PMC Launches New Program, March To Your Own Drum

The Percussion Marketing Council launched the new educational program, March To Your Own Drum, this past April 6th, with the very first event schedule in connection with the Children's Music Festival of Houston, held at the Campbell Education Center of Houston.

PMC Facilitator, Lamar Burkhalter, conducted a day-long educational introduction to Marching Percussion, bringing students of all ages into first-time playing experiences with all the various Marching Percussion instruments used on-the-field in Marching Band and Drum Corps throughout the United States.

The new PMC program is a direct result of the Percussion Marketing Council's outreach to local audiences and students of all ages, allowing them to participate and encourage them to get involved in various marching percussion activities starting at an early age. This new PMC initiative broadens the educational reach in bringing  all the marching percussion instruments, disciplines, musical performance and rehearsal insights within reach and understanding to all wanna-play students.

PMC Facilitator Lamar Burkhalter is a renown active percussion educator, clinician, arranger and performer, nationally recognized in all percussion circles as a leader in  percussion education and performance. He is aligned with Yamaha Corporation of America, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Evans Drumheads and Latin Percussion.

Burkhalter's  assessment of this pilot program commented,  " Hundreds of kids got to listen to the two demonstrator drumlines, playing cadences, learning about marching  percussion instruments and the activity as a whole. The younger little ones were in the drumline as well playing snare, tenors, bases and cymbals. Parents were besides themselves, taking pictures of their kids playing the marching percussion instruments. This was a huge event and success and plans are already developing for a larger event podium for next year's festival."

Any school or percussion retailer interested in hosting a March To Your Own Drum event, is encouraged to contact the Percussion Marketing Council for details.