Drum instruction question...

[SillyBee]

OK, teachers and drummers...I'd like your opinions on this.

Let's say I have student who can do a certain exercise or rudiment at a certain speed: Let's say a Paradiddle at 100bpm. He can do them smoothly and evenly at that speed, but he can only last about 20 seconds. If I want him to do it for a minute (which is what I like to use before I increase the speed), I have to bring the speed down to about 94bpm's.

So, if you had the choice between having him pratice at 100bpm and trying to add a few seonds each time (he can still do for a reasonable amount of time, about 20 seconds, before it starts falling apart)...and having him pratice at 94bpm for a minute and then bringing it up to 95 or 96bpm's, which would you do?

Am I hindering his progress by slowing it down, he can do it faster but not for as long??? And I like using a minute as a benchmark to increase the speed.

I would go with time not speed. Speed just sounds blured to an distant listener anyways.

 

[RAMI]

Thanx for the advice guys. I thought this thread was dead, just realised I missed some responses.

Dogman, I try to keep it fun for the students, while still teaching them proper technique...So, sometimes, I might show a 12 year old kid how to play the beat for "Immigrant Song", for example, long before they're really ready to learn it just to keep them intersted and enthusiastic....But not neccassarrilly complete songs. If a kid begged me to teach them a complete song, and I thought they're ready for it, I make it clear to them that playing a song on the drums isn't like playing it on guitar....They start realising that in most songs, the drums really are only doing one or 2 things over and over with the occassional roll thrown in....I use that to make them realise that music is all about simply doing what your job requires and to play for the song...Less is more, etc.....

 

[Dogman]

Thanx for the advice guys. I thought this thread was dead, just realised I missed some responses.

Dogman, I try to keep it fun for the students, while still teaching them proper technique...So, sometimes, I might show a 12 year old kid how to play the beat for "Immigrant Song", for example, long before they're really ready to learn it just to keep them intersted and enthusiastic....But not neccassarrilly complete songs. If a kid begged me to teach them a complete song, and I thought they're ready for it, I make it clear to them that playing a song on the drums isn't like playing it on guitar....They start realising that in most songs, the drums really are only doing one or 2 things over and over with the occassional roll thrown in....I use that to make them realise that music is all about simply doing what your job requires and to play for the song...Less is more, etc.....

Cool...that's what I was wondering. You show them a pattern that is recognizeable, and let them have some fun. Sort of like not doing just scales on guitar, but maybe learning a familiar riff to parctice. I know that has always kept things fun for me.