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Drumming for Fitness

Did you know that during a rock show, the drummer's heart rate can get as high as 179 beats per minute? That's in the same range as professional athletes, and just like athletes, rock drummers can burn around 600 calories per hour.

Clem Burke, the drummer from the 70s rock group Blondie, has been working with scientists to study what drumming does for the body. No surprise here: it's a great form of exercise. You're using both arms and both legs at the same time, and if you're playing a fast song, that really takes a lot of energy. Some might say it's more fun than running a treadmill like a hamster on a wheel. Perhaps drumming could turn into a new fitness trend.

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