Keywords
RSI, repetitive strain injury, drumming, prevention, management, nutrition, hydration, ergonomics, mindfulness, exercise

Summary
In this episode of the Drum Well podcast, Todd Hansen discusses the critical issue of repetitive strain injuries (RSI) that drummers may face. He shares his personal experience with elbow pain and emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body, identifying the causes of RSI, and implementing prevention and management strategies. The conversation also covers the significance of nutrition, hydration, and mind-body awareness techniques to maintain overall health and performance as a drummer.

Takeaways
RSI is a common issue for drummers that can arise from various activities.
Listening to your body is crucial, especially as you age.
Warming up before playing is essential to prevent injuries.
Hydration plays a significant role in muscle health and injury prevention.
Strength and mobility exercises can help manage and prevent RSI.
Ergonomics in drumming setup can reduce the risk of injuries.
Mind and body awareness techniques, such as meditation, can enhance performance.
Consulting with specialists is important for persistent pain.
Nutrition, including anti-inflammatory foods, supports recovery and health.
Avoiding processed foods and maintaining a balanced diet is key for drummers.

Sound bites
"Listen to your body as you age."
"Warming up is really important."
"Hydration is really important."

Chapters
00:00 Understanding RSI in Drumming
09:59 Identifying Causes of RSI
20:02 Prevention and Management Strategies
29:49 Nutrition and Hydration for Drummers
39:40 Mind and Body Awareness Techniques

If you would like to get in touch with Lee for online coaching, or just find out more about what he does, check out www.generalstrengthco.com on the interwebs!

Keywords: exercise physiology, drumming, mental health, injury prevention, strength training, prehab, workout programs, fitness on tour, longevity tips, drumming technique

Summary: In this episode of the Drumwell podcast, host Todd Hansen speaks with Lee Stanton, a renowned drummer and exercise physiologist. They explore the intersection of drumming and physical fitness, discussing how exercise physiology can enhance performance, prevent injuries, and improve mental health for musicians. Lee shares his personal journey from drumming to becoming an exercise physiologist, emphasizing the importance of physical training for drummers. The conversation covers various topics, including the demands of extreme metal drumming, the concept of prehab, effective workout programming, and tips for maintaining fitness while touring. Lee also provides valuable insights on longevity in drumming and the significance of proper technique in exercise. Takeaways Exercise physiology uses movement to manage chronic disease and improve performance. Physical activity significantly benefits mental health and well-being. Prehab is essential for injury prevention and should be integrated into training. Effective workout programs should be tailored to individual goals and preferences. Consistency in training is key to maintaining fitness, especially on tour. Proper technique is crucial to prevent injuries during exercise. Accessory movements play a vital role in overall strength training. Rating perceived exertion helps gauge workout intensity and adapt to daily variations. Hyper-focused skill development can enhance musical performance. Longevity in drumming requires a balance of strength, skill, and overall health.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Lee Stanton and His Journey
03:12 Understanding Exercise Physiology and Its Impact
06:11 The Connection Between Drumming and Physical Fitness
09:05 The Importance of Core Strength for Drummers
12:10 Prehab vs. Rehab: Preventing Injuries
15:12 Creating Effective Exercise Programs
18:19 Mental Health and Exercise: A Personal Journey
21:07 Injuries and Recovery in Drumming
24:09 Maintaining Fitness on the Road
27:11 Practical Tips for Drummers to Stay Fit
32:20 Overcoming Deconditioning in Fitness
35:58 Strength Training Fundamentals
38:27 Adapting Exercises for Individual Needs
41:23 Understanding Rating of Perceived Exertion
52:00 Tips for Longevity in Fitness and Drumming
54:38 Online Coaching and Support
58:32 Drumwell end credits 17.mp4

In this episode of the Drum Well Podcast, host Todd Hansen interviews drummer Dan Presland, exploring the various aspects of a drummer's life beyond the kit. They discuss the importance of physical fitness, proper warm-up routines, and the role of diet and sleep in maintaining peak performance. Dan shares his experiences with cardio, strength training, and the challenges of rebuilding skills after a hiatus. The conversation also touches on the creative process and the freedom of experimentation in music. In this conversation, Todd and Dan discuss their experiences in the music industry, focusing on the evolution of local music scenes, the challenges faced by drummers, and the importance of maintaining physical health and consistency in practice. They share personal anecdotes about injuries, the significance of proper setup, and tips for longevity in their music careers. The discussion highlights the camaraderie among musicians and the shared journey of growth and learning in their craft.

Takeaways
Cardio is essential for stamina during long sets.
Warming up properly can prevent injuries and improve performance.
Diet plays a crucial role in a drummer's physical condition.
Sleep is vital for recovery and performance.
Consistency in practice leads to better musicality.
Rebuilding skills after a break requires dedication and time.
Experimenting with new techniques can enhance creativity.
Using a metronome helps maintain consistency in practice.
Incorporating strength training can benefit drumming endurance.
Listening to a variety of music can inspire new ideas. The local music scene has evolved significantly over the years.
Injuries can impact a drummer's performance and require careful management.
Consistency in practice is crucial for improvement and overcoming challenges.
Physical health and injury prevention are important for longevity in music careers.
Maintaining a proper setup can help avoid injuries while playing.
The camaraderie among musicians can lead to personal growth and mentorship.
It's essential to adapt practice routines as one ages and faces new challenges.
Reflecting on past experiences can provide valuable insights for current practices.
Tuning drums is an important skill that can enhance performance.
Being mindful of one's physical condition and practice habits is key to sustaining a music career.

In this episode of the Drumwell Podcast, Todd Hansen interviews Tom Swales, a physiotherapist and strength coach, who shares his journey from overcoming a life-threatening health challenge to building a successful multidisciplinary clinic. They discuss the importance of movement, rehabilitation, and treating the cause of pain rather than just the symptoms. Tom emphasizes the role of self-awareness in injury prevention, the significance of nutrition and recovery, and the benefits of prehab and functional movements for drummers. The conversation highlights practical strategies for enhancing performance and maintaining physical health.

Takeaways
Tom Swales emphasizes the importance of treating the cause of pain, not just the symptoms.
Self-awareness is crucial for injury prevention and recovery.
Muscles respond to the nervous system's signals, which can lead to compensatory movements.
Nutrition plays a significant role in inflammation and recovery for athletes.
Prehab exercises can help prevent injuries before they occur.
Jumping and crawling are effective ways to enhance movement quality and body awareness.
Recovery, including sleep and nutrition, is essential for optimal performance.
A multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation can bridge the gap between rehab and performance.
Functional movements should be integrated into daily routines for better health.
Creating a balanced training program helps maintain overall physical health. 

To learn more about Tom and his work, head over to www.amtcertified.ca or find him on Insta - @swales.tom, Facebook - facebook.com/amtcertified, Youtube - @Tommyswales 

On this episode, I reflect upon one year of doing this Podcast! From all the great guests I've had on, to everything I've learned and tried for myself after these conversations. I also give an update of how the body held up on that last tour, and how the preparations beforehand really helped me while I was there.

I've quite enjoyed doing this Podcast, and I intend to invest a bit more time and enery into it this year. It's a one man show, and I've learned a lot. So I'm going to keep trying to improve as I go along. 

I appreciate all the listeners, and I hope you've gained something out of this content like I have by creating it.

If you have any ideas on how I could improve, any topics you want to hear about, any guests you may like me to persue, please drop a comment on the platform you're hearing this on and I will do my best to make it happen. 

See you in the next one!

Todd.

Welcome to Drumwell episode 13!

This month I had the pleasure of having a chat with my friend Robin Stone! He's a prolific session drummer, working on over 200 sessions last year alone. He also does occasional live sessions, as well as some drum teching. 

We had a great chat about his process and aproach to a session, his diet and exercise routines, good habits, and how entertaining his social media pages are. Come for the drumming, stay for the comments! 

Enjoy the chat!! 

Drumwell, friends!

Welcome to Drumwell Episode 12!

This month is an update on my progress during my January Challenge. After a few weeks of 30 plants and 30 movements (of which there were many more in both cases), as well as doing the work behind the kit, both with skills practice, personal practice (for upcoming gigs), rehersals and shows, I've found a noticeable difference in my power and stamina which is what I was going for.

I go through all that I've been doing, and break down various parts.

Remember, this is all just my own experience and experiment, and I don't recommend doing anything without the correct medical and professional advice.

Thanks for listening, and happy drumming!

Happy 2025!

I wanted to start the year by refecting a little on the amazing conversations we had in 2024. The general consensus? Good movement daily is key to keeping our bodies healthy and ready to play! Pair that with a good diet, practice routine and exercise regime, and you'll most certainly achieve being 1% better each day, if not more. 

I discuss what I'm trying to achieve to start 2025, and how I'm going to do it. My 30 day challenge for January involves 30 days, eat 30 plants per week, do 30 different moves per week, at home pad practice 30 mins twice per week, plus twice a week behind the kit for at least an hour each day.  

I'm exercising 6 days per week as normal, but trying to incorporate some new moves into my routine, with a big focus on core stability and balance exercises. I'd also like to do pull ups, and pistol squats. So I've started doing things to make that happen, doing resistance band pull ups and a few moves to help with pistol squats. 

I'm doing this to make sure my body is in prime form for the upcoming Euro/UK tour with King Parrot. I'm hoping to continue these good habits on the road, albeit with some adaptations to what's available. 

I'd love to hear what your 2025 goals are! Add them in the comments. 

See you on the next one,
Toddy.

Welcome to Drumwell Episode 10! The finale for 2024! 

I had a great chat to my friend of over 20 years, Scott Wade. He's a drum educator, session muso, certified PT, and has played with several rock, metal, hip hop and even country groups in his years behind the kit. He owns STW Drum School in Brisbane, Australia, and has built a wonderful space and community for his many students. We also shared our first original gig together back in 2001 in our first bands (Headkase for me, Neotec for Scotty). 

We have a great chat about our journeys, drumming, our bodies, and so much more! We probably could have talked for so much longer, but we did this before I hosted a drum clinic at his schools performance space. 

Enjoy our chat, and check out what Scotty has created by following STW Drumming on socials, or heading over to stwdrumming.com and browsing the website.

This month I had the pleasure of chatting to my mate Rob Brens. Currently the drummer for the band Mirrors, as well as a session drummer, drum teacher and content creator. Rob actually played 45 shows with my band King Parrot as a touring member before I joined. 

We had a fantastic chat about diet, exercise, warm ups and different approaches to different genres. He has a lot of great tricks up his sleeve and has also gotten more serious about the condition of his body as he grows wiser in years.

I actually had a drum lesson with Rob right before we recorded this episode, and I would highly recommend getting in touch if you wanted to develop any area of your playing at any skill level. Rob knows the instrument well and will cater your time to focus on what you want to achieve.

Website: www.rob-brens.com
Email: [email protected]

I will be on tour with King Parrot across Australia in November! "When The Weed Meets The Speed" tour dates below:
Wednesday, November 6th – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast QLD
Thursday, November 7th – The Triffid, Brisbane QLD
Friday, November 8th – King Street Warehouse, Newcastle, NSW
Saturday, November 9th – Manning Bar, Sydney, NSW
Sunday, November 10th – The Basement, Canberra ACT
Tuesday, November 12th – Volta, Ballarat VIC
Wednesday, November 13th – Barwon Club, Geelong VIC
Thursday, November 14th – Singing Bird, Frankston VIC (All Ages)
Friday, November 15th – Max Watts, Melbourne VIC
Saturday, November 16th – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, SA
Sunday, November 17th – Magnet House, Perth, WA