by
Rhythm Scene Staff
| Dec 08, 2021
D’ADDARIO
Foundation Awards $487,500 in Grants
The D’Addario Foundation announced the award of $487,500 in monetary and product grants to 170 music-education programs across 104 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada for 2021.
With a 13% increase from 2020, The D’Addario Foundation set an ambitious goal to keep music for social change thriving through the difficulties of the past year. A majority of the grantees have reported that they’re back to in-person music-making. Although these programs effectively reached students in a virtual format, the vital communal element has been restored and students can once again experience and reap the benefits of making music in-person alongside their peers and mentors.
This year, a big focus for the D’Addario Foundation was to highlight the diverse ways their partner programs provide music education to their students. This includes organizations breaking down barriers for historically under-represented BIPOC students in classical music, including Sphinx Performance Academy, Cleveland Institute of Music, Buffalo String Works, Atlanta Music Project, HARPS Foundation, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Nouveau Program; schools incorporating immersive music education into their curriculum, including Academy of Arts and Knowledge, WHIN Music Community Charter School, Kaufman Music Center's Special Music School, The Chicago High School for the Arts, and Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music; percussion-focused and drumline programming, including BandWith Chicago, Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County's Infinity Clubhouse Drumline, Brooklyn Steppers, and MissionSAFE's Steel Pan Band; and mentorship-focused programming, including My Voice Music, Quest Center for Art & Development, and Zumix, Inc.
“A grant like this means that kids who may never have thought about music before get a chance to take part in something meaningful,” says Tom Gariepy of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County. “The days when kids get weekly music lessons in their schools — especially at-risk kids in underserved neighborhoods — seem to be long gone. We’re trying to take up the slack, and your grant will help us do it."
The D’Addario Foundation conducts two grant cycles per year where non-profit organizations may apply for support after first submitting an initial letter of inquiry. Prospective non-profits must clearly illustrate critical elements for success including intensity and need, leadership strength, sustainability, and community commitment.
100% of donations to the D’Addario Foundation go directly to supporting and expanding their initiatives including their grant-making, college scholarship fund, Girls in Music initiative, and more. To make a contribution, visit daddariofoundation.harnessapp.com/wv2/donate.
PEARL
Florida A&M University Marching Band Chooses Pearl
Pearl Corporation announced a partnership with the Florida A&M University Marching Band, the Marching "100."
“The FAMU Marching Band program has a proud legacy of musical excellence and precision marching that has made it one of the most recognizable bands in the country. Combining FAMU’s tradition of excellence with Pearl Marching Drums and Hardware is the perfect fit. We are proud to support FAMU for many years to come,” says Shawn Lafrenz, Senior Marketing Manager for Pearl Corporation.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Pearl team and playing on Championship Maple drums known for consistency, durability and reliability. The drums look fantastic and have amazing tone and projection," says Tovah Lovely, Assistant Director of Percussion.
For more information, visit pearldrum.com/en/artist/famu-marching-100.
PERCUSSION MARKETING COUNCEL
NAMM Foundation Grant Expands Experience Drumming! Program
PlayDrums.com, the online hub connecting drummers and the percussion community with members of the Percussion Marketing Council (PMC), announced the expansion of the new Experience Drumming! education program to community-based learning events. This year’s NAMM Foundation grant award returns the PMC to pre-pandemic funding levels, a vote of confidence for the organization’s vision for the future. PMC/PlayDrums.com will be able to engage many more percussive arts leaders and expand access and geographic reach for its percussion education events.
For more than 25 years, the Percussion Marketing Council has been dedicated to stimulating interest in and engagement with percussion instruments. During the pandemic, as in-person activities were curtailed, the PMC developed the Fun with Drums library of videos to keep individuals and families interested in various aspects of rhythm and drumming. While remaining cautious as public health issues continue, the Percussion Marketing Council has plans to strengthen and sustain the market development and experiential education programs.
“We are excited to take our community-based learning events even farther than before,” said Stacey Montgomery-Clark, PMC Board Member. “We had the opportunity to assess our existing programs this year and determined there is demand for drumming experiential education events beyond the classroom. We’re looking forward to a great year ahead, thanks to the steadfast generosity of the NAMM Foundation.”
The NAMM Foundation named the Percussion Marketing Council one of 28 music-making entities delivering vital programs that provide access to music-making opportunities. This year’s support will help the organization reinvigorate and expand percussion educational experiences in schools, libraries, and community settings.
The connecting and learning portal at PlayDrums.com will invite new percussive arts leaders to bring in-person experiential and interactive drumming events to more communities. A call for new drum program leaders will expand the roster of communities involved in all initiatives.
Find more information on the PMC programs and how you can participate at playdrums.com/experience-drumming.
Search Opened to Expand PMC Executive Board
The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) announces the expansion of the organization’s Board of Directors, as long-term PMC board member David Jewell transitions to an advisory role upon his retirement from his position as Partnerships and Alliances Manager at Yamaha Corporation of America.
Founded in 1995, the Percussion Marketing Council, through PlayDrums.com, connects the activities of our members, drummers, and percussion community. As a nonprofit trade organization, the PMC is governed by an all-volunteer executive and advisory board. Board positions represent various facets of the organization, including industry relations, membership, community outreach, and music education. PMC is a consistent recipient of NAMM Foundation funding for various educational programs and other music-making campaigns and initiatives.
“It has been an honor to serve on the Executive Board of the PMC for over 10 years,” says Jewell. “I have worked with some incredible people on the PMC, and I consider all of them not just work colleagues but friends. Together we have created programs that have helped seed the percussion/drumming community to give access, joy, and that spark needed for someone to enjoy creating music through a percussion instrument.”
The PMC’s goals are to promote drumming as a positive experience for all individuals regardless of age, gender, musical background, economic means, education, or geographic location; to expand both the percussion market and demand for percussion instruments through the increased visibility of all forms of percussion; and to unify the percussion products industry to create a stronger voice in the music industry and a forum for greater communication among all companies and members.
“This is a unique opportunity to include new leadership perspectives in our Board of Directors,” said Antoinette Follett, PMC Executive Director. “The all-volunteer PMC Board governs the direction of our many initiatives and their impact on the drum community. I am excited to invite enthusiastic individuals — including manufacturers, professional drummers, music retailers, and percussion advocates — to step up and apply to add their voices to the collective bench strength of the board, which is intent on growing the drumming community.”
The full application and instructions are posted on the PMC’s website at playdrums.org/board-application. Diverse and up-and-coming leaders within the music products industry are encouraged to apply. The deadline for proposal submission is noon on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
Members of the Percussion Marketing Council include Alfred Publishing, CB Drums, Clevelander Drum Co., Dancing Drum, Dixon Drums, Dream Cymbals & Gongs, Drum Channel, Drum Workshop, Drumming About You, Ethnomusic, Gibraltar Hardware, Gon Bops, Gretsch Drums, Hal Leonard Corp., HaMaR Percussion, Hudson Music, KAT Electronic Drums, Modern Drummer magazine, Paiste, Percussion Plus, Prologix Percussion, PDP, Sabian, Sakae Drums, Super Drum, Tycoon Percussion, Vater, WFLIII Drums, and Yamaha. Industry Alliances include NAMMFoundation.org, PAS.org, NAFME.org, and NASMD.com.