Worship Musician May 2020

PERCUSSION TAKE CARE OF THE TEMPLE | Mark Shelton Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things My preference for hand protection is a cushion Lichtenstein, heightened blood flow and body and be healthy, even as your soul prospers. tape (such as Nexcare Absolute Waterproof temperature cause muscles and connective 3 John 1:2 WEB Tape) that provides insulation from the repeated tissue to become more elastic and pliable. impact while allowing me to adequately feel the Just as John desired for his readers to be instrument as I play. Stretching and warming up are included in healthy, I desire for my readers to be healthy. my practice routine for the purposes of injury Loading percussion gear, rehearsing and Years ago, an agency booked me for a prevention and improved performance. It's performing for hours, and then reloading the corporate event playing solo hand drums—for worth investing several minutes to warm up and gear can be physically taxing on a percussionist. about three hours! Prior to the gig, I practiced stretch to avert damage to tissue and bones. Although I am not a doctor or physical therapist, so that I had the endurance to get through the I have a few tips for injury-prevention and health night—without significant loss of blood! • Bob preservation aimed at percussionists. Anderson's time-honored manual Stretching provides appropriate exercises • Keep your hand drumming chops in shape for a variety of activities and body areas RAMP AND ROLL so you can endure your musical assignment Do you remember studying simple machines without damage to soft tissue and bones. in elementary school? Two of my favorites are • Learn proper techniques for each hand warm-up sessions. Remember to start your the wheel and the inclined plane. In my younger percussion instrument so that you can warm-up with slow and gentle motions and stronger days (not so long ago), I would produce the desired volume and tone with before building speed and intensity. make multiple trips from my vehicle into the minimum effort. including hands, wrists, and forearms. • Condition your percussion chops with daily • Keep a practice pad and sticks in your car, venue carrying heavy gear. Lifting a fully-loaded on your desk, and in your mallet case so case into my van seemed to be just part of my LOOK AFTER THE LOWER LIMBS gigging life. Eventually I came to my senses “Percussionists while I still had a decent backbone. Investing director uttering those words in the fifth in a dolly (wheel) and building a portable ramp grade beginning band class. I’ve done a lot of (inclined plane) for my van have kept my lumbar standing since that day. Sure, percussionists Or don't you know that your body is a temple region pretty happy. I highly recommend those get to take a load off our feet when we’re of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have two simple machines to make the drudgery playing instruments such as drum set, cajon, from God?... of moving percussion a little easier while and timpani, but many percussion assignments preventing injury. require standing on hard surfaces during long Take care of your body so that playing rehearsals and performances. Hours parked percussion will remain the joy that it is supposed Bonus Tip: One of my favorite labor-and-back- in a vertical position can be wearing on your to be. saving devices is a large plastic trash can with feet and legs. Provide some relief with an anti- wheels attached. It holds lots of percussion and fatigue mat. As I was recovering from a foot For a weekly one-minute dose of percussion rolls easily into your set-up area. problem, I introduced an anti-fatigue mat into advice, my percussion set-up at church. instagram.com/marksheltonperc. stand”. I that you can grab some warm-up time while remember my holding for customer service or waiting at the drive-thru. follow 1 Corinthians 6:19 WEB #percussiontiptuesday at PROTECT YOUR PAWS Do your phalanges take a beating from Go ahead and spring for the one-inch-thick smacking the djembe? Are your hands sore model--and thank me later. after playing congas and bongos? Can you make it through a cajon-based worship set BEFORE BLAST-OFF without opening tiny cracks in your fingers? Whether swimming, running, or tearing off a The hundreds of strikes made while practicing blazing double stroke drum roll, elasticity and or performing on hand percussion take a toll on pliability contribute to better performance while your skin, tissues, and bones. decreasing the possibility of injury. According ©2020 Mark Shelton Productions / Percussion For Worship to Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer Diana May 2020 Mark Shelton A freelance musician and educational consultant based in Dallas/Fort Worth. Performance credits include North Carolina Symphony, Tin Roof Tango, Daystar Singers & Band, Gateway Worship, Wichita Falls Orchestra, Strata Big Band, TALEA, and Dallas Wind Symphony. www.marksheltonmusic.com percussionforworship.blogspot.com Subscribe for Free... 125

Worship Musician May 2020 | Page 125