Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "drumsonly2002" <dan@n...> wrote:
> With Moller or Gladstone techniques you will not only get rid of any
> issues with your wrists, but drum longer, harder, faster with less
> effort.

You make an excellent point (as always!) but I offer a tiny caveat
that YMMV.  As an old (very old and getting older by the nanosecond -
soon to be 56 ... YIKES!) drummer who has been playing for 35+ years I
have to say that individual biomechanics and joint disease may make
any "cure" less than complete.  Having fought both arthritis and
carpal tunnel problems for the last decade, I find that even those
techniques are unable to completely eliminate my difficulties.  That
said, you are right on when you make a case for instruction in proper
mechanics.  I thought I would never play again until I got lessons in
just those methods and was able to mitigate the discomfort
significantly as a result.  I cannot argue strongly enough for exactly
the path you recommend and those pariticular techniques specifically.

One other thing that has helped me more than any single change I have
ever tried (again, I've read posts to the contrary and (insert
Universal Disclaimer ...) YMMV), but my DTXtreme IIS is the most
forgiving kit I have *ever* played - bar none.  I have been playing
for up to 3-4 hours straight on weekends and I have yet to require any
pain meds afterward.  This was impossible on my acoustic kit as
recently as a year ago.  An hour and I'd be an aching mess (as opposed
to my standard non-aching mess ;-)).  I went back to the acoustic kit
(thank you, kind and forgiving neighbors!) as a litmus test and was
hurting pretty badly after half that time.

As always, this is my own personal experience and no two of us are
identical, but I offer it in hopes it may help.

FX

PS do2K+2 - thank you from the bottom of my heart for your posts on
the DTXTIIS which contributed to my (wise) decision to buy this
wonderful instrument!