MIM 5: How to keep the music fresh when you’re playing the same set night after night. (Remember, it ain't factory work)

Below is a screen grab from a recent online lesson with my student Mark Villena. Mark is a cruise ship drummer and, when at sea, he and his band work 6-7 nights a week (and yes, he actually attends our lessons in uniform).

One of the biggest challenges that Mark and his band mates face is how to keep things fresh while playing the same material over and over again. If you’ve ever had a steady bar gig, played in a wedding band, worked a Broadway-style musical, or toured for months on end with the same set list, you’ve probably experienced this challenge as well.

Music is our passion in life, so we never want the work to become stale or end up simply "going through the motions.” If you’re phoning it in, your audience will notice in five seconds. And trust me, they’re not going to give you their full attention if you’re not giving YOUR full attention to the music.

So how do you prevent your love of music from becoming like factory work? Here are a few suggestions. And remember, these are applicable to ALL musicians, not just drummers:

1. Rotate in new material: Learning new songs (even if you don't add them to the setlist right away) will keep your brain occupied and everyone excited about performing.

2. Play the old parts in new ways: Take one of the songs you can play in your sleep and change how you play it. For example, play the main groove open-handed (hi hat pattern with your “weak" hand, and the snare drum pattern with your dominant hand). This will force you back into “learning mode" and keep you challenged.

3. Practice while on the bandstand. Pick one idea or concept that you know is in need of work, and practice it over and over again during your performances. Back when I was touring 6-9 months a year, I spent several weeks really focusing on my "beat one" crashes, which I was struggling with in the context of playing shuffles. On certain songs in the set, I would play a crash every two bars (without becoming too unmusical). Doing so really helped me clean up the issue.

4. Practice OFF the bandstand. Many musicians erroneously assume that if they have a steady gig, they don’t need to practice regularly. Practicing is one of the best ways to stay inspired, and you can use the time to work on material that goes in a different direction from what you play on stage.

5. Plan for the future: Even though he’s gainfully employed and working every night, Mark is not sitting on his laurels (or playing video games) in his down time. By studying with me, he's preparing for his future, and setting himself up for the next stage of his musical life.

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