It goes without saying that if you are a drummer then you are the coolest person in the room. But other than the awe inspiring kudos that drumming will bring you there are also many really big benefits of drumming, including some pretty significant positive health factors
. Here are 6 reasons why you should start drumming today and start enjoying the benefits of drumming.

1. It’s the most fun thing in the world
This might sound like a frivolous point but it’s really important to make time in our lives for things that make us smile. The world is evolving and the pace of life is speeding up constantly. With this intensity comes greater pressure in all areas of our lives. More is expected of us and it’s expected immediately. And that’s why as we go though life, we often inadvertently replace the time spent on things that make us smile with things that we feel pressurised to do. It’s important to take a step back sometimes and check if we’re losing sight of what is important. Adults should laugh, smile and play just the same as children do. And nothing brings on the smiles and good feelings than the joy of drumming.

2. It actually boosts the immune system
Yes it’s true. You can have fun rocking out on the drums and it actually boosts your immune system. How good is that! This is not breaking news though and the guys over at Remo have stated, “Remo’s Health Rhythms Department is on the forefront of establishing a solid foundation for proving the biological benefits of drumming. Neurologist Barry Bittman, M.D. and his renowned research team discovered that a specific group drumming approach (HealthRHYTHMS protocol) significantly increased the disease fighting activity of circulating white blood cells (Natural Killer cells) that seek out and destroy cancer cells and virally-infected cells. Along with conventional medical strategies, Dr. Bittman includes HealthRHYTHMS group drumming in all of his disease-based programs at the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Pennsylvania.” We’re not suggesting that knocking out a few drum beats will cure cancer but it certainly suggests that drumming as part of a group can help encourage T-cells which do act against viruses such as cancer and AIDs.

3. It makes you more intelligent
I know what you’re thinking, the stereotype follows that drummers are the Neanderthals of the band, the lowest in society, the ones that hang around with the real musicians, etc, etc, etc.  We have all heard the drummer jokes but you may not realise that drummer jokes exist quite possibly because of the insecurity of the other musicians who recognise that we drummers are the cleverest in the band as well as the most important for making them all sound amazing. But rather than just say the obvious, let’s back it up with some science.

It is well documented that musical learning can also aid maths and literacy skills but it is now known that drumming in particular can actually boost your IQ. Drumming activates both the logical left side of the brain and the creative right side, a combination that can have real benefits. Results from University of Toronto professor  E . Glenn Shallenberg’s study showed that test scores from a group of six year old children improved significantly after receiving drum lessons. He studied 144 children and split them into four groups; those receiving no music lessons, those receiving drum lessons, those receiving voice lessons and those receiving drama lessons. The highest IQ point improvement was that of the drummers who achieved an average of seven extra points compared to four extra points for those having no lessons.

4. It’s great cardio exercise
Any drummer will testify that after a long practice session or a gig they are pretty fatigued. Despite the old ‘sex, drugs, rock & roll’ reputation, most drummers that are serious about a long, healthy drumming career recognise the physical side of their craft and look after themselves a little more sensibly than in days gone by.

The physical output of a drummer was never shown as clearly as when Blondie drummer Clem Burke took part in studies with Chichester University which showed that a rock drummer has a comparable output after a sweaty gig as that of a professional athlete. Clem’s heart rate was said to average around 150bpm, peaking at 190bpm and burning up to 600 calories an hour!

5. It can alleviate pain
Having just mentioned sex, drugs and rock & roll, it seems that drumming can aid production of endogenous opioid peptides (our internal ‘drugs’) known as endorphins. These are our natural pain killers which are released during many physical activities such as sport, and also drumming. Whilst engaging in this activity and for a short time afterwards, drumming can actually produce endorphins and give you a pain killing effect. On a more simple level the act of drumming and being lost in the music also acts to distract the drummer from any other sensations such as pain. So despite those gurning, pained expressions that drummers often display, they are actually enjoying pain free, natural highs whilst rocking out.

6. Relieves anxiety and stress symptoms
Just as with the pain relief benefit, anxiety and stress can also be lessened when endorphins are released. In Neurologist Oliver Sack’s book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain he states that, “While music can affect all of us – calm us, animate us, comfort us, thrill us, or serve to organize and synchronize us at work or play – it may be especially powerful and have great therapeutic potential for patients with a variety of neurological conditions.”

Many drummers, (myself included) have talked about how much more stressed,. agitated and unhappy they are when they haven’t drummed for several days. The power of the drum is real and not to be underestimated.

So if those six HUGE reasons to drum aren’t enough then just do it to tap into your carnal desire to create rhythm, get on the kit and rock the hell out and you will find all sorts of awesome things start happening. But hopefully the idea that you can have fun, become more intelligent, boost your immune system, become fitter, ward off mental health and relieve pain are six benefits of drumming that are too big to ignore.