The Practice Pad

The practice pad has long been a staple for the drummer. After a pair of sticks it usually was the next thing purchased. Or in the case for my brother and I, a DIY project by our father. It could be as simple as a square of linoleum nailed on a board to the double sided models that produce various amounts of rebound. 

There are many reasons for using a practice pad. I'll start with the obvious:

Practical:

1. Compared to a real drum, they are cheap.
2. They are fairly quiet, you can play them without annoying a sleeping parent or a neighbor in an adjoining apartment.
3. They are portable, they can be taken on a family vacation where space is at a premium.

Musical:

1. Usually they provide more rebound than a drum head, which helps in developing single strokes but especially rolls.
2. Articulation: The sound of each stroke is cleaner giving the player important feedback on the precision of their playing.
3. Developing positional accuracy: Drawing a circle the size of a quarter on the pad provides a 'target' for the proper 'beating spot' and keeping the sticks close together (this can be done on the drum but it requires marking the drum head).

As important as these are, it's important to remember that a practice pad is just one more tool for the percussionist. Ultimately the goal is to perform on a drum.

It is important that the practice pad remains an important part of the percussionist's equipment.

Clockwise from top left: A very old Ludwig pad, A later version, Remo's 'Putty Pad (sort of like 'Silly Putty') that can be flattened on a hard surface and played, The 'Billy Gladstone pad.