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.

Scientific researching proves that there are many benefits to playing drums. It's a great way to stay in shape, a fun hobby to share with friends, a way to boost concentration and even test scores, and still one of the best ways to blow off steam.

Actor Kevin Bacon, one half of the Bacon Brothers band, got his start in music and performance playing a drum kit in the garage with his brother, Michael. Today, he's switched to hand percussion and plays with his brother as a way to relieve the stress of his acting job. "I love to play, and I play to live," exclaims Bacon.

"As I kid, I was very energetic," says Liberty Devitto, the self-taught former drummer for Billy Joel and now a tireless educator. "I loved to bang on pots and pans, so I was given a drum kit to get some of my energy out!"

There's also a strong backbeat of science behind the use of drums as a fitness tool. 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," says Kerri Collings, a former professional drummer who still plays recreationally. "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!"

The message from professional and recreational drummers alike is that once you pick up a drum - whether a simple, affordable instrument like a tambourine or something more exotic like a conga - you may never want to stop.

That's what happened to Keith Harris, drummer for the Black Eyed Peas. "Some people go through life and never find their true purpose," he says. "I found mine when drums found me."

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