What makes you a better drummer - practicing vs. playing drums?
We call it playing the drums, so why practice?
Music and sports share many similarities. For instance, no one would ever ask whether you practice a sport or an instrument. Instead, the question naturally focuses on the fun, the joy, the positive: Do you play the drums? And that’s a good thing, because for most people, these activities are hobbies meant to bring pleasure and fulfillment. The word practice, on the other hand, often conjures up images of effort, discipline, and school. Yet, when it comes to drumming, something almost magical happens through practice: the fun multiplies.
The goal of practicing is to play better – forever!
Who hasn’t experienced this – practicing for a math test is only for the test itself. Once it’s over, you hope for the grade you wanted and move on. Drumming is different. You don’t practice a groove just to play it once and then forget it. On the contrary, every groove, every smoothly executed fill, every clean metronome exercise lays the foundation for lifelong skills behind the kit – skills you might never unlearn.
Can you play well without practicing?
Absolutely! You’ve probably heard stories of famous musicians who supposedly never practiced and couldn’t even read music. But these stories often leave out a crucial detail: these musicians usually have immense talent and, more importantly, the motivation to play constantly. They might not have the same technical chops as other top players, but they’ve spent years playing sessions and gigs daily. This kind of “practice” has its own invaluable worth. Time and energy are undeniably invested in large quantities. But can you do the same?
Better to play with motivation than to practice without it!
Yes, because the drum set is an incredibly motivating instrument that can bring joy for years, even with limited skills. Many hobby drummers simply play along to songs for fun, enjoy the powerful sound of their drums and cymbals, or meet up with friends for jam sessions. Paradiddles and quintuplets might be foreign concepts to them, and playing to a click track might feel unfamiliar. And that’s perfectly fine – as long as it’s fun. If you’re younger and highly motivated, however, you should use the time you have now to expand your technical skills through practice. This way, you can unlock your full potential and maybe even build a career out of your passion for music and drumming. But practicing without joy makes little sense. For musicians, practice is always just a means to an end, and the end is playing grooves, fills, songs, and working in bands or in the studio.
Should you practice first, then play?
This question is hard to answer universally, as drummers approach it in very different ways. As long as your goal is to express yourself on the instrument the way you want to, many paths can lead you there. Imagine hearing an amazing groove but realizing there’s a pattern in it you can’t play. In this case, it might be just as effective to spend weeks practicing that one pattern without playing anything else. Alternatively, you could practice in short, daily sessions and spend the rest of your time playing freely. If you’re unsure yet where your journey is headed, a good teacher can be extremely helpful. Drum books and videos can also provide great inspiration for how to use your practice time effectively. Always remember, playing and having maximum fun is the goal!
