REFLECTIONS FOR THE HANDS HEAD AND HEART

A hand written book of exercises, stories, and musical advice for drummers of all ages and skill levels. During the pandemic of 2020 I began taking time everyday to play on my practice pad along with some of my favorite albums. When I would find a sticking or accent pattern that felt challenging, I would create an exercise out of it. Those challenges turned into the series of exercises that appear in this book. I chose to hand write them because I enjoyed looking at the page more than if it were typed. The open spaces around each exercise seemed as though it needed to be filled with thoughts and stories. Some related to the exercise, some not. I did not expect my efforts to turn into a full book but the process became a mantra. Day after day I collected thoughts, stories, and doodles in the empty space on the page. I found several threads that led me to the icons and a bridge between the ideas in the book. As I worked on the exercises I began to see how mindfulness was an important all