Warm Up

Ever tried running a long distance without warming up? Lifting weights without stretching? It's a fast way to hurt yourself and perform far below what you're actually capable of. The same rule applies to drumming.

Drumming relies on your tendons, muscles and joints to provide the movement of a drumstick. I, for one, get scared when I hear about nerve damage and the like. I don't want to end up like Phil Collins, who can't even hold a stick any more. There's two really simple ways to avoid long term damage: correct technique, and warming up.

Because there are many theories about the correct technique to do pretty much anything in drumming (for example, the way to hold you sticks), I'm going to focus on warming up. It's easy to do, it'll save you a ton of hassle in the future, and it's a good way of getting prepared for a gig.

1. This one is simple: stretch. Do some light stretches of your entire body. You don't just use your arms and legs to play drums - you use every finger, your wrist, your elbow, your shoulder, your back and so on. Everything should be warmed up before you play.

2. Do some light practice. Something like rudiments, just to get your fingers working properly. I've lost track of the number of times I've heard someone play and thought they were being clumsy, only to hear them tighten up after playing for a while. If you can't warm up on your drum or drum kit (for example, if it's waiting for you on stage) then you can use a practice pad or something with a similar rebound. If it comes down to it, play on your knees.

3. I once heard Terry Bozzio advocate soaking your arms in warm water before you play. This will loosen up your muscles, and generally have the same long-term effects as stretching. You could even combine the two.

4. Don't sit down and instantly try to play at 280 beats per minute. Even after you've stretched, played a few rudiments etc, just sit down and play a simple groove. Not only will this help you get into the swing of things, it'll also help you notice if anything on your kit needs moved, adjusted or tuned.

5. Enjoy it. Warming up shouldn't be a chore or a challenge. It's an essential part of playing, and playing the drums is meant to be fun.

This video is a simple example. Don't try to get too fancy when you warm up - remember, you're exercising your body, not showing off your new fills.



Update: I should add that Matty G. on the Drummerworld forum put me on to this Youtube channel, which is definitely worth a look.