Drumming is motion. By looking closely at the way our body looks and feels when it is at rest, certain ideas about technique and approach present themselves.

Whether we are rigid or fluid should be determined by the sound and energy we wish to create.  A stiff approach produces a sound and feel to match -- restricted, tight, tense.  A looser, more open technique allows for the free flow of sound and ideas.  The goal of study is to achieve a relaxed state of readiness that is flexible and adaptive. By looking closely at grip, stroke, and rebound, we teach our bodies to settle into a pocket even amid the flurry of activity that is drumming. 

Once these ideas are solidified, breath becomes an important tool. The way we breathe has a huge impact on our physiology and overall emotional state. Breath awareness helps regulate tempo, feel and phrasing, feeds muscles with oxygen, and allows access to deeper states of consciousness and great reserves of energy and power.