Blog

8/15/2024

NOTE: All data is open-source and free to download.

Analysis of Snare Drumming Technique via Applied Linguistic Theory

The research for motion capture analysis of snare drumming technique (IRB #2016-02-0031) applies aspects of linguistic theory to the displacement data derived from the motion trackers found on the subjects. The Vicon Motus system allows for an analysis of snare drumming technique via a 3D coordinate plane. This 3D data gives insight into the movement patterns of the snare drummers analyzed under the IRB project. 

The Basic Strokes Analyzed Via Positions

The basic strokes are comprised of different combinations of the three positions: up, tap, and rest position. Each stroke starts and ends with the rest position. The different arrangement of positions (known as basic strokes):

Full Stroke: Rest, Up, Tap, Rest

Down Stroke: Rest, Up, Tap, Rest

Up Stroke: Rest, Tap, Up, Rest

Buzz Stroke: Rest, Up, Tap(n), Rest

Tap Stroke: Rest, Tap, Rest

NOTE: Tap(n) refers to the number of taps per stroke, per hand. 

NOTE: The difference in performance between the Down and Full Stroke is in the action of the hand and stick between the tap and rest positions. For the Down Stroke, the stick (via the hand) squeezed directly after the tap position; the Full Stroke is the opposite where the stick is free to rebound after the tap position. The difference can be seen, and heard, below. 

NOTE: Positions are based on the resultant values of the Radius, in some cases Ulna, anatomical marker. 

Full Stroke Data 4.23.16

The data relating to the videos are found here on the previous blog post: 8/12/2024

The transformed data is based on David Winter's transformation technique, which takes the median of a given data set and subtracting the median from the entire data set (Winter). This causes the transformed median to approach zero. What this process does is show the intersections of each anatomical marker and vector. This allows for an approximation of intersections of the anatomical markers in each vector. 

As seen below, the full stroke trail for experiment date 4.23.16 has reoccurring intersections around the median value for each anatomical marker in the resultant vector. 

This phenomenon is important because of the change in intersections per experiment date ( 4.23.16, and 10.01.16, for 10.29.15 is not included). The difference of intersect points between 4.23.16 and 10.01.16 can be seen below. 

Full Stroke Data 10.01.16

Works Cited

Winter, D. (n.d.). Biomechanics and motor control of human ... edisciplinas.usp.br. https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/4174628/mod_resource/content/2/David A. Winter-Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement-Wiley (2009).pdf