Ever notice at a concert, when the band is on stage, the members are completely drenched in sweat? Spotlights make for sweltering heat on stage, and nerves can trigger sweating, but what makes the musician sweatiest is simply the amount of energy they are putting into their gig. From jumping to spinning to almost running around on stage, musicians get quite the workout––but how much of a workout do they really get?

The answer depends on what instrument the person is playing and how they are playing it. According to research done by Nutracheck.co, playing the drums came first with a whopping 290 calories per hour. I mean, have you seen those guys’ arms? Playing heavy Rock and Roll guitar while standing comes in second with 217 calories per hour (if you’re close enough, you can see the sweat on the guitarist’s fingertips) while far in third is playing the piano or a brass instrument with 181 calories per hour. The numbers come from a sample of observed subjects that play the instrument in the field that was being studied. The subjects kept a log and recorded calories burned after the interval of practice given from ten minutes to sixty minutes.

Senior John Dominguez was not surprised about the workout drums give a player.

“The drums would give you the best exercise, it’s all arm day, baby” Dominguez said.

Some styles of music involve more movement and concentration than other styles. Playing Rock and Blues involves more movement and expression than Classical music’s composure.

“Jazz would definitely burn some calories. There’s a lot of movement going on with how much air you’re blowing if you’re playing a wind instrument, depending on the piece and how the improvisation should be set up,” senior Alex Rinn said.

Senior Hannah James gives us insight to how even Classical music can prove to great exercise.

“I imagine the hammer strike from Mahler’s 6th Symphony would be the most exercise from an instrument because you have to lift a huge hammer and it’s really heavy and I probably could not do it,” James said.

Although playing an instrument itself will probably not  provide the necessary exercise for overall health, getting on stage and playing a two hour concert four days out the week for almost a year, based on a usual tour, can prove to be tiring and rewarding experience.