INNER-CLOCK TEST™

This exercise checks your concept and grasp of internal time.

1. Basic Level: Start off by setting the metronome at 120 bpm.
2. Next, set the Drumometer at 10 SECONDS and play sixteenth notes. If they are dead-on, the Drumometer COUNT will be at 80 DM (DM = Drumometer Marking).
3. Take it up a level by setting the metronome at 133 bpm and the Drumometer at 30 SECONDS and play sextuplets for 30 SECONDS. The Drumometer will be at 399 DM if you are dead-on.
4. Advanced Level: Start by getting inside yourself and trying to find 120 bpm without the metronome! Again play sixteenth notes for 10 SECONDS. If you Inner-Clock is perfect the Drumometer will be at 80 DM.
5. Now, repeat exercise C without the metronome. How is your Inner- Clock? This advances to wherever you want to go say, 7's, 9's or 11's at 97 etc.

For Example:
Try playing the following pattern at 120 bpm without the metronome for 10 seconds. If your Inner-Clock is accurate, the Drumometer will be at 80 DM at the end of the 10 seconds.

Once you succeed with 120 bpm, test your Inner-Clock with other tempos and patterns. The below chart shows the Drumometer Markings for 16th notes played for 10 seconds at several different tempos.

STICK CONTROL EXERCISES

This procedure can be used to increase your proficiency with any rudiment, sticking, or pattern, and can be used in conjunction with any of the exercises in George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control. For this example, the Single Stroke Exercise is illustrated.

1. With the timer set at 10 SECONDS, play your singles at a very slow pace. Be sure to take good full strokes and keep the pace even. Repeat this process three or four times at the same pace. You should hit the same Drumometer Marking (or close to it) each run if you are keeping a consistent and relaxed pace.
2. Pick a slightly faster pace and follow the same procedure as in 1.
3. Repeat the procedure in 2 until you have gradually reached your top speed. Things to remember about your top speed are this: NEVER strain your muscles or play all tensed up. Your strokes should be consistent and not flurries of playing of notes. You should have good posture and your top speed may vary from session to session, but if you follow this routine, it will have a definite upward slope over time.
4. Repeat 1 - 2 with the timer now set at 20 SECONDS, then 30 SECONDS, and so on, until you reach your peak speed at 90 SECONDS. Gradually work your way up the time ladder so as to increase your endurance in a healthy way.
5. Remember if you are doing this correctly, your top speed will be the same for every 10 seconds of time. For example, if you are running singles at a top speed of 100 DM for 10 seconds, then you should run about 200 DM for 20 seconds, 300 DM for 30 seconds, and so on as you go up the time ladder.
6. Even strokes should be your goal. You can watch the counter as you play to see how evenly you are striking the pad. If the counter stutters, you should make an immediate correction to how you are striking the pad so as to achieve the desired flow from the counter. You will notice your hands starting to look and sound more alike as you do this routine over time. (Note: Contrary look = contrary sound.) You will also notice you can play longer and more consistently with less effort which is the goal of proficiency.

THE ENDURANCE TEST by Johnny Rabb

This procedure can be used to increase your endurance and will quickly show deficiency due to a lack of endurance.

1. Set the timer to 01 SECONDS
2. Run at your top speed
3. Now set the Drumometer to 02 SECONDS
4. Run again at your top speed. The COUNT should be double what you recorded for 01 SECONDS. For instance, if you had a COUNT of 20 for 01 SECONDS and a COUNT of 37 for 02 SECONDS, you have an endurance deficiency of 3 strokes at 2 seconds.
5. Once you determine where your endurance deficiency is, i.e 2 seconds, you should continue to repeat the test until there is no endurance deficiency at this level. Once this is accomplished increase the timer by 1 second and repeat the test.