If you’re struggling with coordination and improvisation and you don’t know where to turn…this lesson is most definitely for you. 

If you practice everything we discuss in this lesson, your coordination will improve a TON! I’ve seen it in so many of my students and in my own personal practice.

Here’s how this works:

We’re taking a simple rhythm from the popular method book “Syncopation” by Ted Reed, and we’re seeing how many ways we can play it on the drumset. You could probably create a near-infinite number of these variations, so we’re just going to create 5 versions in three popular drumming styles that you can take to your practice room today to greatly push your 4-way coordination.

This method is powerful, and it’s super practical and actionable. So let’s get going! Watch the video, then head to your practice room. :)

WATCH: IMPROVISE & Achieve Limb Independence with ONE Rhythm...

In February of 2015 I was wrapping up my college career and enjoying a final semester of smooth sailing to the finish line. I had already performed my senior recital the previous fall, and I was just finishing up a few class credits in the spring. I also had the time and opportunity to take additional lessons outside of school, so I reached out to a respected drummer in town whom my percussion teacher recommended. He solved a big struggle I had at the time by giving me some very counter-intuitive advice.

Now I was playing a bunch in jazz band at this time, and I was really working at being a solid jazz drummer. At the same time, I was also playing at my church every Sunday and playing in a cover band as often as possible. Genre-wise, I was gaining a lot of versatility just from these three groups alone. I had a problem, however, in the jazz realm.

Our jazz band director was constantly hounding me for not having the right feel in my ride pattern. Straight-ahead swing is...