10 Health Benefits of Drumming: A Quick Guide
Percussion instruments have been around for thousands of years, and they won't go away anytime soon. They're enjoyable to play with, spark creativity, and encourage social development.
The best part is that learning how to play the drums isn't limited to a specific age. Adults and children alike can enhance their lives through drumming. How? Well, playing the drums is linked to several health benefits.
Here are the top ten.
1. Reduces Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety and stress affect 40 million adults in the United States. While anxiety is treatable, only about 36% of those suffering seek treatment. A common concern among these individuals is that they don't want to rely on medicine to feel better.
The good news? There are many ways to relieve feelings of stress or anxiety that don't involve medication —drumming, for instance.
Studies have shown that drumming boosts the mood and promotes overall well-being. The reason is that playing the drums is a workout. When you exercise, the brain releases endorphins. The same thing happens while drumming. You're using your hands, arms, and legs to create a tune. In the process, you're burning calories and releasing these feel-good chemicals.
2. Relieves Depression
Have you ever considered attending a drum circle? These are informal settings where a group of people plays percussion instruments together.
Also known as rhythm circles, these social events involve playing the drums, light dancing, and spending time with family, friends, or other members of your community.
Research has shown that communal drumming offers help to those struggling with depression. It helps replace negative feelings with pleasant ones.
If you're looking for a way to treat your depression or have a loved one fighting this condition, consider drumming. This activity has many positive effects that will help relieve depression symptoms.
3. Lowers Blood Pressure
A highly recommended way to lower blood pressure is to exercise regularly, drop extra pounds, and eat a healthy diet. Losing even a small amount of weight can make a big difference, and what better way than doing so with an activity you enjoy?
Playing the drums is considered an excellent workout. It gets your heart pumping and makes for enjoyable cardio. While you can use it to replace other workouts, consider adding it to your fitness regimen.
For instance, drumming for an hour every day will make a noticeable difference in your weight loss and health journey. Time flies when you're drumming. You won't even notice you were working out in the process of playing.
4. Helps Control Chronic Pain
If you suffer from chronic pain, you'll find some relief in drumming. The trick is to take your mind away from the pain your body is experiencing. Many do this by picking up a pair of drumsticks.
Playing a percussion instrument offers a much-needed distraction that helps you focus your mind on the drumming, not the pain. Not to mention, the release of endorphins is a natural painkiller used to ease the pain.
5. Burns Calories
You probably already knew this benefit was coming at some point. Playing the drums burns calories, hence, helping you lose weight.
You can expect to burn calories while drumming because you're moving your entire body. During a drum session, there is constant movement from both your upper and lower body. A typical drumming session will burn anywhere from 200 to 500 calories, offering an easy way to get a workout while doing something you enjoy.
6. Boosts Brain Power
Playing the drums takes practice because you need to coordinate your arms and legs to work simultaneously. If you're right-handed, likely, you don't do much with your left hand. The same goes if you're left-handed.
Using both the right and left hemisphere of your brain causes your brain to work harder to improve your non-dominant side. It strengthens non-dominant limbs, boosting brainpower in the process.
A study conducted by the University of Toronto shows playing an instrument has a direct impact on IQ levels. In this study, music lessons significantly improved IQ test scores of 6-year-old children. The children showed not only improved intelligence but also enhanced social skills.
7. Develop Confidence
Drumming builds confidence by learning a new skill you didn't have beforehand. It also helps create a growth mindset. You're dedicating hours of hard work and practice, which will give you improved confidence levels.
If you can overcome the obstacles of learning how to play the drums, you'll be able to get through anything life throws at you! The reason is that drumming is a skill that carries over to many aspects of life.
8. Improves Coordination
Drumming offers a great way to increase coordination because you have to use all four limbs simultaneously. While challenging at first, you'll notice that your drumming ability will improve week after week. And with improved drumming skills comes improved coordination.
9. Improves Social Life
When you learn how to drum, you're immediately a part of a community. You've likely taken courses or worked alongside a fellow drummer to learn. Eventually, you may even partake in meetups happening in your area.
Consider drum circles, or start a band if you're up for it. These offer great ways to spark conversations with other drummers who share your same passion.
Before you know it, you've expanded your social circle and made new friends.
10. Enhances Happiness
When you combine all the benefits drumming brings, you're looking at a happier lifestyle.
Take part in a drum circle or join a cardio drumming class, and you'll realize how much you enjoy this activity. The process of learning this new skill is enough to make you smile.
As you play, your body releases endorphins associated with feelings of euphoria and well-being. Overall, drumming enhances happiness by exercising the mind and body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have questions? Check out these commonly asked ones.
What Does Drumming Do to the Brain?
A few things happen to the brain while drumming.
Research has shown that playing the drums can make you smarter because it workouts your entire brain. It helps your brain synchronize both the left and the right hemispheres. It also helps synchronize the lower parts of the brain with the frontal cortex. This integration leads to feelings of certainty.
Also, drumming induces a natural high. It requires you to use your arms and legs, making it a great workout. The exercise causes the brain to release feel-good chemicals like endorphins. In turn, this makes you feel calm, relaxed, and optimistic.
Is Drumming Good for Mental Health?
Yes, playing the drums has been shown to improve mental health. It helps relieve anxiety, stress, and depression. It does this by distracting the mind from negative feelings. Also, drumming is a workout because it utilizes the arms and the legs. Exercise causes the brain to release endorphins, which are great for one's mood.
Why Is Drumming So Powerful?
Drumming is so powerful for overall health for several reasons, the main ones being:
- It reduces feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
- It lowers blood pressure.
- It helps control chronic pain.
- It burns calories.
- It boosts brainpower and increases confidence levels.
- It improves coordination.
- It improves social life and increases overall feelings of happiness.
What Is the Purpose of a Drum Circle?
A drum circle or group drumming is what it sounds like: a group of people playing the drums together. These can be friends, family, or members of the community.
This activity aims to provide a sense of calmness and relaxation for those involved. Drumming has therapeutic benefits, and these increase when you play with others that share the same passion for drums as you do. Drum circles also help you create new friendships with fellow drummers.
What Are You Waiting For? Start Drumming Today!
Whether you're a professional drummer or like to play the drums as a hobby, consider the several benefits of drumming. From reducing feelings of anxiety to enhancing overall happiness, you'll find that learning how to play the drums goes beyond it being an enjoyable hobby.
With this information in mind, we encourage you to move to the beat of your own drum and enjoy these health benefits along the way.
Drum Center of Portsmouth has everything you need to get started, from beginner drumming kits to congas and bongos for drum circles and more. What are you waiting for? Shop DCP for an extensive selection of drums from the top brands and start seeing the health benefits soon.
Happy drumming!