Well, here it is, exactly two weeks out from surgery, and I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to get behind the practice drum kit and play a few songs, it felt GREAT! I decided to go for a short, well-practiced, setlist by my favorite band, Rush, including the songs "Limelight", "Circumstances", "Freewill", and "Middletown Dreams". I am a right-handed drummer, so my right operated side is on the main kick drum pedal and I do have an auxiliary pedal for double bass lines. The only real problems I experienced were my right foot had a tendency to slip off the DW bass pedal to the right side (i.e. migrating away from the center) a bit, but not to the extent I couldn't pull it back in. I am fortunate that the operated side is not controlling hi-hat accents, because that would be too much lifting at the hip joint I believe. With my style, I use my ankles more than lifting at the hip and slamming down on the pedal like metal drummers tend to do. Of course, not having played for a couple of weeks (the day before surgery), I was somewhat rusty and I found my timing was bit off, but surprisingly not too bad! I need to remember to stock my drumstick holders to the left and right with the same size sticks.. I dropped one of my beefy Promark 747B Super-rock sticks in the middle of "Freewill" (rockers, you know the part LOL!), and reached for one, and it happened to be a little, tiny 5A size guy..ooops! There is a marked difference in weight and especially LENGTH between those particular sticks, and I really felt it! The short stick caused me to lean a bit forward to strike cymbals, it was a bit of a challenge with a big slice on your hip LOL! I would say muting the cymbals with your hand was also a bit of a challenge as it forces you to lean forward a bit too far, but the double bass pedal fills, etc. were working surprisingly seemless. Luckily I am a fairly long-armed fellow, and I was able to reach all the toms with ease, so long as I keep the right size sticks in my hands anyhow!
The bottom line is, the "Neil Peart wannabee" kid is back in the saddle again!
Jake said it