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 "A special thank you to the following drummers who have helpfully contributed their advice!"  DB
 

Injury Prevention Tips


Jeff Campitelli
Jeff knows that staying in shape while performing with Joe Satriani is a must.
When preparing for a tour, Jeff starts with a larger diameter stick to during warm up, gradually tapering down to his regular stick size. This helps build strength and get his hands ready. Avoiding blisters and hand fatigue helps Jeff play consistently and brilliantly.
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Russ Miller
Voted in the top 5 Studio Drummers in the world, 2 years in a row, by the Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll, Russ is a devoted performer and clinician. 

"I have played the drums for over 25 years now. Being such a physical instrument, the drums can really cause some long term health problems. First and foremost, your hand technique is crucial to the character, ease and longevity of your playing career. I highly recommend spending time with a qualified instructor on proper hand technique. An "Extreme Use Syndrome" is in full effect with the hands and knees/ankles playing the drum kit. Just because we can take a stick and hit a drum 5,000 times a night, doesn't mean that are bodies want to deal with it. Your body will let you know quickly if you're using improper techniques. You will find your self struggling to play certain figures, as well as, the development of pain and soreness in certain areas of the hands, knees and elbows. Studying the "Moellar" technique developed by Sanford Moellar and furthered by Jim Chapin, has had a great effect on my playing. I studied with Jim for several years and learned a lot about the efficiency of movement and control of rebound. Also, it is important to stretch certain areas of your lower back and warm up your hands before playing long shows. I had a serious problem with my lower spine a year ago and ended up with severe pain in my thighs. I have visited a chiropractor ever since and had a series of treatments and adjustments. I continue this with monthly "wellness" visits."


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  Dan and Hudson
Hudson Bunce
 Over his long drumming career, Hudson has played with a wide range of artists from the intense sound of Headshear to Bo Diddley.

"It is not always easy to get time to warm-up. Often there just isn't a time or place to warm up well. If time or space is limited, I try to warm-up by taking a walk prior to performance just to get my arms and legs ready."

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Bill Bruford offers is tip;
"Eat your broccoli." 
While this recommendation may at first appear trivial (of course it implies the dry wit of Mr. Bruford!), it does underscore the need to maintain a healthy diet while on the road.  All too often altered eating schedules and readily available junk food makes eating well a real challenge.  Always try to maintain a healthy and regular diet.

DVD of Bill's Earthworks!

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Danny Gottlieb:  This Jazz/Fusion legend knows the value of proper warm up.  Danny uses a practice pad to perform relaxed dynamic strokes prior to performance.  While on the road he enjoys running and golf to help maintain his cardiovascular health and muscular strength.