Want To Improve Your Music Skills? Take Up Boxing!

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What does playing musical instruments have to do with boxing? A lot according to James VanDemark, a professor at the Rochester's Eastman School of Music. In fact, he is so convinced that boxing helps make for better musicians, that he is asking his students take up the sport.

The internationally renowned double bass soloist says he took up boxing about two years ago and immediately noticed a big improvement in his bow control and stamina. Curious to see if it would affect his students in the same way, he convinced a few of his female students to take up the sport - And sure enough, it resulted in them becoming even more skillful on the double bass, than they had been before.

The professor, who has now convinced an additional 18 students from his double bass class to adopt the sport, believes that the reason it helps is because boxing is a rhythmic sport and that many of the sport's basic gestures have a connection to string instrument playing. According to him, the constant punching allows for very systematic use of hand and arms, while the speed bag helps with eye-hand coordination. Last, but not least, the sport helps build upper body strength and increases the musician's stamina, allowing him/her to to play for longer stretches without getting fatigued.

So far, this rather bizarre combination is working really well - Students who have been enrolled in boxing agree that thanks to sport, they are becoming better double bass players. We wonder if other musicians will follow the professor's lead and jump inside the boxing ring. Maybe some day we will have an orchestra concert and a boxing match all rolled in one - Now that, would be fun!

Resources: esm.rochester.edu.

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144 Comments
  • Think Wiseover 12 years
    wow that is truly kool..... might just try that... :)
    • japanover 12 years
      wow!!
      • monkeylady
        monkeyladyover 12 years
        I wonder if it works with people who play wind instruments...
        • naomiover 12 years
          i love music my fav instrument is the uke and my fav chord is c , a miner and f
          • hannaover 12 years
            i love music. dat is so cool i want to do boxing now so i can't help out my singing and flute playing
            • pizzalove5
              pizzalove5over 12 years
              that is so cool i want to do boxing now so i cant help out my singing and flute playing
              • erinlove59
                erinlove59over 12 years
                I play the drums!!!!!!!!!! I also am a pro with boxing on the Wii!!!!! Perfect!!!!!!!! Could someone please follow me!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????!!!!
                • VIOLINSover 12 years
                  I PLAY VIOLIN LOVE T HIS :)
                  • victoriav
                    victoriavover 12 years
                    music
                    • KML4263over 12 years
                      I love music and boxing.:) But I don't understand how it helps!