is hard. Between rehearsals, gigs and studio sessions we have less and less time for practicing and improving our skills, and it is very frustrating not having the opportunity to get better or accomplishing all of the exercises we planed for the week or month.

I can recommend to you three things that at least for me have proven to be a great option for getting better and discovering new things for evolving in your drumming:

1. Get a practice pad.

This is always the best option. A pair of drumsticks and a practice pad can always be your best friends because you can take them anywhere. In this way, you can practice for 30 minutes while your on the subway or while you have some free time at work.



2. Always watch videos.

This sounds easy and really it is. If you can't carry a practice pad, just grab your phone and put on some tutorials or gigs of your favorite drummers. By just seeing how they control their movements and the patterns they follow you can learn a lot.



3. Listen to music.

This is weird but it is real. Imagine a filmmaker that doesn't go to the cinema, a writer that doesn't read and a football player that doesn't watch football. You're a drummer and you make music, so you need to be listening for different styles and genres all the time, and the fun part is you can do it anywhere. So take your headphones and just practice in your head when you arrive home you'll have the time to replicate what you listened to.   



So there they are. Best of lucks and just keep playing.