Many segments of the drum market have experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. International Drum Month (IDM) 2005 aims to help this expansion by raising the public's awareness of the fun and benefits of drumming through increased media presence and music dealer activities during November.
"Drumming is still on the rise," explains IDM Chairman Pat Brown. "It is more popular than ever - with pop, rock and R&B drummers; drum corps and marching band enthusiasts; world and classical percussionists; students and teachers; and recreational drummers of all ages. In fact, there's never been a better or easier time to be a drummer!"
IDM 2005 is organized by the Percussion Marketing Council (PMC). As part of its effort to promote IDM, the group has created two full-page ads for The Music Trades, as well as a series of press releases targeting parents, women, teens, ethnic drummers, and the general public, distributed to nearly 3,000 regional and national media outlets. AMC members and music dealers can view and download these media releases for local use from the PMC website at www.playdrums.com
The playdrums.com site also features three market development programs complete with facilitator guides, musical examples, and graphic templates that have been developed by the PMC and are available to music retailers free of charge, including:
- Developmental Drumming - A comprehensive, two-part Early Childhood Music Program. Part One is a series of musical games and activities for preschoolers, parents, and caregivers. Part Two introduces 5- to 7-year-olds to world drumming.
- PlayDrums - A simple, straight-forward method for giving 5-minute, introductory drumset and hand drum lessons, which includes printed and video tutorials.
- Roots of Rhythm - A fascinating multi-cultural, cross-curricular, integrated arts and academics program for 5th and 6th graders. Classrooms teachers can choose from 15 different chapters in the lesson guides, each presenting a unique culture, history, geography, and percussion instrument from around the world.
In addition to these media and program materials, and the many educational events and drum festivals that are taking place throughout IDM 2005, the PMC is also supporting a special IDM Internet contest where visitors can win thousands of dollars worth of drums and drum accessories on the AMC's website: themusicedge.com.
International Drum Month is sponsored by the drumming community and the Percussion Marketing Council, along with the generous support from NAMM (the International Music Products Association) and its members. For further information please log on to www.playdrums.com.
Formed in 1995, the Percussion Marketing Council is a trade organization dedicated to serving drummers and percussionists. To learn more, please contact the PMC at kbdustman@aol.com, visit www.playdrums.com, or call (440) 582-7006.
