5 Types of Musicians Who Need To Be in Shape

1. Metal = medieval battle

If you're a fan of rock, punk or metal, you expect the band to rock it out on stage. And I'm not just talking about hard riffs and ear-splitting volume. Metal heads and punks will be familiar with terms like headbanging, mosh pit, crowd surfing and wall of death. These are extreme expressions of the joy of music, where participants shake their heads (headbanging), enthusiastically push each other (mosh pit), pick each other up in the air (crowd surfing) or, in sheer euphoria, form two groups that run at each other on command and try to smash each other like they're big human bowling pins (wall of death).

These activities are very physically demanding, and weaker individuals will often get hurt. If you are on stage, proper movement is expected: a wide stance, sprinting between mic stands and musicians, jumping into the crowd and, of course, proper head banging in sync with the crushing riffs. These are all sporting feats worthy of top athletes and it's good to be properly physically prepared for them.

2. Jump – to be more frontman/frontwoman

To be a frontman or frontwoman requires a complex personality with a dose of talent, charisma and, of course, physical fitness. After all, you have to complete the demanding dance creations that are sort of automatically expected not only from boy bands but from pretty much all pop superstars – can you see why Ed Sheeran is always wearing acoustics and stomping on a looper?

But it doesn't end with dancing. Many take on even more challenging acrobatic stunts, such as flips, high-altitude acrobatics and pole dancing. However, even if you haven't prepared dance choreography or acrobatic numbers, the mere fact that you're on a huge stage makes you want to move hard. Can you imagine how many kilometres does Mick Jagger run with his typical stride during Rolling Stones concerts? And what about another gentleman of retirement age, Angus Young of AC/DC? Pink and her incredible Cirque Du Soleil-style acrobatics? Fergie and one-arm flips? Some rock'n'roll creations may require the same amount of energy as running a marathon.

3. Drums

This is one of the most physically demanding instruments. Not only do you have to play all those paradiddles at incredible speeds and combinations, but you use all your limbs. For some drummers, even this is not enough and they push their physical capabilities further and further. Drummer Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe played upside down on a huge structure with his kit travelling as if it were a little train. I've seen drummers with a kit swinging on huge iron springs, drums made of ice, iron or stumps, or madmen soaping the drums with their bare hands (I think John Bonham of Led Zeppelin was the first). If you have a kid with too much energy and he's not into football or hockey, get him a drum set for Christmas.

4. Wind instruments

Have you seen the faces of legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gilespie? He certainly didn't have to explain to you how many hours a day he spent playing his instrument. Now imagine the capacity of his lungs. I don't think he'd be a match for the top divers. What about tuba players? Although every tuba player probably wishes to play sitting down, it's not always possible. Whether you play in a marching band or have to stand during performances, creating enough airflow to sustain low notes while walking or standing is challenging. Therefore, tuba players prepare for marching band season by acclimating themselves to the heat, humidity and physical demands of the season. Players are also encouraged to walk or run with a weighted backpack, wear a mouthpiece for walking or running, and, of course, visit the gym regularly.

5. All instruments

Being physically prepared to express your passion for the instrument will give you confidence and great control of your movements. Music is a matter of the heart and emotions and expressing the complex breadth of your personality through an instrument (or vocal cords, which can also be considered an instrument to some extent). Keep your mental and physical sides balanced in the spirit of the Greek ideal of kalokagathia, a concept that represents the ideal of beauty and goodness at the same time, or the union of physical beauty with moral virtues. It can also be seen as the ideal of wholeness and harmony of the human being.

Passion is demonstrated through expressive physical expressions, so don't let flabby muscles or clumsiness on stage limit you. Let’s get down to the world of movement, sport, passion and music! Practising any instrument also requires your physical readiness. Don't underestimate muscles and especially coordination in your musical development.