A Powerful Approach to Teaching: Real-Time Practice with Your Students

A Powerful Approach to Teaching: Real-Time Practice with Your Students

As drumset teachers, we all want our students to succeed—not just in mastering an exercise but in understanding the true art of practice. Too often, lessons follow this cycle:

1. Assign exercises.

2. Send the student home to practice.

3. Check their progress next week.

While this approach has its merits, what if we took it a step further? What if, instead of simply assigning practice, we actually demonstrated what it should feel like in real time? Imagine giving your students the full experience of what’s required each day while they’re practicing on their own.

Teaching in Real Time: The Philosophy

Practicing effectively isn’t just about hitting notes or checking boxes. It’s about building focus, developing consistency, and internalizing the how and why of each exercise. As teachers, we have the opportunity to set the tone for this during lessons by practicing alongside our students in real time.

This means:

• Guiding them through the entire process of an exercise, step by step.

• Modeling the patience and focus required for deep, meaningful practice.

• Helping them feel the mental and physical effort that leads to tangible progress.

Why This Works

When students experience the practice process with you, they gain:

1. A clear understanding of expectations: They leave the lesson knowing exactly how to approach their own practice sessions.

2. Discipline and confidence: Practicing alongside you gives them the tools to stay focused for longer periods.

3. Breakthrough moments: They learn how to work through challenges because they’ve seen you guide them through the same hurdles.

I’ve personally seen this approach yield incredible results. Several of my students have gone on to study at top-tier music schools, with some earning full scholarships. The key wasn’t just what they practiced but how they learned to practice with intention daily.

How to Implement This in Lessons

Here’s how you can bring this philosophy into your teaching:

1. Dedicate Time to Practice Together: Spend a significant portion of the lesson doing exactly what you’d want them to replicate at home. Walk them through the process, ensuring they understand not just the “what” but the “how.”

2. Break It Down: Show them how to analyze each step of the exercise. Focus on patience, dynamics, and precision—not just rushing to get it done.

3. Highlight the Mental Game: Emphasize the mindset and discipline required for effective practice. Talk about focus, perseverance, and how to manage frustration.

4. Encourage Reflection: After practicing together, ask them how it felt. Were they distracted? Focused? What adjustments could they make?

By the time they leave the lesson, your students will have a clear blueprint for their practice sessions and won’t be left guessing whether they’re doing it right.

It’s About More Than Playing

As educators, we’re shaping more than just musicians—we’re helping our students become disciplined, thoughtful, and confident individuals. We’re equipping them with skills they can carry into every area of their musical journey by teaching them the art of real-time practice.

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Part of the philosophy behind the Drumset Mastery Program is having discussions like this—on teaching, education, and helping students get to the next level. The program isn’t just about your playing; it’s also about building your career as a professional musician and educator.

For more information, watch the WEBINAR and see how the Drumset Mastery Program can elevate your playing, teaching, and career to the next level.