Drummer Ron Heyne

NATURAL RHYTHM

I was playing the trombone in the school band in fourth grade, and the teacher kept asking the drummer to play this marching tune by himself. He kept doing it wrong, so I raised my hand and went back and did it without reading the music. That's when I became the first chair drummer in the school band. It was destiny. In high school I had to make a choice between wrestling and music. I chose music.

CLOSE TO CARDIO

Playing drums -- especially in some of the more rock and funk type gigs-- you have to have a lot of endurance. That means sweating. It's like a cardio workout. It's like you ran a mile. It has the same effect as a workout at the gym. Using my wrists mainly has kept my arms in shape: forearms, biceps, triceps.

HEAVY LIFTING

Working out in the gym makes it easier for you to tolerate a full night of playing 100 percent. The equipment is very heavy and it never gets easier. So I've been lifting weights to make that easier. There's the big bass drum, and the hardware case that weighs well over 100 pounds. And I often have to commute up stairs or a long distance. A lot of local drummers pay for a roadie, but I don't make enough to do that. I'd have to give up half my pay, and I like the activeness. It keeps me in shape.

BLOWING OFF STEAM

The first time I played with a national recording artist I was so nervous I started doing pushups. I found that helped a lot to get off some steam, so now I do them whenever I get nervous. I try to eat healthier food right before a gig, like a salad or light sandwich. Between songs I drink beer -- but I'm not recommending that.

A MUSICIAN'S LIFESTYLE

I also do merchandising for Kraft and I work nights at Home Depot. I do lots of lifting at Home Depot. I could try to get in more bands like wedding bands, but that's one thing I will not do. I have to do something that's in my heart, so I get day jobs.

A NEW BEAT

I'm very excited about the up-and-coming rock-edged-soul project that I'll be a part of featuring locals ... Tracey Blake and Pix Russell. It's called the Collard Green Junkies. It's music that we create from deep within.

IN 10 YEARS

I'd like to be playing nationally and recording and producing. But my main goal is to keep improving as a parent and a father. I have a 2-year-old girl, Gracie. She just had her second birthday, and she got little pink ear muffs -- hearing protectors -- from her Mama, my beautiful wife, Angie. So now she can finally see Daddy play. I don't even push it, but she's always grabbing spoons or sticks and that's what I used to do. I'll start doing things on my knee and she'll follow the patterns. It's kind of flattering.

SHEILA ELDRED

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