PMC Providing Free Drum Lessons at Warped Tour

For the third consecutive year, Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) and local music retailers once again provide Free First Drum Lessons at its Lesson Lab Tent at the following ten cities on the Vans Warped Tour: Denver, CO (June 17), Irvine, CA (June 21), Pomona, CA (June 22) San Francisco, CA (June 23), San Antonio, TX (June 30), Houston, TX (July 1), Dallas, TX (July 3), St Louis, MO (July 6), Charlotte, NC (July 30), and Milwaukee, WI (August 1).

In the past, the self-contained educational Play Drums tent has put sticks in the hands of over 60 first-time drummers during each stop of the tour where the Lesson Lab set up shop. Many drummers from performing bands stopped by the PMC tent to help generate excitement for the project. Each tent is fully equipped with an acoustic or an electronic drum set, including cymbals and sticks, to provide a positive and professional learning experience for first-time players.

“We have seen a surge of interest from concert-goers at every city where we participate,” said Billy Cuthrell, a PMC Advisory Board member who coordinates the Lesson Lab Tent. “The key to our program is partnering with local percussion stores that also offers drum lessons. The store operates and coordinates the tent’s operations with one or more of their drum teachers conducting the free lesson.”

This summer, the PMC estimates it will provide over 700 free drum lessons during the tour and several percussion retailers from previous years have returned. This year’s retailers include Rupp’s Drum Shop (Denver), Jim’s Music (Irvine), Guitar Center (Pomona), Jeff Ryder Drum Shop (San Antonio), Percussion Center (Houston), Lone Star Percussion (Dallas), Mozingo Music (St. Louis), Progressive Music Center (Charlotte), and White House of Music (Milwaukee).

Drawings have been arranged at each PMC Tent location for a drum lesson participant to win a 16-inch cymbal donated by Zildjian, Sabian, and Dream Cymbal.

Complete coverage of the events and specifics on the PMC Lesson Lab Tent locations will be made available through the organization’s new website, www.playdrums.com