industry news HaMaR Revised website With over 150 compositions to choose from and an enlarged group of complimentary tutorial samples, the new HaMaR website has something for players and teachers. The site has nearly 200 items to view, including HaMaR Music Direct. View, play, purchase, and print on demand many of the digital compositions. The catalog has music for all levels of proficiency and includes a snare drum series, method series, and music for percussion ensemble, bass drum, timpani, mallets, wind ensemble, and orchestra. Visit the site at www.hamarpercussion.com. KICKPORT New distributors in Europe and Central and South America To support the growing popularity of the KickPort and CajonPort with drummers and percussionists around the world, KickPort International, LLC has announced the expansion of its distribution in the European music market. Joining KickPort s international distribution network are Box Of Trix (Germany, Austria); PB Music (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg); Soitin Laine (Finland); Tonastodin (Iceland); Bode S.r.l. (Italy); GE Musikk (Norway); Music Distribucion (Spain, Portugal); Korg UK, Ltd. (UK); and Music World, Ltd. (Ukraine). KickPort International, LLC has also announced the expansion of its distribution in the Central and South American music markets. Joining KickPort s international distribution network are Distribudora Gohner (Mexico); Prado Unique Repercusions (Honduras); Dream Argentia (Argentina); Sonotec Electronica LTDA (Brazil); Cobalto (Chile); and Music City (Venezuela). For updates and contact information visit kickport.com/contact. LATIN PERCUSSION LP donates Egg Shakers to Kenyan orphanage Latin Percussion recently donated over 100 of its popular Egg Shakers to the St. Theresa House of Hope Children s Home in Lake Elemintita, Kenya. The donation was made to support the charitable effort spearheaded by Sunniva Sorby with assistance from her sister Bettina Breckenfeld through the American Foundation for Children with AIDS. American Foundation for Children with AIDS Representative Sunniva Sorby with child from House of Hope. OCTOBER 2011 28 percussion news
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The St. Theresa House of Hope Children s Home was opened in 2007 to care for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that Kenya is home to 2.4 million orphans, 60% of whom have been orphaned by the disease. The orphanage is part of a nationwide effort to combine the resources of government, international agencies, charitable organizations, and community groups to help care for these children. On their most recent trip to Kenya, Sunniva and Bettina handed out the LP Egg Shakers to all the children in the orphanage. The young ladies were renewed with hope when we paid them a visit and shared the Egg Shakers that LP graciously donated, said Bettina. The place erupted into song and movement when we distributed these shakers. We made a lot of kids very happy! If you would like to make a 100% tax-deductible donation to the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, you can do so online at http://bit.ly/kidswithaids. MARIMBA ONE New customer-friendly website Marimba One, maker of concert marimbas, has launched a brandnew customer-friendly website. The new site is designed to give users an easy-to-navigate environment in which to explore marimbas, mallets, and accessories. The website is the direct result of research conducted over the last year into what customers want. We ve conducted several researches both informally and in connection with California State University (Humboldt) School of Business Marketing Dept., and have integrated the results into the way our new site works for customers, says Ron Samuels, founder of Marimba One. Our website visitors want to understand about sound. They want to know: How does one level of keyboard differ from another on a marimba? What is the difference between resonators? What do existing customers say about these various combinations? The website rebuild was done by Accelerant Design of Arcata, California. PEARL Art department expands Pearl Corporation has hired two new Art Department employees, Garrett DeLozier and Bill Tyler. DeLozier, a native of Sevierville, Tenn., is a recent graduate of the Art Institute of Tennessee Nashville, receiving his BFA in Digital Filmmaking and Video Production. DeLozier comes from a background of freelance editing of short narratives, commercials, documentaries, and animated shorts. Originally from Mississippi, Tyler has over 20 years of professional graphic arts experience, specifically in art direction and graphic design for over 200 album covers. A graduate of Millsaps College, with two years of architecture training, Tyler has worked with MCA Records, Billboard magazine, and numerous independent labels and publishers. AFA Summer Music Conservatory support This summer, Pearl/Adams supported the American Festival for the Arts as part of an ongoing effort to advance the quality of percussion performance by supporting music education programs and artists that inspire and inform students. The American Festival for the Arts presented the AFA Summer Music Conservatory for its 16th year, held at Houston ISD s Pershing High School, June 20 July 22. Founded in 1993 by Houston composer and arts advocate J. Todd Frazier, American Festival for the Arts (AFA) provides high quality, community-based music education programs and performance opportunities designed primarily for youth and, through its concert series and outreach, seeks to broaden the audience for both American works and the classical music repertory. This year s summer curriculum featured programs in orchestra, chamber music, choir, vocal studies, jazz, piano and composition. Student musicians, ranging from 4th to 12th grade, came from throughout Southeast Texas to audition and enroll in the summer conservatory. While attending the festival, students have the opportunity to perform in the AFA Summer Concert Series, which presents many free concerts throughout Houston. Sponsorship of the AFA Summer Music Conservatory is part of Pearl s continuing efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of music education to students of all ages and backgrounds. For more information on Pearl s education and artist programs, visit www.pearldrum. com. PERCUSSION MARKETING COUNCIL Jespersen and Jewell named new executive officers The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) has announced the appointment of Bob Jespersen and David Jewell as Executive Officers. PMC officers serve as equal Co-Executive Directors, each responsible for specific areas of guidance, direction, and benefit to all PMC Members and the percussion industry. Jespersen is the National Call Center Director/Regional Sales Manager for KMC Music, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield, Conn. Bob s 30-year career with KMC Music includes diverse sales and customer service management positions throughout the U.S. Jewell is the Marketing Manager of Yamaha Drums, headquartered in Buena Park, Calif. Dave brings years of percussion industry experience as a full-time player, over 14 years with Milano Music in Arizona, and the past 13 years with Yamaha. He will assume direction over the PMC s marketing strategies. The PMC Board consists of the following individuals volunteering and serving the PMC Executive Officers: Brad Smith (Industry Relations), David Jewell (Marketing-Promotions), Bob Jespersen (Retailer Program Application & Development), and Karl Dustman (Headquarter Operations/ Financial-Legal-Membership). Advisory Board: Billy Cuthrell (Event Marketing, Website, Promotions), Phil Hood (New Membership Development), Dr. Craig Woodson (Roots of Rhythm, Program Director), and Brian LaRue (New Membership Development). NAMM Foundation Grant The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) recently announced that the organization was one of 35 recipients nationwide to receive a NAMM Foundation 2011 2012 program grant. The PMC s PER- CUSSION! The Rhythm of Life Through Making Music funding will help the further development and growth of the organization s Percussion in the Schools and Roots of Rhythm Programs. Percussion in the Schools is an educational in-school performance program targeted to introduce and provide professional percussion playing experiences to elementary through high school levels. Roots of Rhythm produces multiple teacher/trainer workshops throughout the U.S. while working with a variety of educational venues including MENC, House of Blues Foundation, and others. Percussion in the Schools dealer promotion with Keith Carlock The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC), in conjunction with internationally recognized drummer Keith Carlock, announced its Percussion in the Schools (PITS) dealer program for 2011. Building on the success of the 2010 Win Chad Smith campaign, PMC followed up this year by inviting NAMM retail music dealers to nominate a school district for hosting a Keith Carlock all-school percussion concert assembly. The all-school general assembly concert program is targeted to junior high and high school audiences in the dealer s local market and will be held at the school in October. Through a generous grant from the NAMM Foundation, the PMC has been able to grow this program consistently since its launch in 2007. The PMC s utilization of Chad Smith, a multi-grammy Award-winning artist and drumming industry ambassador, brought international attention to this PMC educational program in 2010. The organization s mission of connecting music retailers, schools, and students in an educa- OCTOBER 2011 30 percussion news
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tional first-time drumming experience benefits every student in attendance, the entire school s music department, and the local retail music dealer. This market development initiative will bring national awareness to all percussion-product categories and the entire music products industry. Carlock is an internationally acclaimed drummer who has recorded and/or toured with a variety of musical luminaries, such as Sting, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Diana Ross, Faith Hill, and many more. In Modern Drummer s 2009 Readers Poll, Carlock was voted number one in three categories: pop drummer, fusion drummer, and all-around drummer. In addition to studio work and live performance, he has also released an instructional DVD, The Big Picture. The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) is the percussion industry s official trade association comprised of members representing the manufacturing, distribution, and publishing facets of the percussion world. Founded in 1995, the non-profit all volunteer organization is dedicated to increasing public awareness of drums and drumming while creating educational and market development programs and campaigns that reach all audiences and benefit music retail merchants in all regions. For further information about the Percussion Marketing Council and programs visit www.playdrums.com and www.rootsofrhythm.net. RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS New management appointments Rhythm Band Instruments LLC has announced three new management staffing appointments, Alicia Ballew has been named Inside Sales and Support Manager. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southeast Missouri State. As a General Elementary Music Teacher for 2nd 5th grade students and a Middle and High School Music Teacher for grades 6 12, she has developed curriculum and implemented cross-disciplinary music programs and lesson plans for school band, choir, and general music theory. Stirling Hewitt has been named Web Design and Brand Support Specialist. Hewitt joins Rhythm Band as primary design and brand support manager to oversee the long-term growth and development of the company s multi-faceted web-based marketing initiative. An accomplished drummer and specialty percussionist, Hewitt will also be developing and coordinating new video training and educational content for our employees, dealers, international distributors and their affiliates. Chris Pittman has been named Inside Sales and Support Manager. A highly successful music retail sales manager, merchandiser, trainer, and buyer with extensive purchasing experience in large chain-store environments, Pittman brings depth and insight from his roots in the early 90s with South Texas Music Center in Houston, New Store Coordinator and Sales Manager with Mars Music, a buyer with Brook Mays Music Group and Music and Arts Centers, and a multi-unit store manager with Mr. E s Music, a full-line chain of stores in the Fort Worth area. VATER Kim Thompson visit Vater artist Kim Thompson (Mike Stern/Beyonce) recently visited Vater s Factory in Massachusetts for the first time. Kim got to see every step of Vater s production process first hand, including seeing the Vater 7A Wood (her stick of choice) being turned on a lathe. During her stay in Boston, Kim also appeared for a clinic with Di- Censo s Drum Shop, in Weymouth, Mass. Kim opened the clinic sharing details about her musical journey from the time she was a kid up until present projects. The clinic was then directed towards the spiritual and emotional side of performing music and drumming. ZILDJIAN 2011 Kerope Zildjian Scholarship Winner Zildjian has announced that Chad Crummel is the winner of the 2011 Kerope Zildjian Scholarship. A senior at the University of Texas- Austin, Crummel is a student of Tom Burritt and Tony Edwards. The first round of the competition was judged by Neil Grover and Richard Flanagan of the Boston Symphony and Pops. Three finalists were chosen and their unmarked CDs were sent to Cynthia Yeh, Principal Percussionist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Yeh chose Crummel as the 2011 Kerope Scholarship recipient. The finalists were Tristan Boyd from the University of Texas-Austin, also a student of Tom Burritt and Tony Edwards, and Tyler Tolles from the University of North Texas, a student of Mark Ford. Established to pay tribute to Kerope Zildjian, who presided over one of the most storied periods in Zildjian history (1895 1909), the scholarship is intended to encourage and reward percussionists in their pursuit of performing excellence. As the 2011 Kerope Zildjian Scholarship winner, Crummel receives a $5,000 scholarship, a selection of cymbals of his choice, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Zildjian Factory, where he will meet the Zildjian family, tour the factory, and personally choose his cymbals. For more information on the Kerope Zildjian Scholarship, visit Zildjian.com. Grand opening of new Zildjian West Coast office The Avedis Zildjian Company held an open house on June 21 to celebrate the grand opening of its new West Coast artist relations office in the CenterStaging complex in Burbank, Calif. Zildjian first opened a West Coast artist relations office in 1982 in West Hollywood. In 1989, the office relocated to Studio City. More than 200 Zildjian artists and industry friends stopped by to check out the new West Coast artist relations office, as well as Zildjian s new Gen16 office. The event featured a selection of Sound Lab prototypes for artists to play and provide feedback. Artists included Vinnie Colaiuta, Gary Novak, Sheila E, Airto Moreira, Russ Miller, Gil Sharone, Marvin Smitty Smith, Teddy Campbell, Aaron Spears, Nisan Stewart, Gorden Campbell, Kenny Aronoff, Luis Conte, Ronald Bruner Jr., Danny Seraphine, Mike Malinin, Michael White, Vince Wilburn and others. The event was hosted by John DeChristopher, Vice President, Artist Relations & Event Marketing Worldwide; Kirsten Matt, Artist Relations Manager West Coast & Latin America (who manages the West Coast office); and Sarah Malaney, Artist Relations Manager East Coast. Other Zildjian personnel in attendance included Debbie Zildjian, Vice President of Human Resources; Paul Francis, Director of Research & Design; Matt Read, R&D/Quality Engineer; Steve Tirpak, Regional Sales Manager; Mike Brucher, Zildjian Sales Rep for Southern California; and Derek Zimmerman, Gen16 Business Manager. According to DeChristopher, Having a presence in Los Angeles is important to Zildjian for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is being accessible to our artists. Zildjian has enjoyed a long relationship with CenterStaging, so it was only natural for us to be here. We re excited about our new home and its location, which is arguably at the center of the L.A. music scene. w OCTOBER 2011 32 percussion news
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OCTOBER 2011 34 percussion news