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Just when I felt like I was getting into a groove left-handed - I switched back. Will need to relearn a few things I hadn't tried the first few months. Yes - it feels awkward (I knew it would)... but, at least, I'm confident there's some basic muscle memory to fall back on this time. Have no plans to switch again (at this time) -- onward and upward. -- This video is much the same as yesterday's - just leading the patterns with the right hand... ... releasing the snare wire is a great way to 'smooth out' the sound of the kit while developing the hands. The ears 'open' to the tuning of all the toms. -- Two things I realized today: 1) I've spent a lot of time developing reflexive strength in the fingers (that was for speed). 2) When more 'power' is needed (for controlled movement) - the wrists are not 'there' like they need to be... the elbows and the shoulders are attempting to compensate. Note to self: time to focus on the wrists (that means some hard hitting on the practice pad). ...getting a little more comfortable mixing triplets with straight-16ths. At this point - I've played left-handed about as long as right-handed... a successful experiment - new strength and coordination in the left side of the body is noticeable. Looking forward to getting the left hand on the backbeat again, soon (the right hand never has settled down [completely] in the closed position). The key to practice right now (in this beginning Jazz phase) is to keep the Hi-Hat on beats 2 + 4 in everything I do (fills included). The other thing is to get comfortable with anticipating each of the four beats in common time (with the bass drum and the snare). ... attempting to refocus. Remembering the main reason I wanted to learn drums. Decided to focus on Jazz (left-handed set-up) through July. Then switch back to right-handed set-up (indefinitely) - and relearn whatever progress I made/make with the Jazz style - through August. So... a lot of Spang-a-Lang for the next six weeks. ... been practicing drums for 155 days now. I think I'm going through a phase - like 'Animal' (from the muppets). Don't know how to describe this one... I guess it's like a drum solo -- just trying to translate some of the stick-work I've been doing (on a practice pad) around the kit. |
Ben Higgins
Began studying drums in February 2018. Loving every minute of it!. Archives
April 2020
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