I answered an email question today and thought that I'd share my thoughts from it. It's a common discussion amongst accomplished players and might be an interesting discussion area for the group.

"I have found that when we have the main bank of skills that we need, all players will reach a plateau and wonder 'where next'; I don't know how many times I've sat in a session wishing I would play something different yet I always do the same as usual; BUT then something happens; maybe a piece of technique that falls into place; or seeing a player that really inspires you; or hearing a groove that you just love, or listening to a piece of latin / African / Indian / Taiko / any rhythmic-based music form that can inspire new rhythms to be woven through old tunes. It's not always for a session but it develops the player's vocabulary.

For me technically, the things that I have found most useful have been practising rudiments with a metronome, starting on both the up and downstrokes and playing them every way I can think of; at all speeds from really s-l-o-w to super fast.

Things like doubling the speed of a rudiment / groove / pattern for a bar and then going back to the original tempo will really challenge our ability to retain strict timing. Play a reel pattern and then go into a waltz for a bar and then back to the reel then into a 6/8 and back to a reel and keep mixing them until you can switch between them flawlessly.

Work with another player, e.g. play a reel pattern over their jig pattern and listen to the dynamics and interplay of the 6/8 between the two drums - what rhythms can you take from that?

The chaal pattern on bodojo is one that I wrote a little more about. It's great because of where it places the bass pulses - Indian bass patterns generally sit on counts 1, 6 and 7 of a shuffled 8 beat groove - try it, it's almost samba.

We all plateau as players, recognise it and get over it! personally I tend to practise a different instrument for a couple of months until I get the inspiration I need and then I'm back to the bod, but having gone up another level in some area. It happened recently when my single end rolls playing just clicked into place, I've amazed myself!

There are lots of ideas and influences available if we are open to them. I'd say that we are best not to get hung up on the fact that we can't achieve the sounds we hear in our heads straight away, there's often a progression. Glasshopper.

If a certain element of technique is not happening, don't force it. Work around it, find out which element is hindering your progress and work at that. Solid rudimentary ability and any development of accuracy will always help in your ability to adapt, learn and develop.

P