Hi All
Does anyone here have a regular wrist & hand exercise that they do prior to playing, stretches or using weights ?
I'm left wrist and hand weak, it would likely help to have a routine.
I do some left hand sticking each morning on the pad.
Maybe there is an article on the subject ?
Thanks
turn your kit "around" and play LEFTY.....
Practice on a pillow. Do doubles, singles and paradidles for about an hour a day while you watch TV or listen to music. You may get sore but it will work.
be carefull: gradually build up the duration of practice and used power (practicing on a pillow takes more force). if you don't you may get injury.
second: buy dumbles and do power exercise for back and shoulders! That's where the power has to come from. When you work from a strong power house,, your lower arm and wrist will have a lot less to do to get the same power in a stroke. Think of your upper body as a total system.
my 2 cents.
another tip: I do my handexercises with 2b stick (heavy) and my regular drumming on the kit with 5a (rather light).
Is your left side giving out physically or is it just less coordinated?
If it's just less coordinated, playing open handed has helped me, riding the hi hat with my left stick and playing the snare with my right.
Dom Famularo has written a well-regarded book called The Weaker Side, here is his pitch for it, along with some pad exercises:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFF_z6mKHmU"]Dom Famularo Demonstrates Exercises For the Weaker Side - YouTube[/ame]
-Erik
______
Early '70's Slingerland New Rock #50 in blue agate (20-16-13-12)
Late '50's WFL Swingster/Barrett Deems in black/gold Duco
'70's Slingerland Gene Krupa Sound King COB
early '70's Ludwig Acrolite
'80's Ludwig Rocker II 6 1/2" snare
Rogers Supreme Big "R" hi hat
Practice on a pillow. Do doubles, singles and paradidles for about an hour a day while you watch TV or listen to music. You may get sore but it will work.
I do something similar but without the pillow...
Using "Timpani Mallets", start with singles, doubles, accented triplets. & then paradiddles and in that specific order... alternate sticking, plus with BD foot locking down the bars..
(You want (at least) twenty straight minutes of the above)..
Then switch to sticks & go again..
Lean towards more of the accents being generated from your weaker hand...
Cheers
John
Note// Timpani mallets are a handy passenger seat accessory.. you may even find a sweet spot on the dashboard..
Thank you guys for the info, I ordered the book and will take you advice, on practising !!
Hi, Whorwood!
It's great to know that these members are so quick to come to the aid of a fellow musician. That's how it should be!!! I have been bodybuilding and power lifting for more than thirty years BUT, there are still times when my back gets sore from twisting around my big kit! Occasionally my left hand will even cramp if I grip my stick too long while doing rim shots. God, getting older is such a drag! Hang in! Do what you can and have fun!
Brian
