The growth of drumming as a fun, inclusive, and healthy recreational activity is as explosive as, well, the music drummers are making. From high school drumlines, to fast hands competitions, to community drum circles and drum-and-fitness protocols, a growing number of people are discovering that drumming is more than a musical activity, it's a positive lifestyle choice.

This November, the Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) is celebrating International Drum Month 2006 by spreading the message that you don't have to be a professional percussionist to get a bang out of a bongo or a kick out of a conga.

The PMC has been putting drums into the hands of new players throughout the year. Its PlayDrums free lesson labs have been featured at public events, its 15-part multicultural classroom curriculum Roots of Rhythm continues to grow, and its new middle school outreach program Percussion in the Schools is now in its planning stages. This year the PMC affiliated with SupportMusic.com, which empowers parents, educators and civic organizations to act locally to keep music education programs strong.

"If what you're playing feels good to your heart, keep playing!" laughs renowned Latin percussionist Jackie Bertone. "I tell people all you need to play great percussion is a shaker, a tambourine, and a cowbell - perhaps the easiest and least expensive instruments. Yet they can be fun and complex."

In the hands of anyone a drum can be a powerful tool for self-expression that offers myriad physical, social, and psychological benefits. Students of drum history, such as The Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart, point out that these benefits have been known since the dawn of civilization - now medical science is confirming them. Thanks to this research, drumming is an indispensable part of hospital music therapy programs.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, drum circle facilitator Christine Stevens packed up her instruments and made sure their healing power was felt by the disaster's survivors. "College students, hospital staff, FEMA trailer residents - everyone welcomed the hope, happiness, and bonding drumming has to offer," says Stevens.

There's also a strong backbeat of science behind the use of drums in the fitness movement. African and Afro-Cuban dance classes are a common sight in health clubs, and formal drum-and-fitness programs are taking off. One example is FitRhythms, developed by percussionist Paulo Mattioli. A scientific study of his easy-to-follow, half-hour program found that participants burned an average of 270 calories - more than cycling, hiking, or weight training!

"Playing drums has made me stronger," concludes Kerri Collings, a 42-year-old real estate agent and recreational drummer. "It's made me physically stronger, but also stronger in character. I say no matter what your age, if you like to drum, just do it!"

Formed in 1995, the Percussion Marketing Council is a trade organization dedicated to serving drummers and percussionists.