What are some of your favorite ways to practice?

One of my favorite things to do in my practice sessions is to play-along with music. Sometimes that means recordings of songs that I know the parts to note for note, but I also enjoy playing to play-along tracks that don’t have any drums. It gives me the opportunity and challenges me to create an original, meaningful part to fill in a musical void that is asking to be filled, and the best part is, I can loop it in my DAW and try as many different ideas as I want. Sometimes I focus on developing a couple of particular ideas until I feel like it’s cohesive, or I just whatever strikes me each time it restarts, and sometimes I just improvise wildly, to get some energy out. This go around was an exercise in just putting something down after just a couple of quick listen throughs, and not overthinking it, which I personally find to be the biggest challenge most of the time.

This practice track was created by one of the most amazingly talented musicians that I have the privilege of calling friend, @tjhartmanndrums. Check out his killer drumming and sick as heck videos.

Disfrutando de los nuevos juguetitos...🎒🧳🥁 @tucompaccs 𝘿𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖 𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚. ————————————— @comunidaddebateristas @bateristasvzla @sabiancymbals @zildjiancompany @dwdrums @remopercussion @vaterdrumsticks @kzinears #bateristasvzla #sabiancymbals #zildjian #dwdrums #remodrumheads #vaterdrumsticks #drums #drumset #drumsticks #drumsdrumsdrums #drumming #drumoulet #drummers #drumstagram #instadrum #drumporn #drummersofinstagram #theworldofdrums #drummerlife #drumsdaily #drumslove #drumsoutlet #drumsetup #metal #metaldrummers_united #venezuela🇻🇪 #music #live (en Ciudad Comercial Las Trinitarias) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWU2n3pK7X/?utm_medium=tumblr

⚡️HARD PASS⚡️ • • • • @drumuniversity @drummers_corner_group @drummingco @180drums @drumsdaily @talented_musicians #theworldofdrums #vicfirth #vf15 #180drums #instadrums #drumstagram #musician #losangelesmusic #instadrummer #liveyourdreams #knowyourtone #bateristas #drumsoutlet #drumheadspod #drumsandlessons #drumsolo #drummingco #musician #greenroom #lamusician #losangeledrummer #lamusicscene #rockdrummer #lamusician #downtownla #hollywood #rocknrollmusic #rocknroll (at The Echo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSxUkkQBJ_B/?utm_medium=tumblr

#Repost @mattraham with @make_repost ・・・ Grooving to the groove @ashsoan @pantheonpercuss #vf15 #VF15 #vicfirth5a #vfjams #VFJAMS #drumuniversity #instagroove #instagroove_ #drums #drumming #drumgroove #drumgrooves #drumshare #theworldofdrums #zildjian (at Singapore) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-d1_ughY3-/?igshid=10f9l2tfjma9q

🎏 Fly like Jacky on his Masterwork Iris 🎈 … … … … … … … … 🥁@groovychin 📸@geermusic8 . (ง ื▿ ื) . #drumline #drumlife #drummer #instadrummer #instadrum #drumeo #drumcam #drummingco #theworldofdrums #drumheadspod #drummerdotcom #drumminglife #drummagazine #moderndrummermagazine #drummermagazine #drumheadmagazine #drumsmagazine #drummagazines #rhythmanddrumsmagazine #drumscenemagazine #sickdrummermagazine #cymbal #cymbals #cymbaladdict #cymbalporn #masterworkcymbals #cymballove #cymbalholic #cymballife https://www.instagram.com/p/B3xwanqIg6-/?igshid=hxdfwv6jomhj

Now back to our regularly scheduled drum channel! Hahaha. Here’s another clip from my New Year’s Eve Gig with my buddies @jeffocheltreemusic and @natemarshall83. These cats are funky. Love playing with them. Here’s a bit of “Bright Lights” by Gary Clark Jr. These grooves are so fun to play because they feel so good. . My gear: @officialtamadrums @paistecymbals @vicfirth @remopercussion @bigfatsnaredrum @apple @tascampro @shure @samson_technologies. . . #alexleedrums #drummer #drums #drumming #drummers #drummersofinstagram #drumfam #drumcommunity #drumlife #drumeducation #instadrummer #drumstagram #drumsdrumsdrums #drummerlife #drumsquad #drumset #drumlessons #drumtalk #drumgear #theworldofdrums #percussion #tamadrums #paiste #paistenation #remo #vicfirth #grooveoftheday #beatoftheday #pocket https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsd9qBclNl3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tgny3h2uuny5

Embrace the Suck! The other day I put on a loop, pushed record, and worked on some chops. While some came out pretty good, there were certainly lots, and lots of mistakes and fails. I shared the entire video on IGTV if you’d like to check it out. Rather than edit out the mistakes, I left them in to show that sometimes we suck. And it’s all good! Here’s a clip from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! 😝 #drums #drumming #drummer #drum #drummers #drummersofinstagram #drumfills #drumchops #drumpractice #drummerproblems #drumcommunity #drumfam #drumlife #drumvideo #drumsharing #drumstagram #instadrummer #theworldofdrums #drumsdrumsdrums #drumlicks #groove #drumset #sessiondrummer #drumsquad #drumteacher #byzance #lineardrumming @loscabosdrumsticks @predator_percussion @tnr_products @drumtacs (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqz6E9InBf-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=x70cwefkvfpk

Last repost for today from @dsaiddrummer ! Those fills are tight!🔥🔥🔥 Tag your stuff also with #drumscripts and cool grooves with #ds4us ! ............... Had an absolute blast performing with @seanquincy_ and @chrisbirdd in Malta this weekend.... #drumscripts #repostweeks #drumfam #drumcommunity #theworldofdrums #drummingo #drummerscorner #drumporn #snaredrumfreakz #instavid #band #live #musician #music #drummer #drummin #drums #drumming #drumstagram #drumscripts

Quien se anota a dar una vueltita en esta belleza??? @harleydavidson 𝘿𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖 𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚. ————————————— @comunidaddebateristas @bateristasvzla @sabiancymbals @zildjiancompany @dwdrums @remopercussion @vaterdrumsticks @kzinears #bateristasvzla #sabiancymbals #zildjian #dwdrums #remodrumheads #vaterdrumsticks #drums #drumset #drumsticks #drumsdrumsdrums #drumming #drumoulet #drummers #drumstagram #instadrum #drumporn #drummersofinstagram #theworldofdrums #drummerlife #drumsdaily #drumslove #drumsoutlet #drumsetup #metal #metaldrummers_united #venezuela🇻🇪 #music #live (en Ciudad Comercial Las Trinitarias) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWUT3VpuL2/?utm_medium=tumblr

⚡️Channeled my inner Matt Sorum/Steven Adler⚡️ • • • • • @drumuniversity @drummers_corner_group @drummingco @180drums @drumsdaily @talented_musicians #theworldofdrums #vicfirth #vf15 #180drums #instadrums #drumstagram #musician #vegasmusic #instadrummer #mattsorum #stevenadler #liveyourdreams #knowyourtone #bateristas #drumsoutlet #drumheadspod #drumsandlessons #drumsolo #YouCouldBeMine #drummingco #drumlife #musician #gunsnroses #hollywoodroses #gnr #vegas #rockstarbar #rockdrummer (at Rockstar Bar Las Vegas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ67RNwgkTz/?utm_medium=tumblr

#Repost @mattraham ・・・ 4 on the floor, that’s what they say. #vf15 #VF15 #vf5a #VFjam #VFjams #vfjams #vfjam #vicfirth @vicfirth @pantheonpercuss #drumuniversity #drumcommunity #theworldofdrums https://www.instagram.com/p/B9f5zrFhJoR/?igshid=dnd2l2o644n8

Drum Heads Fan Feature! #Repost @eli.on.drums ・・・ Vibing with the bros!! @gasofficialmusic Jamal Moore on bass #zildjian #zildjiancymbals #zildjianfamily #vf15 #vicfirth #vicfirthsticks #gretschdrums #tamadrums #evansdrumheads #we_love_drums #drummer #drumsoutlet #drumsandlessons #drummerdotcom #theworldofdrums #talented_musicians #talentedmusicians #drumuniversity #drumming #drummer #drumsagram #groove#amazingmusicians #drumsagram #drumheadspod #bigfatsnaredrum #grooveshare #drumlife @thedrumheadspod @bigfatsnaredrum @drumsoutlet @vicfirth @snaredrumfreakz @drumsdaily @talented_musicians @grooveshare @zildjiancompany @drummersilike @drumgabpodcast @drumcommunity @drumsharing @drumlads @we_love_drums

Groove of the Day #5 - By Request . . Hendrix had a request, so I did my best to make it happen. I’m not sure what happened with the auto focus here. Sorry it’s out of focus! 😂 . . Let me know what you think in the comments, give it a heart, follow for more, and share with a friend! I’d also love to see your grooves of the day! . . My gear: @officialtamadrums @paistecymbals @vicfirth @remopercussion . . #alexleedrums #grooveoftheday #drummer #drums #drumming #drummers #drummersofinstagram #drumcommunity #drumlife #instadrummer #drumstagram #drumsdrumsdrums #drummerlife #drumsquad #drumset #drumlessons #drumtalk #drumgear #theworldofdrums #percussion #tamadrums #starclassic #paiste #paistenation #paistecymbals #paistedarkenergy #remo #vicfirth #vf15 (at Glendale, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtBVbLNldu-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gq83jy8jnvdq

FEELING IT! BIG TIME! • Check out the full version of this killer 7/4 jam on my IGTV! 🤟🏻 #drummer #drumming #drums #drum #drummers #oddtimesignatures #groove #grooveshare #drumer #drumlife #drumset #drumfam #drumcommunity #drummersofinstagram #instadrums #drumstagram #percussion #drumsdrumsdrums #drumbeat #predatorpercussion #drumtacs #lowboybeaters #meinl #tnrproducts #evansdrumheads #yamahadrums #sessiondrummer #prodrummer #theworldofdrums

#Repost @rafael_piupiu_ • • • • • • Hoje 14/04 às 20h teremos a oportunidade de falar com o grande @leandro.lui 🎼🙏💪 Participem!!! #irmãosdetambor @naganodrumsofficial @istanbulmehmetbrazil @contemporaneateam @osdoidosdabatera @bsbrockers @tabajararockclub @culturaemmovimento @escoladerock.df @rockin1000.br @underground.tuga.oficial @origem_podcast #rafaelpiupiu #rafaelpiupiudrummer #drums #drummer #drumsagram #bateria #baterista #vidademusico #papodebatera #playing #longhair #instadrummer #drumlook #drummer4life #drumfill #theworldofdrums #gratidão #drumming #drummerattitude #lovedrums #vivendodemusica https://www.instagram.com/p/CNpG8LHlF2f/?igshid=1pgjjwfqvg4fh

2010: Esperando para tocar con Hexatonica en el Pasaje Dardo Rocha, La Plata. / 2011: Wating to play with @hexatonica at Pasaje Dardo Rocha, La Plata. . #drums #picoftheday #guitar #drumsdaily #musiciansofig #musicianstoday #musiciansdaily #drummer #theworldofdrums #drummerworld #zildjian #vicfirth #musician #music