I usually just have my pencil in an inverted traditional position and I use the eraser for natural rebound.

Other than that, I tap on anything.

I'll look over music, tap my foot or just play electric wheel chair with my fingers. Yea, teachers know the drummer in the class. Once during a state test, I started playing our show and one girl is turns to me and says,"Alright we know who's in the the band, drummer boy." Everyone got a kick out of it.

Just like everyone one else replying, I also bring sticks and/or a pad to class, and when I know I'll get in trouble, I'll tap with my hands or feet, then if I have some free time, I'll write out my show music or make a cadence/ song. That helps me invision the sound of the notes.

Go with the pencils or pens, believe it or not it helps you in your drumming. Do it whenever you get the chance it is going to pay off big. <img src="/threads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For building muscle and such I use my wrists with closed fingers usually on my chest. I have a pocket (like a dip) b/w my chest and shoulder, and that is my rim shot place lol. But I only drum on my chest loudly when it's ok and allowed wherever I am. I can do crazy open diddles with just my wrists, and it helps so much once I go to my drum.

On the other hand, in a more serene society, I use my fingers, predominantly my index and middle to diddle. This builds the actual rudimentary and rhythmic values. So when I put my fingers and my wrist together on a drum with sticks, it combines and becomes much easier to play stuff.

Also, squeezing in your palm is great for building muscle. It burns so good.

Lol, I don't even play percussion,at least not yet, I play Trombone, and I'm always thinkin of something wether its our cadence or a cadence I made, or even rudimentary and other random stuff, I take my sticks out of my backpack (sticks i sneak to school) in 3rd period and start drummin' on the bottom of my shoe (unfortunatley that is where I got the very bad habit of opposite Tarditional playin (left hand matched!) I play the opener to our show with my hands.

I am always thinkin of either snare parts, or somethin band-related when I'm doing nothing.

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off topic:

any ideas for how i can get on the Line as a Tenor or a snare (we don't even have a tenor!!!!!!!!!)

Timing exercises are great without sticks... Hertas are a good rudiment for this.

Whenever I have free time I'm always mentally running through something with my hands or my fingers. Mental practice is almost just as good as physical practice and allows you to keep music fresh in your mind.

i carry my pad and ms4's everywhere.practice in every class on my thigh if i dont feel like getting out my pad,but only til my teacher gets pissed,then i gotta put my stuff away.

usually, ill do rudiment break down exercises. a lot of times, i'll do book report rudiments in class just because it pertains to school haha