Beginning Hints

Water yourself constantly. You won't believe how dry you can get until after you've been percussing in an outdoor venue. Bring water with you on stage and drink often. There's nothing worse than getting about half way through that second song and realizing that you're really awfully thirsty. You can't stop once you start a song. In addition, make sure there is a bathroom nearby a gig.

Practice often, especially in places where you can hear yourself. One of the best places to percuss is in the bathroom - my fave is in the shower, where it's nice and warm and moist. Don't think it's only your shower at home - the bathroom at my workplace has a great natural reverb. Also check out stairwells in large buildings and large echo focal points in buildings.

Work with other rhythmic devices such as a metronome. Pro vocal percussionists such as Jeff Thacher and Wes Carroll suggest percussing along with your favorite CD - good advice if I've ever heard it! This will help you develop a good sense of speed, something essential in a rhythm instrument.

Start slow and build your way up. Take it easy your first couple of times. Your face will get sore for a while, and your stomach will be sore if you're supporting correctly. It takes a while to be able to do a twenty minute set, much less a forty-five minute set!

Take care of your instrument. Try not to deprive your body of its needed rest, stay away from smoky bars or clubs, and drink lots of water. Situps are also really helpful for supporting.

Listen to other percussionists - not only vocal percussionists! While listening to CDs like Naked Noise or Rockapella will give you a feel for what other VPs are doing, make sure to temper your percussion literature with actual drums. Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Green Day, etc.

Having problems making that seal for the snare? Try using a glossy lip balm like Carmex, Vaseline, or Blistex. Wean yourself off of it as your lips and face get stronger.

Advanced Techniques

Record yourself while using a mic. Check your technique, mess around with angles and settings, and see how it sounds. You will be surprised!

Always return to the basics. Don't think that because you've been doing it for a while, you're doing okay.

You can get sloppy sometimes through atrophy. In performance, wear something that is comfortable and does not constrict you in any way. I would highly suggest wearing cotton, since it gets really warm on stage, especially if you're working hard to make a sound.

Figure out what you want to do with a song, percussion wise, and write it down, either using traditional drum methods or your own shorthand. Make sure you can understand the shorthand.

Work on keeping the beat first, putting in fancy frills later. A riff that is off beat just throws the rest of the group off and throws your count off as well.

Don't kid yourself. You have to know the music as well as anyone else in your group. Sometimes even better.

Clean your mic regularly.

With most drums, especially the lower ones, wetter is better.