PERCUSSION
[ BE WISE AND WARM UP | Mark Shelton ]
Music is pouring from your hands onto
STRETCHING
at the wrists. Increase the opening and feel the
stretching in the fingers. Hold that stretch for
the instrument with relaxed and efficient
several seconds before slowly releasing.
movements. Licks seem to flow from your Include both static stretching and dynamic sticks with minimal effort. Forearms, wrists, stretching in your warm up. As you begin to and fingers are nimble and at your command. stretch, be mindful to never push a maneuver Dynamic
What a great feeling! to the point of pain. movements. Since my college days, I have
stretching
employs
continuous
used the simple motion of shaking my hand
A musician is more likely to achieve that Static stretching is the classic “stretch and while rotating the wrist as a warm up exercise.
aforementioned musical fluidity after your hold” method. Try this one: Place your hands (It’s the same flicking motion employed after
body’s playing mechanism has warmed up. Do together with palms and fingers touching their washing your hands at a public restroom
you devote time to a warm up routine before counterpart on the opposite hand (prayer and discovering the paper towel dispenser
diving into a practice session or a rehearsal? position). Slowly move the heels of the hands is empty.) Repeatedly opening and closing
Can you find ten minutes to invest in an activity away from each other and feel a gentle stretch continued on 55
that can help performance and lower
the likelihood of injury?
A good warm up raises your heart rate
and increases both body temperature
and blood flow. Licensed and Certified
Athletic
Trainer
Diana
Lichtenstein
states that the body needs oxygen to
sustain normal body functions, and
the demands of extra activity require
additional oxygen. Since red blood
cells
carry
oxygen,
an
increased
blood flow boosts the availability
of oxygen to assist while playing a
blazing solo across the drum set or
shaking a tambourine at a breakneck
tempo. Ms. Lichtenstein points out
that the heightened blood flow and
body temperature cause muscles and
connective tissue to become more
elastic and pliable. Whether swimming,
running, or tearing off a double stroke
drum
roll,
elasticity
and
pliability
contribute to better performance while
decreasing the possibility of injury.
A
session
incorporate
can
be
stretching
designed
and
to
warm
up activities while developing and/
or
maintaining
fundamentals
and
timekeeping skills.
August 2017
WorshipMusician.com
41