[gyutae]

Like any athlete, a drummer needs to warmup before playing. A lot of times I ignored this and would just go straight into playing and this led to some sluggishness and missed beats.

I'd really like to start up a consistent warm up plan before gigs and practice. Before gigs though I need to keep quiet and not play on the drums. Do you guys have any suggestions?

I was thinking just stretching my wrists and fingers and playing some rudiments. How long do you do this for for a full warmup?

[AvengedDrummer]

What I do to warm up for my hands is play a variety of rudiments going form open (slow) to closed (fast). Most often Ill do singles, paradiddles, doubles. Then do them around the kit. For feet its usually the same thing, except you should stretch. Touch your toes, V sit and reach, whatever. Just dont go out there after sitting down for 30 min (trust me, it sucks). For double bass players do parradiddles with your feet. It loosens you up, and it also builds up speed if you use it as a regular exercise.

[gyutae]

Thanks for the tips. I think the most important thing is just getting into a routine and sticking to it.

[capitalist_junkie]

My warmup varies based on what my body needs that day. Usually it consists of basic stretching, but I do pushups if my arms feel sluggish. I'll also bring out some of the ballet exercises in my athletic arsenal to get me going.

[full metal]

I wish I could describe what I do but I learned it it while I was in marching band I learned some great warm-ups so I would say if it is at all possibal to talk with some marching band guys and bet they all could teach you some really good warm-ups.

later tonight I will get into this some more and go into some great warm-up do's and dont's.

[gyutae]

Yeah the marching band guys definitely need to warm up their chops because what they do is the most physically demanding in terms of drumming.

More info would be great, full metal.

[ninikins]

I just jump up and down a bit and try not to eat a heavy meal right before playing. Food makes me drowsy.

[full metal]

Just so that every one knows I am writting a full artical on warming-up so it might not be untill some time tomarow before it post but I hope it will help you all out and give some of you some good insite on how to warm up the right way.
I would like to keep this post open for anyone that would like to add things that I didnt put in there but right now it is looking like it is going to be long as it is so there is things that I am leaving out, so the additanle input will be very helpfull.

[Davenhurst]

Originally Posted by ninikins

I just jump up and down a bit and try not to eat a heavy meal right before playing. Food makes me drowsy.

Yeah, I'd rather be starving hungry than eat a big meal before playing. Very often venues don't realise how food affects a performance, we've been taken for so many meals about half an hour before stage time and I just have watch everyone else eat.

[ninikins]

I'm looking forward to that article. thanks! Davenhurts; yes, I've toured along with friends who are in a band and even though we would let the venue know that food after the gig was a better plan they would still plonk 3 course meals in front of our noses expecting us to eat before the show. I just cant do it.