Vocabulary of movement
We use metaphors and named motions to bridge notation to feel (for example, "hold the stick like a small bird").
Why text + audio
Video can hide timing problems. Text, a metronome, and a timer force you to internalize the pulse and hear yourself honestly.
Metronome as instructor
The click is the feedback. Off-beat and gap drills teach internal time instead of chasing the beat.
Embodied time
You step and sing the groove before you play it. Big motions steady the tempo, then transfer to your hands.
Self-audit
Short recordings + a quick checklist train you to hear flams, drag, and uneven spacing.
Text-based 80/20 syllabus
- Module 1: Clean sound (2 weeks) — unison strikes, grip comfort, even tone. Stop on flams.
- Module 2: Internal clock (2 weeks) — walk and sing, off-beat clicks, gap drills.
- Module 3: Vocabulary + flow (2 weeks) — singles, doubles, paradiddles, and short scripted loops.
- Module 4: The audit (ongoing) — record 30 seconds, listen for alignment and consistency.