Single-Stick Hand Drills

1.1 · Natural Rebound (Wrist Only)

Feel the stick bounce on its own; stop fighting gravity.

Drill: Single-stroke bounce test, wrist only, fingers out. Then 30 sec of continuous relaxed wrist pendulum.

Notation: One hand, down-up alternation: D U D U D U D U (16th feel). · Tempo: 60 BPM

✓ Advance when: 8 consecutive even bounces at 60 BPM without finger manipulation; 30 sec pendulum with zero finger tension.

1.2 · 8 On A Hand

Even volume and even stick height, one hand at a time, before combining.

Drill: 8 single strokes on the right hand, then 8 on the left. Wrist snaps, fingers lightly follow.

Notation: R: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & (8 strokes, right only); then L: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & (8 strokes, left only). · Tempo: 60 BPM

✓ Advance when: Each hand plays 8 even strokes at the same volume and ~6–8" height at 60 BPM.

Book: George Lawrence Stone — Stick Control

1.3 · Full Stroke & Down Stroke

Master the two “loud” strokes that set up dynamics.

Drill: Full stroke (high→high), then down stroke (high→low, stops 2" off the head).

Notation: Full: F F F F (quarter notes, one hand). Down: D D D D. · Tempo: 60 BPM

✓ Advance when: 8 full strokes returning to shoulder height, then 8 down strokes all stopping low — even volume.

1.4 · Tap & Up Stroke

Master the two “quiet” strokes for control and ghost-note prep.

Drill: Tap stroke (low→low), then up stroke (low→high).

Notation: Tap: T T T T; Up: U U U U (quarter notes, one hand). · Tempo: 60 BPM

✓ Advance when: 8 taps that stay low and quiet, then 8 up strokes starting low and ending at shoulder height, smoothly.

1.5 · The Four-Stroke Sequence

Chain all four strokes so each prepares the next — the root of all dynamics.

Drill: Full, Down, Tap, Up — repeat, then switch hands.

Notation: F D T U F D T U F D T U F D T U (one hand). · Tempo: 60 BPM

✓ Advance when: 4 clean F-D-T-U cycles per hand at 60 BPM with correct start/end heights and clear loud/soft contrast.

Book: Joe Morello — Master Studies

1.6 · Finger Control

Isolate the fingers for speed without the wrist.

Drill: Sixteenth notes, finger-driven from a low position, stick stays low.

Notation: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a (16ths, one hand). · Tempo: 80 BPM

✓ Advance when: 16 even finger-driven taps at 80 BPM with the wrist visibly stationary.