I’ve been doing a new practice warm-up that has been an excellent tool for growth and also jumpstarts my concentration and attention for the rest of my practice session.
In my practice journal I call it “coordination confusion.”
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I keep it slow to encourage concentration and control, usually between 60-80 bpm.
Coordination Confusion – PDF Download
Hands: RLRL RLRL RLRL RLRL
Feet: RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL
Once that’s comfortable, I keep the same pattern with the feet, but flip the hands.
Hands: LRLR LRLR LRLR LRLR
Feet: RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL
Next up is flipping the paradiddle I have going with the bass drum and hi-hat pedals.
Hands: RLRL RLRL RLRL RLRL
Feet: LRLL RLRR LRLL RLRR
&
Hands: LRLR LRLR LRLR LRLR
Feet: LRLL RLRR LRLL RLRR
I try switching patterns every 4-8 measures. Remember, this is not about speed. It’s about control of your mind and body to set you up for a focused practice session.
Once this gets easy (and it will with time), play doubles with the hands at the same eighth note rate.
Hands: RRLL RRLL RRLL RRLL
Feet: RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL
Hands: LLRR LLRR LLRR LLRR
Feet: RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL
Hands: RRLL RRLL RRLL RRLL
Feet: LRLL RLRR LRLL RLRR
Hands: LLRR LLRR LLRR LLRR
Feet: LRLL RLRR LRLL RLRR
Bonus: Move from eighth notes to triplets for an added challenge.