Mark's Secret Public Practicing Drums Journal

Again, it's been awhile.

Still working in Stick Control on page 6 up to Line 40 or 41 at my rate of tempo which I'm too comfortable. I'm trying now to do a lot of hand tapping on my knees, my chest, a table, etc so to work on my coordination, speed and endurance. I know it may sound ridiculous, but I'll try anything......almost....as long as doesn't kill me.

But I haven't been practicing as much because once again life gets in the way. Time Management is key and one I keep losing. Think Positive!

But I digress......I have been telling people I want to be in a band again; that should mean something like I want to practice, right? and get better.

Til Next Time, True Believers!

Mark's Secret Public Practicing Drums Journal

It's been a while but I'm back!! Always remember Life Will Get In The Way (Todd Sucherman) with Its Big Ass and try to knock you down. But I digress...

Pad@H: Stick Control Pg 5 & 6 Lines 3, 4, 29, 30, 31, 32 & 33 with feet (both and just my main, my right foot ) Plus I learned something about those lines I didn't know. They were written in Cut Time. So instead of counting 8th Notes (ie 1& 2&...), it's 16th Notes: 1e&a 2e&a. I have found this difficult but the more I do it, it helps me to figure out the sticking quicker. And it helps with including the feet. Received this tip from a Living Breathing Drum Instructor/Teacher. If and when you can afford one, go for it; they're great for instant feedback, quick tips and eventually mastering the double stroke!

DS@PR: I finally Gene Hoglaned my practice routine (this is not first time but now with different shoes). Put on the 10 lbs ankle weight and my old pair of Vision Street Wear Skate Shoes (almost like hi tops but not like basketball shoes). Did different foot and hand patterns such as Double Stroke, The 16th Note Right Hand & Left Foot exercise, and worked on double bass stroke; see how fast I could go. It felt good so far. Can't wait to do it again. I did this mostly as a warm up for about 30 minutes and then went onto Line 33 on pg 6 of Stick Control, Six Stroke, Inverted Paradiddle Riff and some other stuff. Left the metronome alone today.

My journey will continue tomorrow. Keep on Drumming, True Believers. Stan Lee is stuck in my head. I'm tired

Need to stop Neglecting the Double Stroke. Later

Mark's Secret Public Practicing Drums Journal

New Update!!

Tonight Pad@H: I finally surpassed Line 25 of Page 2 in Stick Control by working on the hand movements all day. Then also got down Lines 26, 27, 28, & 29. Lines 27, 28 & 29 I might have to go over again but I'm confident I will get them down. TOTAL TIME: 1 hr & 30 min Felt Good.

Later Everybody!

Mark's Secret Public Practicing Drums Journal

Right now I'm totally obsessed with Stick Control Page 2 Line 25 RRLL RLLR LLRR LRRL

I CAN'T GET IT!!!!

This Blog

Just wanted to say Hello from this Blog.

WHAT DO I KNOW

Congratulations to Fresno State Athletics receiving an invitation to be apart of the Mountain West Conference and diving in head first. Also the same to the Nevada Wolf Pack Athletics.

To Fresno State Athletics,

Stop acting like the promiscuous girl who will go out with the first guy who asks. Let's not forget that these are the same teams who left you in the middle of the night just like the original Colts and Browns did in the pros. And then as a new league started to berate the WAC for being a conference of "1AA teams who couldn't hold their own". Then of course, the times when the MWC put out the proverbial carrot to dang out in front of you by saying we might expand and then snatch it back. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. They did it I don't know how many times but I got tired of it. The MWC is a tired up league that is lucky they have money and good television contracts. Maybe this is a good move for FSU Bulldogs, but you better be ready. And since this is mostly about football, Hill - your team better be ready for this season to go out with a bang or those players are not going to have the right mind set. Personally, I think they haven't had the right mind set since the loss to Reggie Bush & USC (I wanted to put something else but I'm afraid I would get sued, plus WHAT THE HELL DOES KIM KARDASHIAN SEE IN HIM?! [DELETE]) I hope the team has players who REALLY want to play and coaches who REALLY want to coach these players and come up with a better game plan.

I agree with the Nevada Wolfpack Athletic Director Cary Groth that expenses to travel to Hawaii and Louisiana Tech can be very costly. In this day and age of everybody tightening their belts and wallets, for both FSU and Nevada, I hope this works out. If not, anything can happen. Think positive.

THOUGHTS.......................................................

Making movies is hard.

Life gets in the way of Art.

[DELETE]

If I took out my earplugs, would I have played softer? (Maybe)

These are rock songs and they are meant to be played loud, even in the smallest of places. Okay, I know I'm nuts but "Sugar, Sugar" should be heard at 10,000 decibels just like "Pour Some Sugar On Me".

[DELETE], I need to practice more.

Man, it is hot.

Darkness surrounds my head, I need to get out of this funk.

Funk is cool music.

Tired, until next time...