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Hand technique can be a frustrating Kafkaesque morass.
To a beginner or intermediate, the constellation of instruction makes it seem like there are dozens of unrelated orthodoxies that never come in contact, not to mention a literal waterfall of “quick tips”.
I’m gathering steam for a “grand unified theory” of hand technique video - because it’s ridiculous that, with the same laws of physics, we can get such disparate approaches from the various camps - but in the meantime I wanted to chip away at a simpler problem: how to “know if it’s right”.
In my opinion, that’s what makes teaching and learning hand technique so difficult: most of it happens inside the hand, where it’s hard for the student to observe the teacher or vice versa, and that’s on top of the lack of telepathy or mind-melding, so we have to use words and demonstrations to coax the student in “warmer” direction until they finally feel the “rightness”, then they can continue to seek that. But how do they know if what they’re feeling is “right”?
Enter today’s 2 exercises.
They’re almost impossible to do if the technique isn’t “in the right direction”, and if you can do them, it’s a good indication that you’re “warm”.
Ironically, even though there’s a messy universe of hand technique orthodoxies out there, most students I see who need technique help suffer from the same issues, and they’re basic “laws of physics” stuff:
Using too-large muscle groups to do the job smaller ones could do.
“Stealing” the energy of the stick through inefficiency, and having to “add it back”, usually (see number 1) with larger-than-appropriate muscle groups.
And this is the beginning of the grand-unified-theory.
Whether via French grip or German, drum corps or Murray Spivack, practically all good drummers have 2 things in common:
An efficient division of labor amongst muscle groups.
An ability to harness a lot of the “physics” without adding unnecessary new energy to the system.
Phew.
Enter today’s 2 exercises:
The 2-finger rimshot, and Speed Golf Rob.
Both are simple to explain and understand, even if they take some time to do. But both will point you in the right direction.
For more detail, check out the video.
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