Why drums are awesome

He says:. In the beginning, I loved the immediacy and power of the instrument. After 20 years of playing I am inspired by the idea of refining my style. Like chipping away at stone while creating sculpture, the instrument has all the best sounds inside, waiting to be brought out. According to Pat, you will never be finished learning to play drums. There is always something new to learn or perfect. That's why Pat believes that although some musicians are using automated and electronic drums, good drummers will always be needed.

Josh Blythe , also a drum teacher at Music House, and professional drummer, loves playing drums for the sound he can make. If you wanna make a ton of noise, you can! Without amplification! Drums are the driving force in many styles of music.

In a sense, playing the drums means you often have a lot of control over the feel of a song. Steve Thomas, drummer for the band "Shooting Star" and drum teacher at Music House , says that projecting your feelings into a song is important. You also discover that you are able to communicate with your bandmates musically through your playing, without the use of words. The best reason I can think of to play drums would be because you really want to. When asked what are the best reasons to learn to play drums, Steve said "The best reason I can think of to play drums would be because you really want to.

Rhythm is a universal language. It does not matter what age, nationality, gender, or race you are. Everyone has the ability to enjoy the multitude of benefits of drumming provides, and there are no prerequisites to learn!

The drums are the oldest instrument found on the planet. They are found in every inhabitable country and drums have played a pivotal role in cultures around the world! The main role of the drummer is to provide the backbone of the music, and he or she is required to play with assertiveness and authority. Within a band or ensemble, other musicians will look to the drummer for guidance and direction throughout a musical performance.

Drumming is an amazing creative outlet, and provides the opportunity to forge your own musical identity! No two drummers are the same, and every drummer has a completely different musical voice and unique style of playing behind the drum kit. Musical performance allows an individual to express his thoughts, emotions, and feelings in a way that words may not be able to.

The number of ways that the drums can be played to different tempos and dynamics makes them a strong tool for non-verbal self-expression. Coordination is a central aspect of playing the drums. Drumming utilizes all four limbs to be played together in synchronization, and this employs both sides of the brain allowing you to play correctly in time.

Improving your coordination behind the drum kit will also enhance your motor coordination across all other areas of life; including your ability to multitask and can even improve your sporting performance! Mastering difficult sections whilst learning a song encourages a sense of self-belief. It is normal for developing musicians to attempt and fail a new piece of music multiple times, and it is a fantastic skill to learn to overcome challenges with hard work and a positive attitude.

The ability to reflect on achievements over time is important for promoting a positive personal identity. Drumming is a fantastic example of a skill that teaches discipline. It wholly reinforces the truth that the effort put into practice will represent what is obtained as a result. When learning to play a musical instrument , nobody is perfect to begin with. Improving a new skill requires persistence and hard work, and much with anything in life, drums communicate the valuable lesson that the effort you put in reflects what you get out!

Playing the drums to a consistent rhythmic meter stimulates large areas of the brain and this has been recorded with fRMI imaging in scientific studies. Rhythm provides comforting structure and stability for students, even those with ADHD, allowing them to plan, anticipate, and react to the music.

Drumming is often used as a tool for music therapy for children with ADHD to regain focus and build new neural pathways in the brain. Science shows that drumming activates the brain and stimulates it in a more complex way than people may realize. With fMRI imaging, there is evidence that strong cognitive processes are taking place and auditory information is being translated with motor coordination being planned by the brain to perform consistent metric rhythm.

I have heard many stories of Alzheimers patients being brought back to fond and pleasant memories through the power of music. Drumming is proven to demand a huge amount of physical energy during a performance.

The whole body is active with repetitive movements of all four limbs whilst the core abdominal muscles are engaged for balance and stability. Data from the CalorieLab suggests that a drummer weighing pounds will burn calories during solo practice. Taking into account individual practice sessions, group rehearsals, and playing shows, the time spent exercising whilst playing the drums adds up to be a highly effective weight management system!

Drumming is an excellent form of exercise that can be performed from home. The incredible heart rate recorded and calories burned in the study are considerably higher than that of participants in sports including hiking, skiing, swimming, and rowing. Drums can make you dance even when there is no other music playing. Drummers are fun to watch, to listen to, and to mimic. It almost looks like a circus act in which the performer is juggling using all four limbs.

Couple that with the fact that our noise-making friends are actually playing music, then there is no doubt that drummers rule. Learning to Play. Playing in a Band. Musical Instruments. Sound Equipment. Studio Equipment. Related Articles. By FlourishAnyway. By Karl Magi. By Sherry Hewins.