Hi Jaye.

I really like your sense of humour maaaaaate.

We all have different preferences as to how we get strong on this thing. You're obviously pumped and are on a steep learning curve in your Stickiness. More power to ya mate.

I don't know if you do this, but playing along with great tracks really helps me develop my musicality and groove. I'm currently playing along with this as a groove practice thing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA1vSm_O8hM[/youtube]

In 2009, Greg Howard really helped me out at the Interlochen seminar with a group rhythm lesson. He's also got a few other methods for teaching " internal pulse". Also, check out:
http://www.interactivemetronome.com

I've taken a demo trial of this. You will find out exactly how good your internal pulse really is, it provides real data. If you go through the full training it can help you improve. Also has other benefits with sports and medical issues. I've been told it helps kids with autism.

With Sticks I often think we enjoy the ease of tapping and the lure of playing faster is hard to resist. Try playing some long tap and hold notes and listen to how nice a Stick sounds when holding a long note. The Stick is quite capable for making some interesting phrasings. In a different seminar for guitar I had taken another class specifically on phrasing - often releasing a held note in proper timing helps make a nice resolve to the next chord, or a nice finish. Too often we are fixated in coming in on the correct beat and forget about finishing on time. Horn players like Miles Davis are good at this. Next time you listen to one of his songs, pay attention to how he finishes a note or certain passages. Attack and release are both equally important.

Mr. Balough

That's uncanny. This week Iv'e been focussing on this same aspect of when to finish a note.

Mostly in my left hand and I just experiment with finishing a two note bass line at different eighth notes in the bar. Starting from the + of 4 and go backwards from there.

This seems to drastically reduce my digicide..lol.

...

Maybe that's what playing with the masters is.. searching out professional help..

What I'm always focussed on is practicing slowly and defining my sound through rhythm, LH space in bass motors etc.. Aaaaaaaand then ripping shit through some Lydian frenzy.!!