What to do while out of commission w/ a broken hand.

[bmxchampga]

Hey all.
As you probably read in the title, I'm currently in a cast for 4-6 weeks with a broken right hand. Obviously this puts that hand out of commission for a while.
What I was wondering was what I could do for these few long weeks to
A. keep my drum skills sharp, and
B. strengthen my left hand since it's naturally weaker then my right.
Any kind of exercises are welcome. Anything that will keep me occupied for a little while.
Thanks guys!

[BaM_bAM]

Oh my! Sorry to hear that bro! It must suck hectically; I know exactly how you feel as last year I broke my arm and was out of action for a while.
There are a few things you can do that I know off, maybe not the best of ideas but can maybe help a bit.

1. Get a stress ball! These things will do wonders on your right arm when the cast comes off, just play with it 30min a day when you watching tv/reading etc. They do wonders in strengthening your forearm and getting it back into shape. Plus for the time being, you can also use it on your left arm.
2. Use this time to get your left arm up and running, if you have been playing a while, i'm sure you know it’s amazing how accurate and on par your right hand can be when it comes to doubles, accents etc. But the second you try these techniques with your weaker left arm you can’t come close. So take this time to work on Rudiments etc to get your left arm nice and strong. After all, when it comes to doubles..... You are only as quick as your weakest arm...

So practice doubles with your left arm (LLLLLLLLLLLLLLeeeeettttcccc. =p)
Count it as 8th Notes  --   1 (+and) 2 (+and) 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 
Then accent (play louder) all the numbers (1,2,3,4) and only tap/ghost the and's (+). Therefore it should be ONE full arm stroke for the 1 +, one full arm stroke for the 2 +, etc.   

Once done work on triplets. (LLLLLLLLL) - Counted as  - - 1-an-a-2-an-a-3-an-a-4-an-a...   Accent the Numbers (On down stroke), Tap the an's (Once down stroke completed), Again tap the A's (But this time tap on the up stroke)

Hope that helps! =)... and make sense haha =)

[Ra Bones]

  .. with all of the above.
Plus, you've got two feet dontcha?

[carox]

We have a sticky on left hand strengthening - you might find something interesting there

http://www.onlinedrummer.com/forum/index.php?topic=9212.0

Sorry to hear about the injury - but you might find it was a blessing in the long run, if you work on the weaker hand in the meantime.

[deepsnowwalker]

Definitely play left hand only.  I did it for a year and still do it on the practice pad an hour or two daily.  Between that and your feet as has been said.  You can sound pretty good after a short period of left only playing.  It is great practice for sure.  Even after all that I am just starting to get quad strokes down.  My triple strokes are still improving too.  Never enough left hand practice I say. It gets fun pretty quick.  Do it!!

[Nate Brown]

Yeah, make the best of it.  Strengthen that left hand.  Jam around the kit with your left hand only.

I would also take the opportunity to strengthen my feet.  If you're a double pedal player, try going through a snare drum book with your feet or learn all the rudiments with your feet. 

Sorry about the arm!

Anyone else have any advice?

[deepsnowwalker]

<<<<<<<I just noticed my avatar over there was from my injured time (playing left handed only with bass beats in between. Do it now!!!!

[deepsnowwalker]

* checking your left for callouses or blistes*  Have you been playing?