Taking it all in...when physical practice time is not available, mental practice time often is

Have you ever listened to Buddy Rich, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, or been to a Dom Famularo clinic and then had the urge to rush to your kit and practice? Of course you have! You may have also noticed that for some strange reason you suddenly play better. This is because you have become a better player after listening to some these great musicians or any player that inspires you for that matter. As long as you're taking it in.

What I mean by "taking it in" is to be a focused listener. You could say that there are two ways of listening: active listening and passive listening. An active listener would be someone whose mind absorbs whatever they hear. On the other hand, a …