There is no doubt about it. Drumming is physical. If you have ever played for an hour or so, you have probably felt pretty exhausted by the end. This is especially true if you’re playing in the rock, punk, or heavy metal genres.
Because drumming requires a certain amount of stamina, many people wonder if it can be considered an out-and-out exercise. Well, certain studies indicate that it can be.
Data from a Chichester University study in the UK found that, in a single rock concert, a drummer can burn up to 600 calories. Although this seems like quite an intense workout, you shouldn’t treat drumming as your only form of exercise.
One of the Merriam-Webster definitions for exercise is “bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness.”
I don’t believe you should approach drumming with the sole mindset of developing and maintaining your physical fitness. Sitting down at a drum kit should be about having fun. Your main goal when drumming should be to become a better drummer.
Yes, drumming can be energetic and make you sweat but if it feels like exercise or a workout, you may be doing it wrong. Drumming should feel relaxed. You should feel in control.
While you may get tired when playing the kit throughout a show, you shouldn’t get out of breath. If this happens, it could be an indicator of a bad technique.
Of course, we’re all different. For some, drumming for an hour or so can certainly become physically tiring. This is when you should take a break or stop for the day.
More athletic people may be able to play for hours on end. But if your goal is to lose weight and do some cardio, go for a jog. Then jump on the drums afterward to wind down.
Most drummers sweat but this can usually be down to a high room temperature and, sometimes, nervousness. However, it shouldn’t be because of physical exertion like a full workout.
Drumming can be energetic and physical, but it shouldn’t take the place of the gym or a regular workout routine.
Does drumming get you in shape?
Drumming can make you sweat. Many people see others sweat and automatically think that it helps to lose weight. Well, while drumming does burn calories, it probably won’t help you build a muscular physique.
A 2008 study by Chichester University and the University of Gloucester found that rock drummers were able to burn between 400 and 600 calories during a concert. One drummer, in particular, had a heart rate of about 190 BPM which is similar to top athletes.
The heartbeat range for exercise is considered to be around 160 to 200 BPM so this seems like a drummer should be in the same shape as a professional athlete.
However, this type of drumming can involve quite a lot of showmanship where technique is thrown out of the window. While it may burn some calories, it can be detrimental to a drummer’s body over a long period of time.
The places where a drummer may strengthen their muscles are not where we would typically consider a muscle-building area. These include the wrists and heels (if you play heel-down on your kick drum a lot) and, to some extent, the thighs.
If we considered drumming as an exercise, it would be more like cardio than muscle-building. Therefore, you’re very unlikely to get a six-pack and huge muscular arms from just playing drums under normal conditions.
Drumming requires a lot of mobility so too much muscle mass can be detrimental to your drumming ability.
As I touched upon, drumming can put wear and tear on a drummer’s body, especially if played with bad technique. Some chronic conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain, hand and wrist pain, elbow pain, and sprains.
Although not an activity to get you into shape, you should do some warm-up exercises before you hit the kit, such as Travis Barker’s warmup routine here. Over time, this should limit the risk of serious spinal issues.
Is cardio drumming a good workout?
As we now know, rock drummers can burn up to 600 calories in one single concert. However, not all of us are rock drummers or want to be rock drummers. If you love to play the drums and want to burn a few extra calories while doing so, there is a form of drumming that may suit you: cardio drumming.
This has actually become one of the most popular fitness trends in which people can burn around 250 calories or more per hour.
Although drumming shouldn’t be seen as an exercise, cardio drumming differs. Its main objective is to help people lose weight through high-intensity exercises that result in elevating their heart rate.
Even if you’ve never played drums before, you can benefit from cardio drumming and get into better shape.
Cardio drumming requires little to no drumming experience. It is more of an exercise routine. However, if you are a drummer, this cardio workout can help build endurance and strength for prolonged performances.
Cardio drumming doesn’t involve a full drum set. You simply hit an inflated rubber ball over and over again with drum sticks. These sessions can last from 20 minutes to an hour.
The ball is usually placed in front of you in a bucket or trash can to keep it securely in place and the ball is placed at the same level as your waist. As you hit the ball to a certain rhythm, you will bend your back slightly over the ball. Your back will need to be straight to engage your core. This helps you perform a full-body workout.
Cardio drumming can certainly be considered a workout as it involves your legs, arms, and core. When drumming to an anaerobic or fast-paced playlist, it’s possible to burn up to 900 calories.
With so many benefits of cardio drumming, many people are taking to it as their form of a workout. Who knows, it may lead to more drummers and that can only be a good thing.