Hello everybody, I LOVE being in a drum line. It's pretty much all I think about, and the greatest part of the day is going to drum line practices.

I was a bass drum player last year (the smallest one) and a couple months ago, I auditioned to play quints and made it in!

I love playing the quints, but I have to admit that it's a killer on my spine and knees. I can especially feel the pressure on my knee whenever we have to stand in attention. Also, it does not help that I am a pretty scrawny guy.

My parents are really worried that playing quints will stunt my growth because I already am a short guy (5'3"). I want to try tell them that it doesn't have any effect on my height, but how can I convince them?

So I guess my question is:
Will carrying a heavy weight like that on your back for at least 10 hours a week have any effect on my height?

I don't see that happening but I don't have any scientific reason for my belief so who knows?

I don't honestly think having between 35-50 pound tenors hanging off of you can stunt your growth.. I think if anything they'll just cause a lot of stress in your shoulders and back because the weight is pretty much dispersed that way with the harness.

But like warboy said, I have no scientific proof to back it up.

I doubt it will stunt your growth. but what it can do is give you a lifetime of back problems. The most important thing to do with any marching drum, especially tenors, is stretching, and conditioning. having a really good stretch before and after practice/performance can lessen the pain and keep you from dealing with a lot of unnecessary back problems in the future.

Conditioning can give you the stamina to wear them longer. its really as simple as that. find the exercises that work the muscles you feel tighten when you wear them. and just have at it.

And just wearing them more and more.. you never get used to it but it gets easier as you progress through the season.

There is a lot people your size or smaller that have marched tenors. I had a girl who was maybe 120 and 5'2 and she made it a whole indoor season with no complaints, and we used big block Pearl deep shells and she was fine.

Just don't be a hero, when they hurt flip them up in between running things. use a tenor stand whenever possible. and tell your staff if they hurt too bad. Remember your talking about stuff that can follow you the rest of your life. so just take care of yourself and everything will work out.

I'm a 5'1" woman and I marched for years playing snare..... and now I have knee, back and hip problems, just from the stress of carrying all that weight for sometimes 20+ hours a week. However, as far as growth, I don't know that it will affect you. Work out regularly, especially with your quads and back muscles to help prevent injury. The stronger the muscles that have to support the weight, the less chance you'll have of injury. I wish I'd known that when I marched.

Be glad you're not a developing girl and having to wear a vest carrier, that can actually alter the way your chest develops!

Wearing the drum will have no effect on the growth of your bones and muscles. It could, however, have an effect on your stature and posture.

it can't stunt ur growth because of weight distrubution. there is no studies that find that.

I used to be a pre-med major and there is no evidence or study that would suggest that. You're growth, despite what your parents may tell you, is hard to stunt. Yes, drinking your milk and staying in shape will help you grow but at best you might get an extra half an inch or so if you're truly vigilant about it. It is largely genetically determined.

However, if you aren't careful you can cause injuries to yourself now and in the future. It is important to notice where you feel recurrent pain and try to strengthen those areas as well as considering wearing knee, ankle, or back braces to help support your body, especially on longer days. Hope this helps!

I'm pretty sure it won't affect your growth but It could have an effect like the poster above experienced. I'd recommend taking glucosamine and flax seed oil for joint health to help prevent future injury. Some multi vitamins might have joint stuff in it too.

I had a similar problem my 1st 2 year of playing tenors, in the end my growth wasn't stunted so I think you will be fine

<---Tenors
<---Back Problems

Of course, my back came from the factory with flaws, and years of carrying tenors exacerbated it. The majority of my tenor playing friends an acquaintances have no serious back issues like I have.

You know, my brother played trumpet and he has back problems. Maybe being in the Marines exacerbated his genetically defective spine.

So there you go--tenors are no worse for your back than the Marines. Verified. By science, yo.