Taming the Groove: An Experienced Professional Drummer’s Use of Goal Setting for the Enhancement of Neglected Performance Skills

The aim of this theory-driven single case study was to investigate the role of goal setting in a professional drummer’s deliberate practice routines. Despite extensive research on goal setting within performance psychology, its application to performance science and professional music practice remains limited. There is a clear need for more research on how well-established expert musicians continue to develop their skills. Across two 30-day action cycles, the drummer set hierarchical performance goals to strengthen identified weaknesses – most notably left foot control, speed and fluency in groove and improvisation excerpts – which had been deliberately neglected in earlier practice. The two cycles were systematically planned, executed and analysed through the lens of goal-setting theory and principles of self-regulated learning. Continuous feedback from the drummer himself, an expert mentor and selected practice tools (e.g., journal, video recordings and central drumming literature) informed ongoing adjustments of goal difficulty and specificity. Findings indicated that continuous self-monitoring, expert guidance and feedback-driven goal setting helped the drummer identify relevant areas for improvement, supporting higher-quality practice, persistence and the refinement of technical aspects of drumming. Importantly, the study demonstrates that a well-established professional musician was able to target and overcome long-standing weaknesses, even at advanced stages of expertise, through deliberate goal-oriented practice. The findings provide examples of how the combination of domain-specific didactical knowledge and strategic planning can facilitate growth, motivation and technical renewal in a middle-aged professional drummer.