how to practice something that seems impossible

today’s video is about how to practice something that seems impossible.

it’s so annoying when you’re trying to get a piece ready for your lesson or for an audition and there’s one part of it that seems impossible. i’m talking about a super technically difficult thing that is so hard that you can’t think about anything else.

you try to think about musicality, about making phrases, about dynamics and such....but in reality you’re so scared that some hard thing in the piece is going to derail everything that basically nothing else matters.

but.

i firmly believe that you can overcome any technical challenge, no matter how impossible it seems.

want to see how i warm up on snare drum?

here's the free pdf that will take you through the whole process.

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video: 7 ways to show musicality on snare drum
video: 7 ways to show musicality on snare drum

the snare drum seems like it could be the most boring instrument on earth. regardless, you still have to sound as musical as any violinist or oboist or trumpeter.

in today's video, i'm showing you 7 ways you can express phrasing and musicality on the snare drum.

learn the 9 basic timpani stroke types (with duncan patton)
learn the 9 basic timpani stroke types (with duncan patton)

last week, duncan patton, my former colleague at the met opera, demonstrated how to build a basic legato stroke on timpani. today he’s back to show you the other 8 stroke types you should learn to build a complete sound pallet.

5 steps to build a legato timpani stroke (with duncan patton)
5 steps to build a legato timpani stroke (with duncan patton)

in high school i found an old PAS article on building a legato timpani stroke that changed my life. i didn’t know it at the time, but the author would turn out to be my colleague in the met orchestra, duncan patton. here’s duncan's guide to building a legato stroke, 22 years later.

how to build your mallet collection
how to build your mallet collection

your mallet bag should be a collection of the best of the best. you should choose new mallets in a scientific way, without wasting money. 

how greg zuber warms up on snare
how greg zuber warms up on snare

on my first day of freshman year in college, greg zuber handed me a 283-page packet of snare drum exercises, charts, grip diagrams, and articles. thus began my college snare drum journey. in today’s video he explains some of his most important foundational snare drum concepts that you can incorporate into your daily snare warmup.

should you do drum corps? with jake nissly
should you do drum corps? with jake nissly

if you want to be an orchestral percussionist, should you do drum corps or will it ruin your stroke? i asked jake nissly, principal percussionist of the san francisco symphony and former member of the dubuque colts.

what to do when you have a disastrous snare drum performance
what to do when you have a disastrous snare drum performance

my 3-step plan to recover from a performance you'd rather forget

how to set up your daily snare drum practice routine 101
how to set up your daily snare drum practice routine 101

there’s no magic exercise to fix a shaky soft roll or uneven 4-stroke ruffs, so stop looking. the solution lies in how you practice.

rob’s complete lieutenant kije resource page
rob’s complete lieutenant kije resource page

includes VIDEO LESSONS, sticking, technical exercises, suggested tempo, excerpt recording, and recommended orchestra recording.

how to learn difficult mallet licks (with angie zator nelson)
how to learn difficult mallet licks (with angie zator nelson)

i asked legendary philadelphia orchestra percussionist angela zator nelson (angie for short) to come explain how she learns difficult mallet licks. 

rob knopper

hailed by @nytimes as needing 'louder triangle notes'. recorded delécluse: douze études for snare drum, percussionist in @metorchestra.

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