Drumming is so diverse and specialized

It was recently reported that drummers are physically in better shape than football players. The report from the UK comes to no surprise to me. I have been drumming for 40 years now and with all the differents styles, techniques and facets that are involved with drums and percussion I understand this finding easily.

Muscle tone and endurance are a constant. The different ways to approach each percussion instrument adds to flexability.

Most everyday people think of a rock drummer behind a drumset when they hear you are a drummer. Well, I do sit behind a kit and have played tons of rock tunes (never again will I play Free Bird. Way over played and requested), Blues, R&B, Funk, Country, Jazz, etc ... But, I have marched in football halftime shows during my college days, parade routes and the likes. I have played in String Orchestras and in Symphonies, Brass Bands, Mardi-Gras street jams, drum circles. Every situation is fun and yet different.

From drumset to tympani to marimba to sleigh bells to a cajon to bongos and congas ... whatever the setup each has to be approached in a different manner than the others. So learning the right technique on the various hand drums vs. the techniques used on concert snare vs. marching snare vs. marching tenors vs. tympani vs. drumset vs. ... you get the picture.

Each instrument has it's own fundamentals, it's basics to being played properly. The right choice of sticks or mallets or even just hand positions can make a big difference in learning the right way or the wrong way. German grip, French Grip, Conventional Grip, Reverse Conventional Grip, Match Grip, Moeller Method; what works well in each style and why? Who named all of this stuff and why? Is it important?

"I'm just gonna play death metal. I don't need all of that technobabble terms and all. I just need to play hard and fast." Sounds like a marathon for a first time runner. Won't make it through a show. Will quickly burn out and/or injure their self.

Look at the mallet player for a moment. Either vibes or marimba. It's like a piano but played with mallets, most times with four of them. The grip it critical for this type of percussion. How about a tambourine? Could do the shake and bop the hip. Good for bubblegum pop acts on stage for this visual. But bad for symphonic pieces.

Drumming is an artform in itself and really is a specialty field for many music majors. Band directors of other instruments will bring in a drummer as specialty staff just to cover the drums and percussion just for that band.