A study by the Clem Burke Drumming Project found that a drummer burns an average of 600 calories-per-hour drumming! That alone is an obvious sign that drumming is a fantastic way to get some exercise in, but there are countless more benefits to drumming besides just having fun playing music and burning some fat while you’re at it. Actively drumming can benefit you in many ways, some physical and some mental. I have been playing drums for 10+ years and have experienced firsthand many of these benefits. One of the most cherished aspects of drumming for me is the therapeutic effect. It has oftentimes been a place of meditation and mind clearing for me throughout the years.
So, let’s talk about the benefits of drumming!
One of the most obvious and prevailing benefits is the physical boost. As I mentioned, drumming can burn a ton of calories! Whether it’s a practice session, a gig, or just blowing off some steam on the kit, the time spent in motion is a major positive. The sheer nature of drumming and keeping your limbs in motion can help with things like cardiovascular health and weight management. Playing can even raise the level of your metabolism. Muscle strength and endurance are other physical aspects that are improved by drumming, as it engages all your limbs and your core at once. The frequent movement of your limbs has your muscles flexing and contracting constantly. Besides that, the aerobic nature of drumming causes the heart to work to pump blood, which helps keep arteries clear – meaning you’ll also be investing in your long-term health!
Now that I’ve told you about the physical boosts, let’s talk about some of the mental benefits. Research has shown drumming can help with anxiety, PTSD symptoms and aggression. Drumming can also help reduce stress, tension, and anxiety by releasing hormones that are associated with well-being. Playing the drums has a meditative quality which provides mental relaxation. It’s the pattern repetition of drumming that induces a meditative mood, and it’s well documented that meditation can lower stress and provide a sense of relaxation. Drumming produces alpha waves generated by the brain as well. Alpha waves give us a feeling of euphoria and well-being. People with lower or no alpha wave generation generally have more mental stress.
So we’ve talked about drumming’s positive effects on physical and mental health, now let’s hear how it can benefit brain function. Drumming can synchronize the left and right brain hemispheres. Brain activity that syncs both sides of the brain builds IQ. Focus and recall are easier when both sides are working together. Playing the drums frequently can create new neuronal connections – and the more neural connections we have, the more self-aware we can become. Neural connections also improve brain functioning and aid with memory. Playing the drums can also synchronize the lower areas of the brain with the frontal cortex, which causes feelings of insight and certainty. People with disorders such as ADD, Parkinson’s and post-stroke patients can be helped by that link being formed.
It’s plain to see, the list of benefits related to drumming is quite long! Even just a few of these effects can really make learning or playing percussion a valuable activity on so many levels!
Related Articles:
Choosing Your First Recording Software
4 Absolute Truths on How to be a Good Musician
4 Things all Live Audiences Want
