jump rope for drummers

Before I went full-bore into a music career I explored all kinds of other interests: baseball, BMX racing, soccer, wrestling, karate and boxing.  Of all of these, boxing left the biggest impression on me.  While, yes, taking a punch to the face will certainly leave a lasting mental impression, and hopefully not a physical one, the aspect of boxing that has stayed with me for life has been.... THE JUMP ROPE.

Jumping rope has a rhythm, feel and continuity that really inspires me.  One day, I was jumping rope and I thought about the African triplet rhythm and the shuffle.  I heard these rhythms in my head as I worked out with the rope and thought... how can I take this further?

So, I starting creating beats in Pro Tools that felt right for the jump rope rhythm.  Like a scientist, I went through draft after draft.  Each time, taking the tracks to the gym to test them out and then going back to the lab.

I started this process in 2006 in my small Manhattan apartment in New York City.

As I dialed in the tracks, I began composing various programs to enhance different attributes:  Endurance.  Warm-up, Speed, Power.  Interval training for weight loss.

Honestly, I was not thinking about enhancing my drumming with this, but I began to realize that the jump rope was working wonders for my playing.

First, it was a healthy and positive exercise.  The music biz is rough, especially for drummers, who have to haul a ton of gear, set it up, play it all night, tear it down, load it up and take it home.  If you add unhealthy life habits to that like drinking, getting high, sleeping in till noon... well, you're gonna hit a wall sooner than later.  

I mean, ever look at a guy like Kenny Aronoff?  That guy is a beast!!  He's got to be in his 60s by now and look at him, he looks amazing and plays his ass off!

So anyway, I began to feel much more connected with my core rhythm and it translated into my drumming which became much more effortless and fluid.  20 minutes with the jump rope on the day of a performance paid off huge.  When I sat at the drums, they seemed to play themselves.  

It doesn't matter what kind of music you play.  It works for any music.

Sometimes, things other than drumming can influence our playing, either good or bad.  I had tried weight lifting in my younger years and it always tightened me up, so I stopped.  I wanted to enhance my playing thru exercise and once I dropped the weights for the jump rope I've never looked back.  Sure, I still lift light weights, but no bulking up.  The rope can maintain muscle tone, too.  

So, drummers, maybe you'd like to try my idea.  Check out my "Progressive Jump Rope Beats" album at......

Wishing you all the best in music, health and drumming..

​Matt


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