A decade of drum practice

My drum practice now averages 10 hours a week. I’m organized, I’ve a long-term plan, a 6-month plan, and monthly, weekly, daily practice plans.  The practice space is in order, I’ve an accountability partner, a master teacher, workshops planned for the summer. I have deep listening sessions nearly everyday. I practice rudiments with my feet, I play along with great recordings. I’ve studied the history of jazz drumming. I’ve amassed over 90 tracks which have no drums. My jam partners have names like Oscar, Benny, Marc, Jim, Keith, Diana, and Barney. I’ve worked on my time. I’ve listened to over 400 episodes of drummer’s resource podcast. It goes on. Over the last decade since I’ve started, I’m about 5,000 hours in. I’ve listened to thousands of hours of practice sessions. Maybe 100 gigabits plus on my hard drive. I hang with other adults on a similar journey.  

How are my hands and feet? My spirit?

Happy.

(My long term goals.

1. My drumming is musically equal to my piano playing.
2. I play with other musicians who inspire me.
3. I bring new insights to my teaching of adults.
4. I continue to play with my adult jazz piano students
5. Teach drums)

It has been a great way to spend my 50s. Now to think ahead to my quickly approaching 60s.

The video below suggest ideas around staying in the game. 

1. emotional connected, visualisation
2. break the long-term goal into manageable bites
3. have fun, just play, get out of your head

​Cheers,
David