1. Holding the Drumsticks:
- Matched grip: Hold the sticks with your dominant hand between your thumb and index finger and the non-dominant hand between your middle and ring fingers.
- Traditional grip: Hold the dominant hand stick between the thumb and index finger and the non-dominant stick between the middle finger and thumb.
2. Positioning the Drums:
- Place the tenor drums in a comfortable position, typically slightly higher than your hips.
3. Playing the Drums:
- Basic stroke: Strike the drumhead with an alternating motion using the dominant and non-dominant hands, creating a steady rhythm.
- Rimshots: Strike the rim of the drum with the stick, producing a high-pitched sound.
- Flams: Quickly play multiple strokes on the same drum with a single hand.
4. Developing Technique:
- Alternating strokes: Practice switching hands smoothly and evenly while playing.
- Control and dynamics: Vary your stroke intensity to create louder and softer sounds.
- Rolls: Practice playing controlled and consistent rolls with your dominant and non-dominant hands.
5. Reading Drum Notation:
- Learn the basic drum notation for tenor drums, including notes and rhythms.
- Practice reading drum charts to play along with music.
6. Practice and Learning:
- Start with simple patterns and gradually increase complexity.
- Use metronomes and practice exercises to improve your rhythm and coordination.
- Listen to recordings and watch videos of experienced tenor drummers for inspiration and technique tips.
Remember that practice and persistence are key to developing your skills as a tenor drummer. Be patient, and with consistent effort, you will improve your playing abilities over time.