Looking for a new hobby? Drumming is a great one to pick up. Compared to other musical instruments, drums are intuitive to use and less expensive to learn. And whether you’re playing with hand drums or a full, modern drum set, drumming comes with a wide range of benefits, including stress relief and improved grades. Here’s a list of reasons to learn how to play the drums to help you decide whether drumming is right for you.
It Has an Intriguing History
The oldest-known drums date back to 5500 B.C. Iconography from ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures suggest that they used them in religious ceremonies and cultural gatherings. The drum, like many other instruments, has continued to evolve over time. Most of us see it as a fun recreational instrument, but for many cultures, especially different African and Native American cultures, the drum plays an important physical, emotional, and spiritual role. Learning about the history of drums and drumming is one thing, but playing it is another. By learning how to play the drums, you can immerse yourself in its rich history and open your mind to different cultures and styles of music.
Relieve Stress
Another reason to learn how to play the drums is that it can help with stress. For college students, stress can run rampant—drumming is a good way to relieve it. Playing the drums can alleviate feelings of frustration, disappointment, and stress. Like a “runner’s high,” playing the drums will release endorphins in your brain. These endorphins aren’t from listening to the music. They’re from the active performance of music. Drumming requires constant use of your arms, legs, and other core muscle groups. Instead of getting fit from jogging around campus, you can reap the mood-boosting and muscle-toning benefits of drumming.
Increase Academic Performance
Are your grades slipping? Learning how to play the drum could benefit your academic performance, especially when it comes to subjects like English and math. Music can help you learn and memorize mathematic formulas and score higher on standardized tests. It requires you to apply logical thinking to solve problems—like how fast you need to beat the drum to achieve a certain tune, or how to match the timing on a certain song. This logical mindset can, in turn, help you solve mathematical problems. Drumming will also develop your ability to read emotional cues. This can help you identify certain character motives and thought processes, which is a useful skill to have when you’re taking an English or writing class.
