Free First Drum Lesson Program

The Percussion Marketing Council has announced the release and immediate availability of PlayDrums!, an exciting new drum market expansion program. PlayDrums! features a series of video tutorials along with a variety of printable guides and support materials that have been developed to provide music dealers and teachers with a simple method for giving free, five-minute introductory drumset and conga lessons in their local communities. Produced in conjunction with leading drummer/educators Dom Famularo (drumset) and Jim Greiner (congas), the goal of the program is to promote and expand music participation by encouraging people of all ages to experience the fun and benefits of recreational music making.

"We set out to create a program that would be a positive, 'performance-anxiety-free' experience for the first-time player and encourage them to continue to enjoy playing music for the rest of their lives," says Neil Larrivee, PlayDrums! program coordinator and educational director for Vic Firth drumsticks. "We also knew for it to be effective the program had to be easy and fun for dealers and teachers, too. After developing the program and field-testing it at major drumming events over the past two years, I'm confident that PlayDrums! represents a great opportunity for both first-time players and dealers and percussion teachers who are seeking ways to expand their businesses."

To ensure that the PlayDrums! program reaches the widest possible audience, the PMC has made the QuickTime video tutorials and PDF-formatted printable support materials available as free downloads from the PMC website, www.playdrums.com. The downloadable files include:

• PlayDrums! lesson plans for drumset and conga drums featuring video instructions and printable guides that explain the PlayDrums! concept and the background of drums, drummers and drumming while providing basic information on how to play drums as well as how much fun it is to play them.
• Event planning suggestions for location, time, audience and instrumentation; detailing the who, what, where, when and why of the program and its elements.
• Support and promotional materials, including free, printable, black-and-white and color downloads of professionally prepared artwork for PlayDrums! Flyer/Posters, Sign-Up Sheets, Lesson Guides, Certificates Of Achievement and Post-Lesson Evaluation Forms along with a sample press release for local magazines, newspapers, radio and TV.

Recent studies have shown that music participation can play an important role in enhancing mental, emotional, physical, cultural and social wellness and drumming remains one of the most accessible, affordable and fundamental forms of music making. PlayDrums! is a collaboration between the Percussion Marketing Council, which represents the international drum industry, and NAMM (the International Music Products Association).