Here is a bit of respite for all you percussionists out there. Recent research in Sweden apparently suggests that there is a
positive link between being able to keep good time and intelligence - oh yes! The Swedish boffins say they have demonstrated this
in tests and those obtaining the highest scores in intelligence tests showed the least variation in being able to play a regular
rhythm.
The results suggest that the rhythmic accuracy in brain activity when a person simply maintains a steady beat is also
important to the capacity for problem-solving which is measured by intelligence tests according to Frederik Ullen of the Karolinska
Institutet. It was stressed that the tests simply measured the capacity for rhythmic accuracy and had nothing to do with any musical
sense.
Tests also showed a link between high intelligence, good ability to keep time and a high volume of white matter in the
parts of the brain's frontal lobes involved in solving problems, planning and managing time.
[Taken from an article in Laboratory
News May 2008]
So there you have it. The drummer can now strike back and the following can now all be consigned to the bin:
- What
do you call someone who hangs around with musicians?
- A drummer
- Why do bands have bass players?
- To translate for the drummer
- What's
the biggest lie told to a drummer?
- Hold on I'll help you with your gear
Get your own back with:
- How do you get a guitarist
to play quieter?
- Put sheet music in front of him
- What do you throw a drowning guitarist?
- His amplifier
- What's black and
blue and lying in a ditch?
- A guitarist who's told too many drummer jokes
- How do you know its the lead singer knocking on your
door?
- You open the door and he still doesn't know when to come in.
- How many bass players does it take to change a light bulb?
- Six. One to change it and the other five to fight off the lead guitarists trying to hog the light.
