Mark, first of all kudos for doing such a basic plan of attack. I always work with my students (live and Skype) on finding out their technical weaker points and then MAKING THE WEAK POINTS INTO STRONG POINTS. For example...if you weak hand is the left hand, then for practicing I would try to use it more/start with it on every exercise etc. But it's rare when someones weak hand surpasses their stronger hand at least for the amount you are speaking of. That's actually why I prefer matched ... Read More

Mark, first of all kudos for doing such a basic plan of attack. I always work with my students (live and Skype) on finding out their technical weaker points and then MAKING THE WEAK POINTS INTO STRONG POINTS. For example...if you weak hand is the left hand, then for practicing I would try to use it more/start with it on every exercise etc. But it's rare when someones weak hand surpasses their stronger hand at least for the amount you are speaking of. That's actually why I prefer matched grip, because on occasion when I'm working more on my weak hand, it will actually (only in SOME aspects) surpass the strong hand. When it does, I try to watch it and mirror it with the other hand that is temporarily the weaker hand....at least in that aspect. So then I go back and forth using different exercises (singles, doubles, triples) concentrating on whichever hand is weaker for THAT PARTICULAR AREA.. and trying to copy the feel (or the look and feel if one is using matched grip) until they both become identical in facility. All I can tell you is that it's worth it. It's so worth it to put in the time in numerous areas until one doesn't really have a stronger or weaker hand. This helps to change the whole way we approach the drum set, as we will have no particular bias for the left/right side of the set (including crash cymbals) only whatever sounds the best! hope that helps. Feel free to follow up with any questions either here or by email as it's such an important topic that you bring up. thanks

Thanks Stumpie. You said ...."I love how mellow you are as I am the complete opposite". Ah.... honesty. I can deal with honesty and respect you for sharing that. Here's some honesty for you: I used to be a real "cutthroat" in high school and had no tolerance for music or people I didn't like. I would talk back to my high school music teacher in class, as I thought he didn't know much about drums as myself. Maybe he didn't, but I got a lot of my value from making sure others knew "I had the ... Read More

Thanks Stumpie. You said ...."I love how mellow you are as I am the complete opposite". Ah.... honesty. I can deal with honesty and respect you for sharing that. Here's some honesty for you: I used to be a real "cutthroat" in high school and had no tolerance for music or people I didn't like. I would talk back to my high school music teacher in class, as I thought he didn't know much about drums as myself. Maybe he didn't, but I got a lot of my value from making sure others knew "I had the goods". I had some close relationships with people who thought similar to me about music, but very little patience for anyone/any thing else that was different. And I lived for/loved competitions where I could show off and smoke others. It's actually true. I can't even imagine feeling that now, although I know it was absolutely true back then! But in the following 20-30+ years I gradually changed/became spiritually based, had a family and raised 4 kids, and grew my love for God and people even more than my love for music. So I appreciate your comments, and wish you all the best. Nice forum for this sharing...