Pain!

[petgeh]

If i play longer than one minute, my upper arm always starts hurting and tights up a lot. Do you think its a technique problem? Did somebody have such a experience?

[Drummer Karl]

mh, that is serious!

My short advice would be to watch some of the Derrick Pope vids here on the site or maybe PM him this question. that is definitly a techniqual problem.

here are the vids of Derrick:

http://www.drummerworld.com/Clinic/Derrick_Pope1.html

Karl

[h3r3tic]

If i play longer than one minute, my upper arm always starts hurting and tights up a lot. Do you think its a technique problem? Did somebody have such a experience?
I think in any kind of technique, you should try to avoid using the arms as much as possible... maybe that´s your problem why you´re feeling pain on your upper arm.

A good way to overcome this problem would be by practising the Freestroke technique.
I once saw a video of Dom Famularo demonstrating the Freestroke technique using ONLY THE WRISTS and to help him know if he´s using oly wrists or arms, he used to put on top of his wrists two sticks glued to each other. Now what that does is that if you´re using only wrists, the sticks will remain horizontal but if you use arms, then you´ll see that the sticks will move a little looking almost if they were in a diagnal position - which we want to avoid.

So try using this method looking to a mirror to know where´s your problem;)
Check out the video that I described about Dom Famularo.
At the time you check this link, you´ll see a list of videos. Choose the "Isolation of the wrists"

Good Luck Dude!
http://www.vicfirth.com/education/drumset/domfamularo.html

[Shinx]

If i play longer than one minute, my upper arm always starts hurting and tights up a lot. Do you think its a technique problem? Did somebody have such a experience? What kind of pain is it? It (hopefully) could just be your muscles reacting to underactivity when you start playing too fast. Try stretching a bit before you play, which is always advisable. I'm sure someone much smarter than me in these situations will come along and give you even better advice so just hold on

[bromasi]

If i play longer than one minute, my upper arm always starts hurting and tights up a lot. Do you think its a technique problem? Did somebody have such a experience?

If you tense up while practicing pain is just right around the corner try to relax, slow down, I know when I try to get faster I can feel my whole body tighten up and thats a sign to slow down, relax and start all over again. Good Luck

[h3r3tic]

If you feel muscle burn - that´s one thing but if you feel like you´re really hurting yourself that´s something else.
The best thing is to start slow, then increase the tempo after each week of practise ;)

[petgeh]

Thanks for the help!
The funny thing is, when i play rudiments i dont have any problems. I can play single and double strokes about 150 bpm. When i play on the kit, i don't use my hands a lot, i only use my wrists. I'm really relaxed when i play and sometimes i film myself when i play but after about one minute i first feel pain, and then i start tightning up.

[finnhiggins]

I have a story about pain, which should hopefully prove educational.

I know a girl from Korea who studied classical piano at Auckland University. She was one of these obsessive practice people - her whole life revolved around playing and practising the piano - 10+ hours a day. Not out of obligation, but because it was what she loved to do and it was fun. One day her wrist started hurting.

She went and complained to her mum about it, and her mum - in ignorance of the issues - basically came back with a "oh, you're always complaining about sore wrists, it'll be fine" response. So she just kept practising. A few weeks later her wrist had swelled up to about double the size, and she went to the doctor in utter agony. The doctor told her that if she'd come to him the minute it started hurting she would be fine, but because of the delay there was irreverseable damage to her wrists. She had to give up studying piano, and also violin which was her second instrument. She can't play or practice now for more than ten minutes without suffering extreme wrist pain and doing further damage.

She sold her instruments, quit her music degree and switched to studying languages instead. Now she speaks Korean, English, Japanese and Spanish fairly fluently. And she's studying sound engineering at the moment. So while it hasn't knocked her down personally it has utterly destroyed her ability to play music for the rest of her life. She will never ever play a piano in public again.

As far as I'm concerned this was a failing by her teachers at school to properly emphasise the utmost importance of NEVER, EVER trying to "work through" pain while practising or playing. Her mum wasn't to know, her technique teachers should have emphasised this from day one - mine did, when I was at school. Lesson one was stretching, relaxation and how to avoid doing lasting damage to your body as a musician. Pain is unacceptable. If you're hurting, see a teacher who understands this.

[Shinx]

Wow, thats a terrible story. I'm a bit afraid now

[finnhiggins]

The main thing with pain is to realise that it's not something that should be happening - so if a part is causing you pain then you need to slow it right down - often as far as 30-40bpm - and just work on playing the movements smoothly, fluidly and with relaxation. Trying to exercise muscles too hard too fast results in pain, but if you drill an underdeveloped muscle in a relaxed, smooth manner then you'll learn the difference in feeling between perfectly benign muscle development and dangerous, damaging pain. Your body can distinguish, so it's better to err on the side of caution with this stuff until you figure out what is acceptable and what is not. Playing slow and ultra-relaxed is the best thing to do when you're practicing - don't work on speed until you're 100% sure that you can do the stuff with good, relaxed form at slow tempos.

[djp132]

This is an aspect of tecniqhue that I explain a lot on the DVD. Finn is right all the way. Pain is simply unacceptable.

[TomasHakkesBrain]

Wow, thats a terrible story. I'm a bit afraid now

Your pain may be due to posture issues. Bad posture affects the arms, hands and fingers massively. Go to a chiropractor or try some massage (and stretch everytime before you play).

Dont be worried because its generally things under the elbow which are the concern (i know this from first 'hand' experience)..but the uncurable can be cured these days seriously.

[Jeff Almeyda]

I agree with everyone else in that pain should not be worked through. Pain is a warning sign that must be heeded.

Could you possibly post a video of you while you are playing so that we can take a look at your technique? Someone might see something that could help you out.

[Scatman]

Jim Chapin once said
The person that said no pain no gain
Shoot him
Playing incorrectly is the main reason for pain

[MyNameIsRyan]

Here is a useful way to get into a relaxed position.

While you're sitting on your throne let your arms hangs down so you sticks are hitting the ground.

Then bring up your arms as if you were going to just play your snare.

Your shoulders should be down and your elbows shouldn't be sticking out at all. Make sure your shoulders aren't shooting up when you play.