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Drumming News
By David Levine, Drumming News Network
International Drum Month, Hit Like A Girl, Drum Summit, Drumming Connects Us and other market development programs of the past 20-30 years were created to reverse what we thought was a shrinking drum market by bringing more drummers into the community. Recently, however, it occurred to me that the drum industry was not in so much of a decline but in a transition. As the business cycle that started with the Boomer and X generations in the 1950’s started slowing, a new cycle started in the 90’s with Millennials, Zs and Alphas and is still developing. It turns out that the drum business is circular, not linear.
And, made up of boys AND girls all around the world as well as acoustic AND electronic drums and percussion, I truly believe this new cycle has the potential to be even bigger than the last one.
My perspective is that drumming and the drum industry was “flipped” at the end of the 20th Century from primarily focusing on beginning and intermediate drummers to focusing on more advanced players and professionals. What we need to do now is flip it back.
My advice to the industry is to “Aim Low”. Let’s educate young drummers on the basics… how to tune/program, what’s the difference between a 5A and a 5B, why use a single ply head vs. a double ply head. Let’s develop new, affordable acoustic and electronic drums, heads, cymbals and accessories with the sizes, sounds and finishes that will attract young boys and girls to drumming. Let’s create promotions that will reach non-drummers as well as the already converted.
People have been drumming for thousands of years. I don’t see them ever stopping. To continue to serve and build the drumming community, we just need to keep looking to the future rather than to the past.
David Levine:
“As a drummer and drum industry consultant, I have been involved in drumming for more than 60 years. During my career I have seen the development of the world’s greatest drummers and had the incredibly good fortune to work with many of the people and products that forever changed the art— from the introduction of the plastic head, electronic drums, double bass drum pedal and Mark Tree to the growth of educational drum videos, world percussion and the female drumming community. It’s been an amazing journey.” @drumshopdave
