Wouldn\u2019t you rather be playing drums right now? Well, when summer is in full swing, the great outdoors has a way of diverting even the most disciplined drummer\u2019s attention. It\u2019s easy to forget about inverted paradiddles when the sun is out and you\u2019d rather be biking, hiking, or meeting up with friends for a game.<\/p>\n
How do you get motivated when the weather is awesome? If you\u2019re having trouble keeping up your routine with all these distractions, here are five ways to maximize your practice time this summer:
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Whether it\u2019s the park or your backyard, practicing outside is a win-win. Grab your pad, metronome and headphones, and keep your technique in peak form while soaking up the sun.<\/p>\n
Come up with a routine that will both challenge and inspire you. Put on a hip hop track and groove along by layering corps rudiments overtop. Play in between the click subdivisions. Work on patterns where you can switch between straight 16ths and triplets. Keep time with your left foot in the grass, and…hey, is that a pigeon?
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It doesn\u2019t sound appealing to spend 2-3 hours indoors when you\u2019d rather be outside, does it? If you can get the results you want in less time, you\u2019ll be more likely to set aside time for a daily practice session.<\/p>\n
Creating a plan will keep you on track and make sure you\u2019re only playing what you want to work on that day. Try the Pomodoro Technique<\/a> to plan your practices:<\/p>\n If you have time, check out Matt Garstka\u2019s full lesson on how to create systems for efficient practice:<\/p>\n\n