| Muscle memory is the terminology used by | | | | what to do. And this is when one developes |
| physiologists to describe the phenomenon of | | | | efficentcy to become a much better drummer. |
| skeletal muscle activity that is learned and | | | | Once you are capable of playing a beat with out |
| becomes essentially automatic with practice. | | | | thinking then your mind is free to think of how to |
| Muscle memory plays a major part In the world | | | | make that beat more creative by adding fills, |
| of drumming as well as other things. Think of | | | | accents, etc. |
| when you were first learning to ride a bicycle. You | | | | The motions of the basic beat are now almost |
| had to concentrate very hard to make all your | | | | effortless. |
| body parts move in just the right way, as well as | | | | It takes a certain amount of time for your drum |
| balance just right so that you could ride. It | | | | beat to feel effortless. First you must create the |
| seemed very difficult but once you got the hang | | | | new motions or pattern, the next step is feeling |
| of it, then riding became a very natural feeling. | | | | at ease with those motions. This will not always |
| this same thing happens in drumming. When | | | | happen over it can take sometime depending |
| playing a new beat at first may feel very okward | | | | what time signature you are playing. I feel |
| and difficult but with some practice and repetition | | | | Sometimes its best to make a recording of the |
| that beat begins to feel good and gradually | | | | new material you are working on. That way when |
| becomes much easier. After some practice these | | | | you want to play it again you will have that tape |
| motions requireless concentration. | | | | to help guide you. |
| Scientists have discovered internal brain stuctures | | | | When the motions of the basic beat become |
| that work together with input/output brain | | | | almost effortless. That is where the saying |
| structures to form fleeting images in the mind. | | | | practice makes perfect comes from. How can |
| Using these images we interpret input signals, | | | | you be at ease with a beat that now seems hard |
| process them and formulate output responses in | | | | to you now? Practice and practice some more. |
| a deliberate and concious way. Scientists refer to | | | | And eventually you will be playing that beat with |
| this as kinesthetic memory or neuro-muscle | | | | the same amount of effort it takes to walk. |
| facilitation. where "seeing, thinking, and doing" gets | | | | When you can play a drum beat and keep a |
| cut down to just "seeing, and doing". | | | | conversation or read a book that is a good |
| Muscle memory comes into play by eliminating the | | | | indication that your muscle memory has |
| thinking process. Your muscles begin to know just | | | | developed just right. |