For an Alaskan drummer, a new record isn’t about a spinning disc of vinyl

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - When Tim Saunders was 11 years old, his neighbor introduced him to the bongo drums and he was hooked. Consuming everything drums. Taking lessons. Playing in any band that included the instrument. Symphony. Marching band. Rock bands. Even church bands. Drums were the center of his universe into his 20’s.

Then life got in the way. As he worked a career in construction, drumming took a back burner. Eventually, he gave up playing drums completely.

When retirement came along nine years ago, the drums started beating again. Now, at 66 years old, Saunders embarked on shaking off the cobwebs and getting his chops back. Practicing everyday. Using the internet to improve upon his techniques.

And that’s where he made a discovery. While working on his double stroke roll technique, he saw there were speed drumming records. And when he saw the record for the double stroke roll was 1,200 beats in a minute, he was surprised, because when he practiced every day, he was averaging 1,300 beats a minute.

So he reached out to the Guinness World Record folks to set up his run at the record. He had to line up two official timekeepers, two independent witnesses, high speed video and a stack of paperwork. And the attempt has to be performed in public.

Tim Saunders will take the stage of the recital hall on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 26.

And just in case you’re wondering, 1,300 drum strokes in a minute is just about 22 strokes a second. How do they measure that? There is a piece of electronic equipment call a drumometer. When its sensor is attached to a drum, it can count the individual beats.

There is also an organization called World’s Fastest Drumming/Extreme Sports Drumming that hosts speed drumming events and the setting of records.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com