Go to You Tube and check out: Tommy Igoe's Great Hands For Life warm-up. I use it and it works great. Two minute work-out that really gets you loose and warmed up for playing.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MofYoqZzXDw"]Tommy Igoe: Great Hands for a Lifetime - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkhzgLSYhFo"]Great Hands for Lifetime - Basic Warm Up - YouTube[/ame]

John

Master studies by Joe Morello is great if you can read a bit. Igoe's system seems based on it.

Stick control by George Lauren stone really helped me, at the moment every day for about an hour and a half I've been going through master studies though. Before a gig though I would maybe do a bit less- I do need to conserve some energy if I'm playing busy loud rock gig.

I don't remember what pro recommended this, but said just to "SOLO" for 5 min whatever comes to mind.It's like doing a shot of tequilla befor go-time.

Thanks for all of the advice. I've ordered that Tommy Igoe DVD. Looks really interesting. I think my main problem is I only get on a drumkit once a week. The rest of the time I'm in my apartment with the practice pad. I absolutely hate electronic drums and refuse to use them. No matter how good they are they can never replace the feel of a real kit. I just wish I could find a place that I could go to regularly and leave my drums there. I had a place like that a couple of years ago but the place closed.

Look for local rehearsal studios. Hourly rates are usually reasonable and you get to work out on a real kit. You can even run tape and record your sessions for review later.

John

That's what I do now. I rehearse once a week at a place about 15mins from my place. $20.00 for 2 hours. That's all I can afford right now which sucks!!!

If you can read practicing on a practice pad is absolutely fine with any snare drum book , it's a good way to "get it". I've never seen this other one your talking about though.

I actually developed a hang up when I used to play gigs where my kit was stuffed full of padding and trigers where used - when after 4years of that I left (was being payed peanuts) to try my hand in a community big band and I freaked out cos playing on a real kit again was utterly and totaly different in feel and everything else, but I eventually readapted-hey it's all experience and it all comes back round again.