Avoiding Sore Fingers

Contributed by Jeremy Slead

It seems to me that the force needed to "Max Out" the 127 velocity is FAR less than what would be required to injure yourself! I have spent a considerable amount of my Zendrum practice time trying to get my played velocity to fall within the most usable range of the Zendrum's recognized velocities. In other words, if you are playing hard enough to injure your hands, chances are that ALL, or at least most, of the hits are maxing out the 127. It's a more dynamic instrument if only the loudest accents peak at 127, and the normal hits are lower.

As an exercise, try this: make a kit (this could take some time!) where all of the pads on the Zendrum (or at least your most-used ones) are set to crossfades. In the module, set it up so that the highest hits of the crossfade play an instrument that will act as an "alarm"...I use a very mechanical-sounding metronome "beep". Then practice playing JUST AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. I'll bet you will be amazed (as I am) at how many of your hits are in the top quadrant of velocity. See if you can play passably without getting the beep.

When I play jazz on the Zendrum, I play very quietly, which allows me some pretty powerful "bombs" (as Buddy Rich called them) when the music requires it. It has been this study of quiet playing that allows me to play the way I need to in that style.

PS: if this does not work, put on some boxing gloves. That would look COOL, and would really be a work out for your accuracy! LOL