Relax. Don't use any more muscles than necessary. Maintain a strong fulcrum. Hands, when not playing, should be at rest in the set position in order to look confident and professional. Chops are the key to playing great – burning muscle pain is your friend. When playing a marching bass drum, play in the center of the head. Have the mallet striking at a right angle (check this by practicing in a mirror). The mallet must always contact the head with its full velocity, especially when playing low.  Play through the drum; when playing an orchestral bass drum, strike a bit off center––this will produce fuller overtones. Be able to play the whole part with proper mallet heights before attempting to split it up with the bassline. Make sure it is always hitting the drum in the center of the head, this may be harder if you have a smaller drum.  This will get a fuller sound. If you have rolls, make sure your pinkies don't fly out! Practice with a metronome or electronically quantized music.  Know where the downbeats are and be able to count all of the rhythms while marking time with your feet. When playing splits, always stay with the full ensemble, don't adjust your timing to a previous error within the bassline. Play aggressively. Take one step at a time (especially with tempos). However, get to know the whole part and not just yours. Knowing how the split flows will help you with your own part. Once you rehearse with the drumline, you will see how your parts fit in with the snares and tenors. This will help with cues and timing. Get your charts. When you set them up, make sure you know where your music starts and stops and how it fits in with the charts. Make sure your spacing in the bassline is even, as this will be very noticeable. Make sure the drumline's  arcs and lines are smooth (because you are probably on the end and you can tell if it is smooth, more than the snares). Playing split sextuplets can look really hard but just know where you come in and it should be fine. Also, don't crush them down. They should sound smooth and not choppy. The same rules apply to 32nd note splits, if they are at fast tempos they probably won’t sound choppy. Just make sure you are hitting all four notes and not just three. If you are used to playing sextuplet runs and then you have a 16th note run, make the switch in your head and play them smooth and even.

Summary: Get the correct posture: Play the bass drum. Hit the drum correctly. Get the rhythm right. Don't practice "above your head". Memorize your music. Practice with the bassline to get your parts solid before going into a rehearsal with the rest of the drumline. On the practice field: Playing long splits:


Are you trying to land a job? Do you want to go on more dates? Keeping your goal in mind will help you stay motivated to socialize regularly. Having a goal will also help you know where to direct your efforts. For instance, if you’re networking for your career, you might decide to attend more conferences. Before you even go out, think up a few topics that you’d be comfortable discussing with other people. Having some conversation topics at hand will boost your confidence, especially if you’re shy.  Talking about the weather is always a safe option, since everybody deals with the weather on a daily basis. Other good topics of conversation include work, family, and food. Keep your conversation topics light, relatable, and neutral. Avoid talking about personal or touchy topics such as religion and health. Stick with things like "How do you know the host?" or "I haven't seen your family in a while. How are they?" Your social skills get stronger the more you use them. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true: if you stay inside all day, your social skills deteriorate. To stay on top of your social game, challenge yourself to interact with people regularly in your day-to-day life.  You can practice small talk with classmates, co-workers, or the person behind you in the checkout line. Set a goal to make conversation with one stranger each day. This can be with the cashier at the grocery store or the mailman. Consider getting a job that helps you develop your social skills. Waiting tables, bartending, and working retail are a few options that give you plenty of opportunities to talk with people. A low-pressure way to break the ice with someone before you meet them in real life is to reach out to them on social media. Try following them on Twitter or adding them on LinkedIn. This way, you won’t be total strangers when you meet face-to-face.  This strategy works especially well for meeting new people at work. If you hold extroversion up as the standard of “correct” behavior, you might end up feeling inferior for no good reason. Introversion is neither better nor worse than extroversion – just different. Instead of putting yourself down for being an introvert, focus on your own unique strengths and look for ways to work on your weaknesses.

Summary: Define your reasons for socializing. Think of some conversation starters. Practice putting yourself out there. Connect on social media. Avoid comparing yourself to extroverts.


Once the time is up, take the bowl out and give the ingredients a quick stir. If the lipstick is still pretty solid, put it in for another 10 seconds. Remember to use your oven mitts when handling the hot bowl. Use a plastic spoon to stir everything until the lipstick completely melts and integrates with the rest of the ingredients. If you want the lipgloss to be a darker shade, add a little more lipstick, microwave it again for 10 more seconds, and continue mixing. Use plastic utensils when you can while making lipgloss. The wax can be really hard to get off of regular utensils, and it’ll be easy to just discard the plastic ones when you’re done. If you’re using chapstick or lipgloss tubes, make sure to leave them upright until they’re completely set, otherwise, the gloss could spill out. You could also put the gloss into the fridge to help speed up the setting process. Just like with any other kind of lipgloss, avoid leaving it in direct sunlight, as it could melt back down and make a mess. If you want it to be firmer, keep it in the fridge. If you liked your experience, you could host a lipgloss-making party, or make multiple shades to give away to friends and family during the holiday season. Your lipgloss won’t expire, exactly, but if you notice a weird smell or if it changes color at all, it’s time to get rid of it. Generally, your lipgloss should last for 2 to 3 years.
Summary: Heat the lipstick, oils, and beeswax for 10 seconds in the microwave. Stir the mixture so everything combines together. Let the mixture set for 10 to 15 minutes before you try to use it. Store your new lipgloss at room temperature, and enjoy!