The growth of drumming as a fun, inclusive, and healthy recreational activity is as explosive as, well, the music drummers are making.

Thanks to pioneers such as Sheila E. of Ringo Starr's All Starr Band, Cindy Blackman of the Lenny Kravitz band, orchestral virtuoso Evelyn Glennie, and Meg White of The White Stripes, women are drumming in increasing numbers - and finding out that, when it comes to percussion, the phrase "hit like a girl" is a compliment!

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 fall launching 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.

Kerri Collings, 42, a former professional drummer and now a real estate agent, continues to play recreationally. She is asked often by women her age who want to drum whether they have to "muscle up" to join in the fun. "I tell women that an instrument doesn't know gender," says. "When a woman asks me if you need lots of strength to play drums, I say, 'Nonsense! Put these sticks in your hands - are they heavy? My advice for a woman who wants to learn drums is, 'You go girl!'"

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 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, nationally-recognized drum circle facilitator Christine Stevens packed up her instruments and made sure their healing power was felt by the disaster's survivors. "The result was magnificent," she says. "College students, hospital staff, FEMA trailer residents - everyone welcomed the hope, happiness, and bonding drumming has to offer."

"Drumming helped me to play in a way I hadn't played in a long time. It made every part of my body come alive," exclaims Barbara Kuper, director of Nursing Studies at Louisiana State University, who joined one of Steven's drum circles.

"I think beginners get more out of drumming," explains Lori Fithian, a drum circle facilitator based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "For them, being around my drums is like being in a toy store. I love watching them explore. A drum circle is not about how good the music is, it's about silliness." "Everyone has so much fun," agrees Jean Chorazyczewski, 36, one of Fithian's drummers. "It's cool to weave rhythms with other people."

"Playing drums has made me strong in character," concludes Kerri Collings. Being able to play drums takes self-discipline, hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Now I can say with pride and confidence that if I want to achieve something, I will diligently pursue it."

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