Glad you asked
I checked out Practice Pedals and I think it's the ideal solution if you
have the money, as long as they feel like the pedals you're going to use.
Here in the UK I could recommend that to some of my students if it's
available.
The basis should be to teach yourself, and like they say in the beginning of
the Practice Pedals advert, emulate the hands' practice for the feet. Start
slowly with this of course, and be patient: for example, when you get tired
from exertion and concentration, take short breaks, as you learn little by
little.
A 4/4 example of practicing the feet in the music is what teachers at
Drumtech call Fat-back exercises. For every one of these the hands will play
8ths on the hat (or ride, and preferably an accent on 123 and 4) with the
right hand. Keep the left hand playing the back-beat (2 and 4) playing the
snare.
With this very regular pattern in place, the idea is that the right foot
will first play the first two sixteenth notes in the bar (until it feels
good), then the two after the first, then the two after the first two, then
the two after the first three and so on until the end. This, if practiced
extensively (in some order or another) and with the balance of relaxation
and rhythm, will improve coordination. Coordination is largely mental, so
take time to unlock the combination of movement. It can be done. If you
can't, it's because it's a new combo of movements.
With the kick, unless you have double pedals, the right foot can tend to get
too used to getting tense and warped in times of long use. Remember to relax
your muscles whenever possible, all muscles, especially for the right foot
(and/or lower leg), which is very likely the first one to get strained in
some way in long term use. Keep it loose, keep it comfortable.
Having the muscle helps as well; i.e. calf raising exercises. But stretches
are equally important of course. The East is the best place to look for
medicine and naturopathy/physical therapy.
Jonas
www.myspace.com/grood4u
www.myspace.com/jonasgolland
www.myspace.com/dopplegangfilm
www.myspace.com/doppleganggang


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