Howdy folks my name is Magesh, I’m a professional drummer/drum teacher from Australia. I once had a student come to me and say ‘how long will it take for my hands to get ‘fast’?’ Clearly the answer to this question depends on how much a student practices. Part of me wanted to mess with this student and say ‘It will take 349 days, 7 hours and 64 seconds for your hands to get ‘fast’. Even if you don’t practice. Just make sure you stare at your instrument twice a day and daydream of becoming a rock star. This is the only way I can see your hands getting ‘fast’.
Most teachers have different opinions on how much a student should practice although I think the one thing, we all agree on is there is no substitute for practising.
I’ve been fortunate to play the drums for Rhianna, Ricky Martin, Lionel Richie, Chris Brown and the Pussy Cat Dolls.
In the age we live in with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Netflix and somehow trying to find time to keep up with the Kardashians it can be a struggle to fit in time to practice a musical instrument. So how can we do it?
Simple. Practice for the same amount of time at the same time EVERDAY. For example, 5pm to 5.20pm is ‘drum time’. Or ‘violin time’ if you play the violin. Or ‘Tuba time’ if you play the tuba. Or ‘piccolo flute time ‘if you play piccolo flute. Or…. well…you get the idea.
Every now and then something will happen which will make it impossible for you to practice. Here are some reasons that are ACCEPTABLE for you not to practice:
1. You eat spicy food and end up getting diarrhea.
2. You break your leg (although you could still practice piccolo flute with a broken leg).
That’s pretty much all the reasons why it would be ok not to practice. Here are some reasons that are UNACCEPTABLE for you not to practice.
1. Your favourite show was on tv (you can always watch it online tomorrow).
2. You were tired (seriously???!!!).
I once had a 12-year-old student who never practised. He came into his lesson and I said ‘did you practice this week?’ He said ‘no’ I said ‘was there any reason why you were unable to practice?’ He said ‘I had to get milk.’ I said ‘it took you 7 days to get milk?
He comes to his next lesson and hasn’t practised. Once again I asked him why he hadn’t practised. He said ‘my sister was going to a school dance and I had to help her pick out the dress.’
I thought to myself ‘where was the dress store located? In another country? My sister can pick out a dress in 30 minutes or less. Maybe his sister was just really indecisive. The moral of the story is you can have the greatest excuses in the world (or the most unbelievable ones!) but the only way to get better at your instrument is to practice. So try and do the same amount of time at the same time EVERYDAY. Unless you need to go out and buy milk.