What are Scientifically Proven Reasons Why My Child Should Learn to Play the Drums?
Sure I am biased, but there is actually a lot of evidence tying drumming to positive learning outcomes, cognitive development, behavioural improvements, and even longevity. I’ve tried to piece together the main points into a single post, as well as add in my own observations.
Drumming more than any other instrument can have positive effects on a childs’ long term health, cognitive development, and behaviour. Studies suggest that drumming helps both adults and children manage stress, fatigue, and anxiety - all of which are tied to positive educational outcomes. Other studies have shown that drumming can improve hypertension, ADHD symptoms, chronic pain, arthritis (in older patients), symptoms associated with mental illness, and even the emotional roots of addiction. Beyond that drumming is a great source of exercise, a catalyst for intrinsic problem solving, and mindfulness.
Kick Close Up
Happiness
Drumming releases endorphins, enkephalins and Alpha waves in the brain, especially with prolonged practice. These hormones are typically associated with feelings of well-being and general euphoria, and are commonly associated with “runners high” - for those of you who are athletically minded. In my experience, there is no better way to turn a child’s tantrum around, than to force them to sit behind the drum kit. Within minutes, their mood changes, especially if/when you offer to “jam” with them, which has a positive effect on the whole family. I now regularly tell my son to go and play the drums when he is in a foul mood, or when he has had a bad day. Problem solved. It is also a great way to get him out of my hair, so double benefit. Parenting for the win.
Fun Fact: Recent studies have suggested that drumming likely played a role in the development of modern civilizations. Researchers at the University of Oxford extrapolated that this above described rhythmic euphoria may have been pivotal in the establishment of the first communities.
A study by the Royal College of Music in London found that a 10-week program of group drumming reduces depression by as much as 38% and anxiety by 20%. A study by Stanford University School of Medicine, similarly found that participants in weekly drum therapy groups were less anxious, less distressed, and had a measurably higher self-esteem. Another researcher at the University of Texas used drum therapy with a group of primary school aged ADHD patients. The study notes that the therapy had a measurably similar effect to traditional medications - namely Ritalin, and even had lasting increases to the boys’ overall IQ scores, and overall scholastic output.
Relaxation
For growing children, having an outlet to cope with stress is increasingly important, and drumming is about the best one you can find. In one study, blood samples from participants who participated in an hour-long drumming session revealed a reversal in stress hormones, specifically cortisol. Cortisol is also associated with obesity, heart problems, cancer, and a range of other bad things. If drumming can help lower cortisol, even if only a little, then that is certainly a pretty good reason to start!
Drumming also serves as a powerful form of self-expression, and my son will literally drum out his feelings. With that in mind, drumming has even been used therapeutically to help addicts deal with their emotions - so giving your child access to these skills early in life, puts them at a distinct advantage!
Pain Management
Drumming can certainly serve as a distraction from pain. In our house, it serves as a distraction from our son, who is the primary cause of pain (jokes). Studies have shown that drumming promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, which are the body’s own natural painkillers. This is also partially why drumming is so addictive! This practice is especially effective when playing in groups - or a band.
Immunity
Studies show that drumming can even boost your child’s immune system. Barry Bittman, MD, neurologist and President of the Yamaha Music & Wellness Institute, demonstrated that drumming resulted in increased dehydroepiandrosterone-to-cortisol ratios, increased natural killer cell activity, and increased lymphokine-activated killer cell activity without alteration in plasma interleukin 2 or interferon-gamma, or in the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory II. What does that mean? Well simply put, that drumming actually increases natural T-cells, which help the body combat infections. It is a stretch to say that drumming makes you immune from diseases like Cancer, and you should probably stop reading sites that say things like that, but in combination with all of the other above benefits, a slight boost to your child’s T-cell count is surely worth it right?
Creates Neurological Linkages Across the Whole Brain
Drumming is a great workout for your child’s brain, and according to research can even make your child smarter - based on my experience though, results will vary. The research goes on to describe how drummers access their whole brain, and how the certain rhythms can actually synchronize the left and right hemispheres. This has a number of benefits, and the more connections that can be made within the brain - especially across hemispheres, the more integrated one’s experiences become.
According to the findings of a Swedish study (Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm) for example, there is “A link between intelligence, good timing and the part of the brain used for problem-solving.” In this particular study, researchers had drummers play a variety of different beats before providing them with a 60-problem intelligence test. The drummers who scored the highest in the written test, were also better at keeping a steady beat. The findings therefore indicated that in using all the various parts of a drum kit to keep one steady beat, drummers actually express complex intrinsic problem-solving abilities - and that the more proficiently the drummer, the smarter they were.
Another interesting and related study from Harvard describes how a drummer’s “internal clock” doesn’t move in a linear fashion like a real clock, but rather is best represented in waves. This wave pattern is found in human brainwaves, sleeping heart rates, and the nerve firings in cats’ ears.
Mindfulness
On the surface it may seem odd for mindfulness and drumming to be intertwined, but drumming has been used in spiritual practices for thousands of years. It is one of the most important components for meditative practice, and most Buddhist temples and monasteries use drums in daily practice.
Mindfulness is the activity of being completely engaged in the present moment, with a huge array of performance and health benefits documented across hundreds of research journals. In fact there are over 40 new research papers per month dedicated to the science of mindfulness. Frankly it warrants a post of its own, which I’ll now add to the backlog.
Being able to fixate the mind on a particular object of focus provides continuity, reassurance and a quality of calm. As such the drums are the perfect conduit for focusing one’s attention - as there is no way for any one person to think of past events, or look to the future, when they are using all four limbs to punch out a groove. It is literally impossible for thoughts to stray, with the hypnotic sounds of a snare bringing your attention back to the present every few seconds. As such, teaching your child how to play the drums is potentially the best way to simultaneously have them master mindfulness.
Exercise
Childhood obesity is a serious issue, with now more than 25% of all children in Australia considered obese, or overweight. Excess weight, especially obesity, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some musculoskeletal conditions and some cancers. As the level of excess weight increases, so does the risk of developing these conditions. In addition, being overweight can hamper the ability to control or manage chronic conditions - so this is a really good reason to start your child in an activity that burns some calories!
Now while I am not one to throw stones in this particular glass house, I can conclusively state that drumming burns more calories in a half hour session than cycling, weight lifting, or hiking. In fact one study conducted by the Universities of Gloucestershire and Chichester concluded that drumming is an equivalent workout to playing in a Premier League football match. Now, I doubt that my 11 year old son is playing that vigorously, but within an hour, he is a ball of sweat and mostly looks like a tomato.
It is important to note that drumming isn’t just about using your arms. If you watch a video of my son drumming, you’ll see that his whole body is working to produce the beat; even his feet are pumping to work the foot pedals. It really is an intense, and multi muscle workout. Afterall how many truly obese drummers have you seen? I honestly can’t remember one.
Drumming requires a high level of exertion to generate continual vigorous movement, not to mention a level of accuracy and coordination that also adds to the benefits bucket. This is another perfect reason why Drums are good for your child, and why they should start learning today!
Self Discipline
One of the biggest benefits of learning the drums, or any instrument for that matter, is the inherent self discipline it promotes within a child. In order to be a good drummer, or to aspire (like my son) to be one of the best drummers requires grit, determination, and a whole load of discipline. There are times when this won’t be fun for the child, or for the parent, and that is par for the course, but if your child has the discipline and the passion to master a song, they can achieve anything life throws at them.
At the time of writing this blog, my son is currently practicing to audition for a performing arts high school (he enters year 7 next year). He not only wants to pass the audition, but wants to blow the audience away in the process. He chose a song called “Grey Street” by the amazing Dave Matthews Band, and for an 11 year old to attempt, yet along master, a song of this complexity requires him to rehearse for at least 2 hours every day. I am confident that this kid can achieve anything in life, even if that isn’t playing the drums.
Self-discipline in drumming also relates to equipment. Your child will need to learn how to keep their equipment in good shape, how to oil pedals, tune and clean their drums, cymbals etc. This builds responsibility, and ownership. It also makes them a little OCD. If your child currently has a messy room, learning to play the drums should help change that - especially if they are co-investing in their first kit, be that financially, or by doing chores.