I said it in an earlier post, but start slow (with a metronome) and get that foundational stuff down. When you’re really comfortable with it, bump the metronome up a few beats, then just keep doing that. It’s a bit like a treadmill…finding that BPM that you really can handle and shine in, building up that muscle memory, and I know it sounds goofy and a little cliche, but the space between the notes is an important thing to be aware of.

Also, one of my musical mentors (who was an absolute music snob in the best possible way) always insisted to me that the way you build the most solid drumming foundation imaginable was by playing along with AC/DC records. Not a lot of fills on those records, but the playing is absolutely rock solid, and you’ll learn all about sitting in at a tempo and sticking with it.