Tuning & Care...of your body

[Kabum]

Hey guys! Happy New Year to each and everyone

I am not sure if I am posting in the right place, but i am sure that the administrators will know best where to put my post. My question is also related to tuning and care, not of the drums, but of the drummers body and endurance. It is pretty clear that when it comes to musical instruments, the djembe demands the best physical shape (preferably). Well drummers like Ibrahimm Sarr or Boka are not slimmest, but since they are and were playing since their childhood, speed and stamina just stayed there, whereas the rest tented to "relax" a bit.

I play for a dance class (right now i play a dunun-set), and in the last months it has been full throtle. The teacher prefers to "ignore" that he is teaching in Berlin, and makes his classes Conakry style: not many pauses, and very fast played rhtytms. This is for sure one of the best ways (for the drummers) to improve your stamina and speed. But I still have some trouble being able to keep up with the speed for a longer period of time, and cannnot avoid stiff arms or a very light pain on the left hand (the one with taking care of the bell). I do know that practice makes perfect, but have been wondering if there are any specific excercises that can help to improve this process. And then of course I started thinking about all of you that love to share and exchange their know-how and decided to come here and see if any of you have some sort of suggestions or even fully developed workout plans you would like to tell me about.

Thanks in advance!

[BobF]

2 suggestions for the hand playing the bell, try to move just your wrist so your arm doesn't get worn out so much (watch some videos of West African drummers, they barely move their bell arm at all, it's all in the wrist), and don't play the bell so hard. Doing both of these really helped me play longer and faster without getting so worn out.

[Waraba]

Hey man, these drummers aren't superpeople -- they have technique . No need to work out excessively --it isn't strength but skill. Minimal effort, maximum effect. Even a daily-marathon-running Kodo drummer will wear out in seven minutes without technique . There are ways to get huge sound with just a quick whipping-motion. It takes just what you are doing now--accompanying dancers in the presence of the biggest guns, so you are constantly reality-checking and self adjusting. It's a lot of trial and error. But you also will benefit from private, one-on-one lessons at least once in a while with someone who is an excellent teacher and can focus on that technique. It should feel easy and sound loud--if it hurts or you seize up, something is wrong. Easy to say, and time consuming to achieve.

[michi]

I also have problems with my bell hand tensing up. In particular, the muscle in the fleshy part between my index finger and thumb tenses up after a while.

What I found helps is to hold the striker lightly, and to have the striker pivot some around the point where I hold it, so some of the movement is in the striker rather than the wrist or the arm. To stay relaxed, I wrap some tape around the striker just below where I hold it, so the tape forms a handle that's maybe 5-6mm in diameter. That way, I don't have to grip the striker as hard to stop it from slipping.

In general, the more relaxed I play, the less tense I get. (No surprise there, really.) But, of course, that is rather useless advice: if I have problems due to being tense, someone telling me to relax doesn't really help when I don't yet know how to play while staying relaxed…

But, regardless: relax when you play

Michi.

[Kabum]

Thanks for your feedback!

I am aware that djembefolas have an amazing technique and do their workout on the drum, the playing is so intense that they needn't do anything else (although my teacher says that back in his ballets in conakry they used to work out a lot before rehearsals), but i guess i really need one on one lessons and i also have to admit that playing with the big guns is a huge pleasure, but i tend do get lost with their amazing solos and lose the focus on my technique . Fact: I will just have to stubborn and constatly ask what am i doing wrong, and they will probably answer "relax!" eheheh

I just wanted to know how i could complement all of that so that the stamina develops quicker. Patience and dedication are definitely one of the best ways!

take care

[freefeet]

Lots of heavy gardening!

[Dugafola]

I also have problems with my bell hand tensing up. In particular, the muscle in the fleshy part between my index finger and thumb tenses up after a while.

What I found helps is to hold the striker lightly, and to have the striker pivot some around the point where I hold it, so some of the movement is in the striker rather than the wrist or the arm. To stay relaxed, I wrap some tape around the striker just below where I hold it, so the tape forms a handle that's maybe 5-6mm in diameter. That way, I don't have to grip the striker as hard to stop it from slipping.

In general, the more relaxed I play, the less tense I get. (No surprise there, really.) But, of course, that is rather useless advice: if I have problems due to being tense, someone telling me to relax doesn't really help when I don't yet know how to play while staying relaxed…

But, regardless: relax when you play

Michi.

Have you tried using a ring? i switched over a couple years ago and haven't gone back to a normal striker. the different grips could help when you get tired.

[michi]

Have you tried using a ring? i switched over a couple years ago and haven't gone back to a normal striker. the different grips could help when you get tired.

Yes, I brought back a few rings from Mali. I agree, the different grip position makes a difference. But I find that, when things get really fast, I end up with a locked wrist when I play with a ring, so I do a lot more work with my forearm than what is proper. Not the fault of the ring, of course...

Swapping between strikers does help though. At least I consecutively tense up different bits

But the harsh reality is that I need to work on my bell hand because blaming my tools hasn't made any real difference

Michi.

[Kabum]

Have you tried using a ring? i switched over a couple years ago and haven't gone back to a normal striker. the different grips could help when you get tired.

I actually just bought a big screw nut to see if it helps on the "relaxing" part. Dance class is tomorrow, so I will let you know how it went.
Nevertheless I also enjoy light bell strikers made from thin iron, but they have the annoying ability of slipping off one's hand very easily.

talk to you soon, and drum well!

[Dugafola]

a nut may help...but you'll have to deal with hex and the threads most likely.

if you find that helps, check in with Afoba to see if he has some donuts. he's in germany somewhere.

they are actually bearing races from the CV joint of a car. i've had luck getting old trashed axles from mechanics. all you need is a knife to cut the boot. they pop right off.

[e2c]

A number of people I know use large metal washers... very easy to find at the hardware store, and extremely cheap.

[Kabum]

Hey guys,

a ring ist definately the thing!!
I have been using a bolt for the past month, big enough to be held comfortably, and am honestly happy with the results. In the meanwhile i've been rellocated to djembe-accompaniment, but will surely be using a bolt anytime i have to get on fast-playing dununs.

have a nice weekend!