So I’m doing something I’ve always wanted to do, try to learn how to play the drums. I work at a music school and I’ve always loved watching drummers. As a dancer I thought since I’m always keeping a beat, I’d naturally be amazing.  Right?  Wrong.

I have a newfound respect for drummers, because I didn’t come anywhere near my expectations.  I preach a gospel of stacking rhythms in dance, but forget how absurdly difficult it can be to think with 3 different parts of your body.
So I had to go back to basics.
My instructor wanted me to practice basic “sticking,” which for the lay person is learning the combinations of how to use my left and right hand, while keeping a constant beat on the kick drum.
First we had the basics

The kit that had to experience my terrible drumming

The kit that had to experience my terrible drumming

Right, Left, Right, Left
Left, Right, Left, Right
RRLL
LLRR
Then came intermediate
R L R R
L R L L
R R L R
L L R L
Then mixing and matching
RLRR – LRLR (AHHHHH)
Long story short.  I failed countless times. I was instantly reminded of what my students go through.  I was frustrated.
Aside from thinking I’d be a drumming prodigy instantly, I was frustrated by the fact that even with this level of mixing and matching, I wasn’t really drumming.  All those sticking patterns are “simple” enough, but I still had to insert them into a basic drum pattern AND hit different parts of the drum kit.  I had a long way to go.
But once I figured out the basics, everything else started coming more easily.  The “AH HA” moment for me was trying to sync my head nod to the tempo, and count the beats with my head.  While it may seem that it was just another rhythm to stack, this counting helped give context to all my other movements.  Soon all the patterns that felt weird at first, now had a place before, during, and after each head nod.
I hope my upward groove is works like a head non for most of you.  It’s a baseline that gives you the same context for your basic steps, and also makes you look and feel more comfortable.  On the off chance it’s not, try to find another “constant” that can help you through the steps.  It could be a beat in your head, snap of your fingers, a song melody, anything!
Good luck and happy practicing!
Alan