Effects of stick use on bimanual coordination performance during rapid alternate tapping in drummers

The aim of this study is to establish the effects of stick use on rhythmic bimanual coordination in drummers. Eighteen drummers performed a rapid antiphase coordination task using their fingers and handheld drumsticks. We found no significant differences in the speed of tapping between finger and stick-use tapping, while stick-use tapping had a larger peak force and smaller variability in coordination pattern than finger tapping. As a consequence, the quotient of the number of taps divided by the variability of coordination pattern, named the bimanual performance quotient, was higher for stick-use tapping than for finger tapping. A significant correlation was found between years of drumming experience and the bimanual performance quotient for both finger and stick-use tapping, but not between the years of drumming experience and the degree of improvement in the bimanual performance quotient with stick use relative to finger tapping. These results indicate that stick use enhances drummers' bimanual coordination during rapid alternate tapping, whereas the degree of improvement with stick use does not depend on drumming experience.