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Drummer broke his elbow...oh no!

EagleMoon

EagleMoon

Jul 13, 2007
12,818
1,305
Phoenix, Arizona
#1
Our new drummer broke his elbow a couple of weeks ago. We've been trying to decide whether to keep him or wait until he gets better. He's a really good fit with our band, but I'm wondering if this is going to be a really long wait? Anybody have any idea how long it might be before he will be able to play again? His doctor is saying 4-6 weeks, but they always say that. :rolleyes: I have a feeling we're talking much longer. I hate to have the band stagnate while the drummer recovers, but I kind of hate to replace him since we just found him. What would you guys do?
 
#7
If it took six months to find him, keep him! If you have gigs booked before he's cleared to play again, hire a temporary replacement drummer, and make it clear to both your new guy and the replacement that the guy with the broken elbow will get his job back as soon as his doctor says he can play again.
 
#11
Put yourself in his place - if you broke your fretting hand would you want the band to permanently replace you ?


Seriously - if you like the drummer, wait it out - get a temp (money always works in getting good drummers) if you have to for any gigs while he's down. Don't put any pressure on him while he's recovering - let it happen at its' pace.

You'll be glad you stuck with him. (even if you fire him someday down the road, at least you did the right thing now... :) )
 
#13
EagleMoon said:
Not so easy to keep though, apparently.

There are lots of guys around here who call themselves drummers, and they can hit the drums, but they're not musicians.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a lot of guitar players and bassists around here. We ended up with the best fit with our current drummer. He isn't going anywhere.

Do you know if your current drummer really enjoys the band?
 
#14
Dark Horse said:
Put yourself in his place - if you broke your fretting hand would you want the band to permanently replace you ?


Seriously - if you like the drummer, wait it out - get a temp (money always works in getting good drummers) if you have to for any gigs while he's down. Don't put any pressure on him while he's recovering - let it happen at its' pace.

You'll be glad you stuck with him. (even if you fire him someday down the road, at least you did the right thing now... :) )
Click to expand...

They wouldn't replace me, I'm one of founders. I think....:D

We've only had this guy a few weeks. The week before his accident was his second practice with us, so he's really new. I probably should have worded the OP better, but he's happy to be with us. And what I was more curious about was whether anyone had experience with these kinds of injuries. If he's going to take 6 months to a year to heal up, then we'd need to do something more serious for a replacement. We have been trying to decide what to do while he's out. I'd still like to have practices and move the band along, but it's harder to do when you're not all there or contributing in the same way.
 
#15
My experience with drummers is: They do something stupid on a regular basis and frequently let you down with a broken something. I say you have 5 to 6 weeks to find a better drummer. If you don't have him replaced by then er.......uhm......well he's it.
 
#16
Obviously the time to recover depends on how complex the break is.. I once messed up my elbow in a bike crash, requiring surgery and titanium implants, and for me it went approximately:
- playing bass after two months (it was my right arm) and piano a few weeks later
- swimming without pain after maybe four months
- pushups after nine months

But if it's a simpler thing, recovery could well be faster.
 
#17
I'm a drummer. I broke my hand a couple of years ago when I crashed out of a motorcycle race. They told me I'd be in a cast for a month. I had 'em cut it off after 2 1/2 weeks. In the meantime, I figured out how to hold a stick with a cast covering my palm and last 2 fingers and kept practicing with my band in the meantime.

Another time, I fell off my dirt bike riding in the woods and broke my elbow. Had it in a sling for 3+ weeks and could not use that arm to play drums at all during that time. Then when I could, the pain was the worst I've ever had (and I have had a LOT worse injuries).

How long it takes your guy to get back to somewhat normal playing really depends on how bad the break is. But, I've seen a number of one-armed drummers (and been one) that did just fine. Your guy should continue to practice with you like that in the meantime. He won't sound as good as he will when he's healed, but he can still be learning the songs - basic grooves, where the breaks are, etc.. Since he's new, I assume he's got a lot to learn about your set list, and he can make a lot of progress even with a broken elbow.

Speaking of broken elbows, they are nasty because of the range of motion that you lose while they are healing. It's a lot worse than most other joints. So, expect him to be able to start playing again in 4 - 6 weeks. But don't expect him to be playing WELL for another month or 2 after that.
 

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