Joyful Noise appoints Todd Trent as Chief Operating Officer

Joyful Noise Drum Company is proud to announce the appointment of Todd Trent as their Chief Operating Officer. Todd is excited to bring over 3 decades of percussion industry experience to Joyful Noise. Having been in music retail, artist relations with Ludwig Drums, wholesale / OEM sales and marketing with Taye Drums as well as pro touring management, Todd is well suited to propel Joyful Noise.  He has been a fan of the product, their mission and leadership team since the beginning of the company and now feels the time is right to add his abilities to such an outstanding company.  

Neal Morse Band, featuring Mike Portnoy - Alive Again Tour

THE "ALIVE AGAIN" TOUR - FIRST STOP, NASHVILLE! The Neal Morse Band will be performing their much anticipated debut album, "The Grand Experiment." The band, featuring award-winning drummer Mike Portnoy, will play ONE NIGHT ONLY in Nashville at Rocketown - Saturday, February 21st!

The Neal Morse Band (feat. Mike Portnoy) Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 PM Rocketown (White Building) - Nashville, TN

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY AND WILL SELL OUT! Visit www.rocketown.com/events for tickets and more information.

The Neal Morse Band will be hitting the US, Canada and Europe for a winter tour in 2015 and the complete event listing can be found at www.radiantrecords.com.  

William Kent (1915-2014)

William Kent, co-founder of the Kent Drum Company, passed away in his Buffalo, New York area home on December 11, 2014. William turned 99 years old last month and passed after a very short illness.

In 1947 William and Ed Kent opened the Kent Drum Company in Kenmore, NY with a focus to create student-level kits, encouraging music making at all economic levels. The company also offered professional-level drum sets, snare drums and percussion accessories. William was always proud of a common story told throughout the industry - "A Christmas morning surprise, in 1964 or 1965... for the young Ringo want-to-be, a new Kent Drum set under the tree!" The company closed in 1977, allowing William and Ed to retire. Drum Paradise, their retail shop next to the factory, closed the following year.

William Kent's 2013 NAMM Oral History interview: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/william-kent

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Text courtesy of Dan Del Fiorentino, NAMM Music Historian.

2014 Snare Drum Olympics Results

The results of the 2014 Snare Drum Olympics are posted at www.snaredrumolympics.com along with corresponding videos, info and click-to-buy links for select snare drums entered in the event.

The Snare Drum Olympics event was started by Not So Modern Drummer founder John Aldridge in 1998 as “basically an excuse to get a bunch of really cool drums into one room at the same time.” It has evolved into an international showcase for some of the best snare drums in the world. It is a huge publicity event that has been heavily promoted by the drum manufacturers, the major drum magazines, and online drum sites and forums. YouTube. Facebook, Twitter and other social media have added another big layer of publicity over the past couple of years. The new SnareDrumOlympics.com website was recently launched this year. Each drum has its own page with videos, info and an optional click-to-buy link.

The 2014 judges were Jim Riley, drummer for Rascal Flatts, Ben Sesar, drummer for Brad Paisley, Keio Stroud drummer for Big and Rich, Beth Gottlieb, percussionist  for the Gary Sinise and Lt. Dan Band, and Scott Radock, pro NYC drummer. The judging was held at Jim Riley’s Drum Dojo in Nashville TN on October 16.

The snare drums were categorized by shell composition and judged in two events; objective/blind and subjective/hands on. The results are reported as the top three scores in each shell category in each event, as the top three accumulative scores of the two events, and as the top three scores of all the drums. Also reported are the results from the public judging at the 2014 Nashville Drum Show this past September.

Brands participating this year were:

David Lee Drums Chicago Drum Infinity Drumworks DTS Custom Snare Drums Taye Drums Hayward Custom Drums Hogchain Custom Drums Klemm Drums Rasch Drums Guru Drums Holloman Custom Drums Artisan Drum Works Swindoll Custom Drums Goodman Drum Company Castle Drum Company Laudo Drums Outlaw Drums Gretsch Drums Pearl Drums Eccentric Systems Drums Bello Drums Furcinitti Custom Drums RotodruM

For more information, visit www.snaredrumolympics.com.  

Morsefest in Nashville with Mike Portnoy

The iconic progressive rock front-man, keyboardist and songwriter Neal Morse will host a two-day music festival in his hometown of Nashville, TN on November 14-15 2014. Morse is best known for his mid-90's group "Spock's Beard" as well as his formation of the supergroup "Transatlantic" with former Dream Theater co-founder Mike Portnoy, Flower Kings' Roine Stolt and Marillion's Pete Trewavas.

Special guests, including Mike Portnoy and Randy George, will be joining Neal on the 14th and 15th in performances of the entire "One" and "Testimony 1" albums by Morse. From Radiant Records:

"Hear the music in the very place it was inspired! This weekend will be full of legendary status events such as an exclusive, free 'inner circle only' acoustic set, a VIP Meet and Greet with Neal and special guests, and a game of 'Name that Tune' - PROG style with Mike Portnoy. This is sure to be a once in a lifetime event that you do not want to miss! Make your travel plans to Nashville now!"

Tickets start at $60, $30 for students. More information can be found at: http://www.radiantrecords.com/products/500-morsefest-november-14-15-2014.aspx

WHEN:

November 14 - 15, 2014 Friday & Saturday shows: 7:30pm (Doors at 6:00 pm), Worship Service: Saturday 10:00 am (Doors at 9:00 am) IC Acoustic Set: Saturday 1:00pm (Doors at 12.00 pm), VIP session:  Friday and Saturday 3:00pm (Doors at 2:30 pm)

WHERE:

New Life Fellowship 8655 Tennessee 25 Cross Plains, TN 37049

Nashville Drum Show Hits the Road

The Nashville Drum Show is hitting the road on Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17th and making stops in Knoxville, TN and Atlanta, GA. Titled "Drummer's Showcase and Swap Meet," these mini-shows are free to the public - not only to attend, but to buy and sell as well.

"Bring your used and vintage gear to sell and trade - bring your new or old drums to show off and play... or just show up and join the drum hang!" - Nashville Drum Show

Here's some photos NSMD readers have submitted of items that will be up for sale over the weekend:

Are you planning on coming and want to show off what you're bringing - either for show or for sale? Let us know!

The event on Saturday will take place at The Whammy Bar, 8426 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, and on Sunday at ATL Drum Collective, 503 Amsterdam Ave NE. Hours are 12-6 PM on both days. There are no rules, and it is a bring-your-own everything atmosphere and open to anyone and everyone - including vendors, collectors and manufacturers. Participants can also purchase Nashville Drum Show tickets on location, $75 for a VIP pass and $15 for a regular day admission. Tickets purchased at the showcase events will be entered into a raffle for a custom built drum set, custom snare drums, and many other prizes. You do not need to be present at the show to win.

In addition to the advanced ticket raffle, ATL Drum Collective is offering 10% off all purchases over $25, and will have select overstock marked down for the event. Joe Ciucci will be showing his 1940 Radio King's at the Atlanta event, beautifully restored by ATL Drum Collective.

For more information, visit www.nashvilledrumshow.com.

Review: The 2014 Connecticut Vintage & Custom Drum Show

Rick Smith’s annual drum show at The Sphinx Shriners Center in Newington, CT featured Shawn Pelton of Saturday Night Live, and the award winning Jim Riley of Rascal Flatts. Both drummers gave extensive, in-depth informative clinics that were warmly received by a large audience.

As usual, many dealers were present buying and selling new, and vintage equipment. They included, Dynamic Percussion Manchester, CT -The Drum Center Portsmouth, NH - The Drum Shop, Portland, ME - Amedia Cymbals, Grover Custom Drums, Ottaviano Custom Cymbal Company, and NOMO Finish Protectors by Steve Ives.

In attendance were Zildjian legend Lennie DiMuzio with his daughter Therese DiMuzio. Also present, were Adam Nussbaum, Kenwood Dennard, Bobby Rondinelli, Gary Asher, Gregory Caputo, Billy Amendola, and Rob Gottfried. All were seen signing autographs, posing for photos, and hanging out with the crowd.

Overall it was another really exciting, well-attended show. Can’t wait until next year… I’m sure the 2015 edition will be just as great.

Nick Hopkin at 2014 Chicago Drum Show

NICK HOPKIN OFFERS VINTAGE BRITISH DRUMS AT 2014 CHICAGO DRUM SHOW Leading UK Specialist Will Showcase Rare Premier Kits in Debut USA Appearance 

British vintage drum specialist Nick Hopkin Drums makes its North American debut with an exhibit at the 2014 Chicago Drum Show on 17 & 18 May 2014. Hopkin, whose facility near the England/Wales border attracts such major-name players as Sean Moore (Manic Street Preachers), Steve White (Paul Weller), Clive Deamer (Robert Plant) and Geoff Barrow (Portishead) has quickly built a reputation as the go-to for rare and hard-to-find vintage kits, snares and accessories. At the Chicago show, itself renowned as a world-leading exhibition, Hopkin will highlight, among other collectibles, rare drums from the vaults of legendary British drum maker Premier. “These kits have been tucked away at the Premier facility in Leicester for decades,” notes Hopkin, “and their presence at the Chicago show will be their first time they’ve been seen by the public. They are super-collectible. And yes, they are for sale.”

Hopkin, also a regular columnist for the magazines Drummer  (UK) and Not So Modern Drummer (USA), notes that, “The UK has a rich history in drum design and manufacturing, with brands including Premier, Ajax, Beverley and Hayman being highly collectible. Non-British brands including classic-era Ludwig, Gretsch and Slingerland also come through the shop, which handles a constantly changing inventory of great gear that can also be seen online.”

Founded in 2012, Nick Hopkin Drums quickly established itself as one of the UK’s leading sources of pro-quality vintage gear and has steadily amassed a keen international following. “Yes,” noted Hopkin, “where better to tell vintage fans and collectors that they have a new source of high-quality collectible gear - especially those great British brands - than at a world-class drum show in Chicago, the hometown of such legendary names as Slingerland and the Ludwig Drum Company.”

MEDIA CONTACT: NICK HOPKIN - +44 (0)1873 857960 www.nickhopkindrums.com

Matt Walker Joins Taye Drums

Taye Drums is excited to announce the addition of Matt Walker, drummer for Morrissey to their artist roster. Matt will be using the StudioMaple series for recording and the ParaSonic series for touring.

For more information please contact Taye Drums at info@tayedrums.com or online at www.tayedrums.com.

Drum Channel Goes Purple

Drum Channel Goes Purple With Drum Education Downloads And Affiliate Program

With more and more students and teachers integrating electronic media into their music lessons and educational activities, Drum Channel (www.drumchannel.com), a leading producer of educational drum content, has announced a new partnership with platform:purple (www.platformpurple.com), a leader in the field of digital content delivery. This alliance provides fast and easy access to Drum Channel’s extensive library of selected lessons, shows and full-length videos via platform:purple’s advanced yet user-friendly platform for streaming and downloading to a variety of devices over virtually any internet connection, anytime, anywhere.

“From YouTube videos to online lessons, the internet has forever changed the way people learn to make music,” says Drum Channel founder, Don Lombardi. “Digital delivery is the next step in creating better musicians as well as better music educators. Plus, greater access to music education in developing markets like Russia, India, China, Brazil and others will also help create more musicians. Purple’s on-demand platform is fast, high-quality, convenient and ready to support the needs of today’s musicians and tomorrow’s.”

However, digital delivery of educational content is not only the wave of the future for teachers and students. It is also a rapidly growing and profitable trend for retailers. International business consulting experts at Ernst & Young predict that, while sales of physical books and DVDs will no doubt continue in the coming years, digital revenue for entertainment and educational media will overtake “traditional” revenue sources by 2015 (source: the Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2013).

For this reason, Drum Channel is encouraging music dealers in the United States and around the world to take advantage of the expanding digital content market by adding content sales to their online stores. Drum Channel and platform:purple have made it easy for dealers to launch a Drum Channel Digital Shop on their websites in less than 10 minutes. Music Retailers can learn more and sign-up at www.drumchannel.com/affiliate-signup. Additional information and assistance on joining the Drum Channel affiliate program is also available through the Drum Channel sales department at sales@drumchannel.com, (866) 439-7924.

Drum Channel is a state-of-the-art provider of a wide variety of interactive drum education content, including www.drumchannel.com. which features 100’s of lessons, lesson plans and live events as well as Drum Channel’s traditional DVDs and Digital Video Downloads (available at http://www.drumchannel.com/store). 

Rich Redmond's Drummer's Weekend

Rich Redmond’s “CRASH COURSE FOR SUCCESS”- Drummer’s Weekend

Student drummers from around the U.S. experienced a one of a kind drumming event on November 1-3, 2013 in Nashville, Tn.

This weekend of education, inspiration, and entertainment featured 24 hours of hands on training with multi platinum country star Jason Aldean’s recording/touring drummer Rich Redmond. Rich hosted guest clinicians TROY LUCCKETTA (TESLA) and JIM RILEY (RASCAL FLATTS). A guest studio drummer panel featured NICK BUDA (Taylor Swift), KEN COOMER (Wilco), TONY MORRA (Downtown Batterie), TOMMY HARDEN (Reba, Sessions) interacted with the students and answered questions. JIM HANDLEY presented a tuning clinic. Producer MICHAEL KNOX (Jason Aldean, Rachel Farley, Bush Hawg) made himself available for a powerful Q+A session focusing on the creative process and what producers are looking for in drummers. Nashville's 3 KINGS rhythm section (Jason Aldean, Thompson Square) also discussed concepts related to performing in a rhythm section and building a career. Students sat in with an all star rhythm section featuring bassist Pete Iannacone (Josh Stone) and guitarist John Foster (The Consolers). Rich’s teaching focused on his CRASH philosophy for success in the music business as well as subjects like: The Nashville Number System, song charting, overdubbing percussion, creating click tracks, getting and keeping gigs, money beats, mental/business techniques to create the music career of your dreams.

Students were treated to daily-catered meals and evening “hangs” with the clinicians. Also, plenty of door prizes and giveaways were provided by:

DW, SABIAN, PROMARK, REMO, ROLAND, KICKPORT, GON BOPS, AUDIO TECHNICA, CYMPAD, GATOR, PITCH SLAP, BOOTY SHAKERS, BLACK WIDOW, HANSENFUTZ, PROLOGIX, DRUMTACS, THE CARMICHAEL THRONE, AUARALEX, ADAM ARGULLIN, DIRECT SOUND EXTREME ISOLATION, EAR FILTERS, THE KELLY SHU, GREAT LEATHER, RED MONKEY and many others.

Students performed music with recording artists JOHN EDDIE and ADAM FEARS at a closing ceremony concert at Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville. All proceeds collected from admission benefited the W.O. Smith School Of Music in Nashville.

The 2014 "Hit Like A Girl" Contest

Hit Like A Girl 2014 Contest Plans January 24, 2014 KickoffNew Sponsors, Participants and Judges include Guitar Center, PAS and Jessica Bowen

The Hit Like A Girl Contest* has announced that the 2014 edition of the international contest for female drummers will open for entries on January 24, 2014. The program that began just two years ago as a way to celebrate and support female drummers has grown into a major promotion of female drumming, becoming one of the drum community’s most popular, fastest growing activities. Since beginning in 2011, the Hit Like A Girl Contest’s accomplishments have included:

• Participants from the ages of 7 to 70 from 42 countries
• More than 4,000,000 web impressions
• Tens of thousands of votes and comments
• Participation and judging by many of the top women drummers in the world
• Support from leading drum, percussion, hardware, electronics and accessory companies

In 2014 the Hit Like A Girl Contest will expand in many exciting ways. In addition to recently acquiring support from Guitar Center and the Percussive Arts Society, contest organizers are in the process of growing the event’s footprint by bringing on major corporate and media sponsors from around the world. Because the promoters have invited all companies to participate in the event, this year’s sponsors and supporters will include a larger, more diverse number of leading drum and percussion companies.

The 2014 contest will also feature participation by a wider range of top female drum artists, such as Jessica Bowen, drummer of popular punk-pop band The Summer Set, who has been named the Hit Like A Girl spokesperson for the year as well as one of the 2014 contest judges.

To learn more and sign-up go to www.hitlikeagirlcontest.com. Follow on Facebook at facebook.com/hitlikeagirlcontest.

Highlight videos of the 2013 Contest (under 18):

Highlight videos of the 2013 Contest (over 18):

*Hit Like A Girl is a trademark of the Percussion Marketing Council. (Playdrums.com)

Larry Levine In Clinic

Internationally recognized drummer/educator Larry Levine was the guest artist at Rocky’s Music Studio in North Greenbush, NY, presenting a master class from his acclaimed, award-winning instructional series, Drum-i-Stix: From Pad to Performance.

Larry was warmly introduced to the audience by his former student ; Jason Bittner of Shadow’s Fall.

The innovative and creative percussion workshop was designed for all ages and skill levels.

Eager participants had the opportunity to learn coordination development, interpretations of various styles, and an understanding of how the rudiments are applied to the drum set. As an additional supplement, Larry did a very special presentation on drum corps and marching band techniques.

The sold-out audience interacted with many of the exercises Mr. Levine demonstrated, and a small group performed with the final marching ensemble.

Door prizes were awarded and attendees were treated to the presence of some of the most noted drummers from the upstate New York area. The event was supported by Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drumheads, Regal Tip Drumsticks, KickPort Products, KMC Musicorps, SKB Cases, Mountain Rythym, HHot Hat, LT Lug Locks, J. A. Music, Not So Modern Drummer, The Percussive Arts Society, The Original Long Island Drum Center, KoSA, The Recording Academy, Drummers Collective, and DrumART LLC.

As a result of this successful clinic, Mr. Levine has been invited to conduct a full drum camp in association with Rocky Petrocelli, owner of Rocky’s Music Studio, and the Montessori School of Albany, NY. Additionally, Larry received his second commendation from the Recording Academy/Grammy association for "appreciation and recognition in supporting its mission to improve the environment for music, its education, advocacy, and human services.”

Ahead Adds New Tenor Sticks

Ahead Expands Marching Line With New Chavez “Arsenal” Tenor Sticks And Mallets.

Based on their proven, proprietary designs that integrate an advanced aluminum core and handle, Ahead Marching Drumsticks offer near-perfect uniformity and consistency in terms of weight, size, balance and tone plus the increased durability, comfort and shock absorption that make them ideal for drum corps, Winterguard and other types of marching drum lines. And now, the exclusive "Chavez" Arsenal Tenor Drum sticks and mallets bring Ahead's superior physical, musical and visual advantages to even more marching drummers on the field and off.

Developed in conjunction with Dallas Mavericks’s drum line instructor and educator “Chavez”, the new Ahead Arsenal ATS Tenor Drumsticks and ATM Tenor Drum Mallets feature a durable white powder-coated finish, extruded and swaged handles with premium-quality DuPont Delrin® heads. The ATS are 15.625˝ long by .695˝ diameter, 80 grams, with .875˝ white Delrin heads. The ATM are 14.50˝ long by .695˝ diameter, 82 grams, with 1.25˝ black Delrin tips.

For further information visit www.aheaddrumsticks.com or your local authorized Ahead Drumstick dealer, stop by the Big Bang booth at NAMM (#3564) or contact Big Bang Distribution at 800-547-6401, bigbangdist.com.

Top Country Drummers Choose Cympad

Cympad Goes Country As Top Country Drummers Choose Cympad.

Cympad, makers of a wide range of cellular foam cymbal washers, has announced that the drummers for several of Country music’s biggest artists are now using and endorsing the innovative and popular cymbal accessory. Many of the musicians that these Cympad endorsers perform with have been nominated for 2013 Country Music Association Awards and will be appearing on the CMA Awards show, which will be broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 8:00 ET on ABC-TV.

Cympad’s roster of Country Drum Artists include:

Sean Fuller (Florida Georgia Line)* Garrett Goodwin (Carrie Underwood)* Jeff Marino (Darius Rucker)* Billy Mason (Tim McGraw)* Kent Slucher (Luke Bryan)* Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean)*

These Country music players, along with a growing number of Jazz, Rock, R&B, Latin, Metal and other drummers, use a variety of Cympad Optimizers, Chromatics and Moderators cymbal pads in both studio and live situations. Cympads are available at drumshops and music stores everywhere. For more information visit www.cympad.com.