by
Rhythm Scene Staff
| Apr 15, 2020
BLACK SWAMP PERCUSSION
2020 Percussion Ensemble Showcase
Black Swamp Percussion announces the launch of their 2020 Percussion Ensemble Showcase! The BSP Showcase is an annual solo and ensemble video competition, judged by a rotating panel of Black Swamp artists and educators. Judges evaluate video submissions and award first and second placements in three separate categories: Small Ensemble, Large Ensemble, and Solo. Prizes include a selection of Black Swamp products and video features in Black Swamp marketing efforts.
The Solo division is open to college individuals with an entry deadline of April 30, 2020. Ensemble divisions are open to high school ensembles with an entry deadline of May 16, 2020. Full entry details can be found at blackswamp.com/percussion-ensemble-showcase.
D’ADDARIO
Face Shields Using Film from G2 Drumheads
Even before D’Addario was forced to close its D’Addario string and Evans drumhead factories in New York, the company began devising a way to use its engineering and manufacturing expertise to help alleviate the dire shortage of protective gear for New York and the nation’s healthcare workers.
Led by Chief Innovation Officer Jim D’Addario, the engineering team determined that they could fabricate protective face shields using the clear film from Evans G2 drumheads. Working around the clock, the team had its first prototype three days later. Since the company already produces physical therapy products through its FDA approved Dynatomy brand, they were able to work quickly on manufacturing and distribution solutions. The plan is to mass-produce the Dynatomy Face Shield in the Evans Farmingdale, N.Y. USA drumhead facility, utilizing American-made materials.
“We called this Project Excelsior after the New York State motto, which means ‘Ever Upward,’ because it captured the extraordinary determination and can-do spirit of our small team of engineers and product designers,” said CEO John D’Addario III. “It also typifies our music company’s current credo during the COVID-19 crisis: #wewillplayon.”
The goal is to be in production by April 27 or earlier and to ramp up as quickly as possible to a capacity of 100,000 face shields per week. In many ways, the Dynatomy Face Shield is transforming D’Addario from a music accessories company into a medical necessities company.
According to Chief Innovation Officer Jim D’Addario, “It’s our intention to manufacture these shields as long as they’re needed in New York or anywhere around the globe. We’ve watched the incredible efforts of our healthcare and essential services workers all across the world with great admiration. While we cannot match the immeasurable efforts of these selfless heroes, we feel an immense responsibility to do our part in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis.”
DRUM CHANNEL
1,000 “DC Free” Memberships
Now more than ever it’s time for drummers to keep playing. To help the global drumming community stay active and engaged during the COVID-19 outbreak, Drum Channel is giving away 1,000 “DC Free” memberships. These memberships include 30 days of unlimited access to all the content in the Drum Channel vault: Lessons, Courses, Secrets from the Pros, the new DC Academy, and more.
“Drum Channel has always, and will always, be there for our drumming community,” explains Drum Channel founder Don Lombardi. “During these especially challenging times, we want drummers to have access to educational content that will inspire and motivate them to keep playing, whether they are beginners, amateurs, or pros.”
DC Free memberships include 30 days of unlimited access to hundreds of hours of high-quality video content, including nearly 1,000 Lessons, Play-Alongs, and “Secrets from the Pros,” as well as the newly-released, 16-week “DC Academy” course. New members can also view exclusive shows, concerts, and panel discussions featuring such drumming legends as Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland, Sheila E., Gregg Bissonette, Terry Bozzio, Mick Fleetwood, Charlie Watts, Thomas Lang, Eric Moore, Virgil Donati, Chad Wackerman, Luke Holland, and many more.
With DC Free, players of all ages and abilities can choose from Drum Channel’s extensive collection of educational and entertainment content designed to help them become better drummers—and keep playing. To learn more, visit www.drumchannel.com/free.
DRUM EXPO MEXICO
DXMX Returns to Mexico City on April 18
The sponsors and organizers of Drum Expo Mexico will present “DXMX 2020” at Bajo Circuito in the La Condessa area of Mexico City on Saturday, April 18, 2020. The educational event will feature clinics, masterclasses, and performances by some of today’s top Mexican and American drummers and percussionists, including Chuz Estrada (Jesse & Joy) and Ricardo “Oso” Cortez (Ha*Ash). In addition, traditional Mexican music specialist Ness de la O and DIM drum faculty member Raul Vargas will present exclusive masterclasses. Other performers, artists, and sponsors are pending and will be announced as they are confirmed.
VIP, General and Student tickets for DXMX 2020 are now on sale. For more information, visit on Drum Xpo Ciudad de México on Facebook and @DXCDMX on Instagram.
HIT LIKE A GIRL
Mindy Abovitz Monk Rejoins the Hit Like A Girl Management Team
Hit Like A Girl, Inc. is proud to announce that contest co-founder, publisher of Tom Tommagazine, and champion of female drummers Mindy Abovitz Monk has rejoined the Hit Like A Girl management. In 2018, Abovitz Monk was recognized by the Grammys as a Change Agent, and she is a recipient of the She Rocks Award. Working together with HLAG Executive Director David Levine, Mindy will assume the role of Director and be the voice of girls and women in the contest. Through her company, Tom Tom, she will help expand awareness and support of the rapidly growing drumming community and advocate for female drummers everywhere through the Hit Like A Girl contest, Drum Summit, and other related projects for girls and women of all ages, interests and abilities.
“We women and girls are incredibly powerful right now,” says Mindy. “The growth, recognition, and celebration of the female drumming community over the past decade is just the beginning. Together, Tom Tom and Hit Like A Girl are on a mission to realize the full potential of this powerful movement.”
LATIN PERCUSSION
We Are Rhythm Podcast
Latin Percussion’s (LP) We Are Rhythm Podcast is an exciting new way to listen to and learn more about the world of percussion with some of the most distinguished and respected musicians in the business interviewed across 30 episodes. The We Are Rhythm Podcast is free at lpmuisc.com and great to listen to while working, exercising, and during other homebound activities. Created to inform and inspire, the expansive podcast library is available now and is constantly being updated with new content.
Each episode, hosted by the multi-talented percussionists Joey De Leon on the West Coast and Jhair Sala on the East Coast, takes an in-depth look at the essence of Latin music culture and the stories behind it. The innovative series connects musicians everywhere with some of the most talented percussionists, drummers, multi-instrumentalists, bandleaders, and producers around today. The podcast library is a wealth of information, insights, and interesting stories, offering a deeper understanding of the world of percussion and more.
The podcast program, which just uploaded its 30th episode, contains hours of valuable dialogue between working, in-demand players. Highlights include Santana’s Karl Perazzo, American Idol’s Kevin Ricard, the legendary John "Dandy" Rodriguez, Nashville session player Rich Redmond, and the iconic Sheila E, just to name a few.
The podcasts are also available on iTunes as well as such podcast platforms as Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher. To find out more, go to lpmusic.com/listen or visit LP’s social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
PERCUSSION MARKETING COUNCIL
International Drum Month 2020 Features Online Video Lessons with Celebrity Drummers
Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) will celebrate International Drum Month 2020 with an entirely new consumer promotion focused on national awareness and percussion education. Beginning in May, randomly selected winners will be chosen each month through December to receive a private “Lesson with a Master” with an internationally recognized drummer.
Through the International Drum Month (IDM) “Lesson with a Master” entry portal at PlayDrums.com, individuals can register to win a one-hour video-conference lesson with one of four acclaimed drummers and celebrity artists: Rich Redmond, drummer for Jason Aldean; Rick Latham, international drum educator, instruction-book author, player, and teacher; David Stanoch, international educator and online video teacher; and Gorden Campbell, international celebrity artist. This special promotion is open to anyone 10 years of age and older, who has been playing drums for a minimum of one year.
“The PMC wanted to create a connection for all drummers during this special 25th anniversary year by establishing an educational opportunity for drummers to learn from and experience a one-hour private online lesson with some of the industry’s most respected players,” said Stacey Montgomery-Clark, PMC spokesman. “We are extremely lucky to have these phenomenal artists step forward to participate in this very special IDM ‘Lesson with a Master’ campaign.” Each artist has created a short introductory video clip promoting the PMC’s “Lesson with a Master” campaign to engage participants and entice entries via social media channels throughout International Drum Month.
Membership to the Percussion Marketing Council is open to all percussion instrument manufacturers, distributors, publishers, trade organizations, and educational alliances. For more information on any of the nonprofit organization’s market development initiatives, visit playdrums.com.
Get Your Sticks Together Promotion
Kicking off the 25th Anniversary year of 2020 for the Percussion Marketing Council, the drum industry’s trade association is launching a new monthly free drum lesson consumer giveaway to bring new drum-lesson students to music retailers offering drum lessons. Beginning in 2020, each month a randomly selected student will receive 12 free drum lessons at his or her chosen local drum shop or music store, paid for by the PMC through the “Get Your Sticks Together” promotion.
Monthly lesson winners will receive 12 Free Drum Lesson Coupons. They will present a weekly drum lesson coupon, which is redeemable for a 30-minute lesson, at their local music retailer as payment for their lesson. The retailer will then submit the coupon with an invoice for the lesson to the PMC for immediate reimbursement at the 30-minute lesson rate of $30.00. The total free lesson value for the student-winner is $360 for the 12 consecutive weekly free drum lessons. The giveaway is open to all U.S. residents age 10 years old and older.