When creating a practice routine that tackles any problem you come across, focus on the fundamental technical aspects within it. When creating a practice routine that focuses on musicality, focus on sound production, and exploring phrasing and character. A balanced practice routine has the potential to tackle both aspects at the same time.
Practicing Through Exploration
Sounds
How does what you're practicing sound now?
How do you want it to sound?
How is it supposed to sound?
What's different between the ideal and current sound?
Are there alternative sounds you can try?
Mechanics
What aspects of your technique are related to the sound?
What did you do, technically, to get your current sound?
What can you do in your technique to change the sound?
Are there aspects of the technique you haven't considered?
Is there unnecessary tension in the technique?
Exploring Sounds
Timbre- what general sound are we going for? Even if the required sound is darker or brighter, the core of the sound should be stable and match the beauty of your normal sound. What in the body facilitates that (a bright, dark and general sound)?
Dynamics- can we maintain the quality of sound while playing different dynamics? The common tendency is for the sound to get brighter as the dynamic increases and darker as it decreases. How do we make the character of sound consistent, and what does the body have to do in order to accomplish that?
Tempo- can we maintain the quality of sound while playing at different tempos? What does it feel like to play fast, slow and everything in between, within the confines of a bright, dark, general, etc. sound?
Exploring Mechanics
What Do We Use?- whatever instrument we play, there are specific body parts that we use in specific ways. Knowing exactly what those parts are, how they interact with other parts, how they move, and how their movements affect the sound is key to being comfortable with playing anything we work on.
When Do We Use It?- what are the circumstances that call for a specific movement? Maybe it’s a subito piano, or a faster tempo. Explore scenarios and figure out what is limbs are being used at those times. The more scenarios you explore, the more knowledge you’ll have about what your personal physicality.
Why Do We Use It?- why in those situations do we use what we use? Are there other options or is this the only way it will work?
How Do We Use It?- is there ease or difficulty in the execution? If difficulty, is this caused by lack of experience, lack of physical facility, tension, etc.
Practicing Through Dissection
Details
Tempo and Time- find the appropriate tempo that’s given on the music itself, or by listening to multiple recordings and taking an average. Work up to this tempo, either by starting at half speed and slowly increasing the tempo by 2-5 clicks, or starting at half speed and raising it to 2/3’s of the top speed, and then to top speed. The goal is to play comfortably in time, no rushing or dragging and no feeling uneasy about playing at top speed.
Intonation- notes should be in tune with themselves throughout the piece. The goal is to maintain the established tonal center without going sharp or flat the entire time. For drummers, the sound quality is our tonal center. Maintain the quality of sound throughout the entire piece. Dynamics, articulations, speed, etc. should not effect the color or timbre at all. For example, if you begin with a bright sound, when you play loud it shouldn’t become darker (unless specified by the music).
Articulation- any articulation in the piece should be audibly and consistently executed. Staccatos, legatos, etc., should sound the same at all dynamics whenever they appear/
Dynamics- the dynamic range and changes should be audibly and consistently executed, as well as have a consistent color throughout.
Music Specifications- any other indications from the music must be adhered to and audibly executed.
Musicality
Character- what is the overall mood of the piece? This should be audible at all times, reflected in your presentation and performance of the music (unless otherwise specified).
Color- what is the appropriate color of sound and timbre for the piece? This should be audible and consistent throughout the entire piece, regardless of tempo, dynamic or articulation changes (unless otherwise specified).
Phrasing- either by listening to different recordings of the piece, or by trying out different options of direction for the music, establish a phrase idea that makes sense. Practice each phrase of the music separately, and then practice the transitions between each phrase.
Practicing Fundamentals Musically
Something that I found extremely effective was to practice my technical exercises, whether it be a warm up or otherwise, to different types of music. Create a playlist with music of a specific tempo, easy to warm up to or work on technique, and play your technical exercises to that playlist. While working on the fundamentals, try to play them in the character and timbre of the music that comes up. In general, find music that emulates or exaggerates the techniques you would like to work on. For example, for exercises that work on articulations, find music with similar or more extreme versions of that articulation. This method I find makes it easier to approach any piece of music. Below are some free regimens that I do to improve my skills.
wynton marsalis' 12 Rules of practice
7. Always play with maximum expression
8. Don’t be too hard on yourself
9. Don’t show off
10. Think for yourself
11. Be optimistic
12. Look for connections between your music and other things
1. Seek out the best private instruction you can afford
2. Write/work out a regular practice schedule
3. Set realistic goals
4. Concentrate when practicing
5. Relax and practice slowly
6. Practice what you can’t play