CAMPAIGNS, PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES:
Play Drums mission is to increase interest and engagement in drumming and percussion activities by expanding access to percussion instruments, inspiring music-making opportunities, and advocating for music education.
- International Drum Month (May) continues to play a dominant part of the annual PMC promotions, drawing larger audiences together in order to build excitement about drumming. The public awareness campaign includes consumer contest enrollment, in-store tie-ins, and national retailer posting. The annual Drum Lesson with a Pro giveaway engages students of all ages to continue learning and connects them with local music retailers.
- Bucket Drumming Program: A group bucket drumming training program by David Birow for general music educators, private group music instructors, and youth development program facilitators who wish to introduce bucket drumming and drum set percussion to young people aged 8-14.
- Experience Drumming!: The flagship learning initiative of the PMC, Experience Drumming! offers educational and interactive drumming events for groups of all ages and abilities. More than 20,000 students experience PlayDrums.com drumming events in some form every year.
- Drum Set in the Classroom: Based upon the decade-long success of the Roots of Rhythm program, teachers, students, parents, and administrators all get a chance to learn and play basic drum set “rock-beats” and rhythms of an acoustic and/or electronic drum kit. These first-time experiences behind a drum kit are life-changing and are creating more interest in drums and drumming through this classroom program.
- Get Drumming: Online, social media driven contest which provides a monthly selected winner four prepaid drum lessons with a practice pad and new drum sticks to get started at home from a local drum or music retail outlet, via the PlayDrums.com website.Year after year, the PMC has continued to expand public engagement with percussion instruments thanks to the participation of our industry members and the generous support of the NAMM Foundation grant.