adren·aline
1. a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands when a person is frightened, angry, or excited that increases rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and prepares the body to react to danger.
"Performing live really gets your adrenaline going"
Adrenaline Awareness
Adrenaline can affect your dynamics, tempo and endurance when playing drums more than you think and being in control of it can ensure your reputation as a tasty drummer. Simply being aware of what triggers your own adrenaline surges can help with the controlling of it. I try to check in on myself continuously to ensure my personal triggers are not rushing the tempos.
When playing drums adrenaline rushes can be brought on by a few different things:
Nervousness - If you are at all nervous before or while performing this will have an effect on your inner clock, making you perceive tempos differently. We tend to rush beginnings and fills when nervous and it can ruin the groove and possibly an entire gig, if gone unchecked. Being well practiced and knowing your parts helps alleviate some of this angst.
Tension - "is the enemy of flow" - so aptly put. If you are under tension you must release that tension to be able to move around and do things. That takes milliseconds out of your timing resulting in off time or awkward movement. When relaxed, movement becomes more efficient and comfortable - flowing. Fast tempos can create stress and tension in your drumming. Breathing deeply and focusing on how your body reacts to increased tempos is a good practice.
I have discovered that playing bass drums with my heel up can be a major contributor to my rushing. Tensing the thighs can tell the nervous system it's "running from something" which can contribute to adrenaline and rushing. So now with heels down (even with double kick pedal) I am more able to do fast stuff due to my calves being in a more relaxed state.
Stage fright - Similar to nervousness but stage fright is often situational, time-limited, and usually strongest right before/during a performance. Performers can experience stage fright even when they’re confident and well prepared. Whereas nervousness isn’t just about the moment onstage, it’s about the relationship you have with performance, pressure, and evaluation often days or weeks before and after performing.
An essential aspect of overcoming stage fright is to accept and embrace the feelings of nervousness. Remind yourself that these feelings are normal and that many successful musicians have experienced, and continue to experience, stage fright. The first step to combat stage fright is to be well prepared:
1. Technically = know your parts
2. Physically = stretching and warming up
3. Mentally = relaxation techniques
Happiness - When a song is sounding so right and the whole band is feeling it, this is when you need to check in on your tempo as your happiness, which leads to excitement, can trigger that adrenaline resulting in an increase in tempos.
Prior to doing research and analysing myself I did not realize the rushing I was guilty of. When one is in the moment of musical bliss it is impossible to scrutinise yourself, as your mind is pretty busy playing, listening and reacting to the song. I strive to record everything the band does whether in practice or at a gig to self-analyse my/our playing and to ultimately better myself as a drummer.
So, awareness and preparedness is the key to controlling the effects of adrenaline on your drumming performance. Know your personal triggers and know your parts and everything should flow...
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