Interactive Drum Workshops and Festivals

The best way to get practical drumming experience is to play! So here's your guide to drum and percussion workshops and festivals that all have one thing in common: They welcome your participation. So come on out, sit-in, and play!

All American Music Festival
Choral Groups, Concert Bands, Marching Bands, Jazz Bands, Orchestras, Color Guard, Drill Teams & Dance Groups are welcome to perform as part of Walt Disney World Resort's Millennium Celebration. Performance opportunities are available year round for all types of performance groups. Check it out.

DayJams
This summer program was founded in 1984 for kids age 9-15 who are interested in playing rock 'n' roll. Students can learn guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals and (yuck!) DJ. There are currently nine camp locations throughout the United States. During a week-long program, kids join a band, pick their band name, compose an original tune, and more. Friday evening the camp concludes with a concert held for family and friends. Check 'em out.

Jazz Vermont
Held each July, the Vermont Jazz Camp is aimed at intermediate to advanced players. There are four bands and each band will have only one drummer. Activities for non-players as well, so friends and spouses are welcome. This year's special guest musicians are Jerry Bergonzi, Tony Lada and Mark Van Cleave.

Michigan Womyn's Music Festival
It started as a party in 1976, 25 years later it's still going strong: "The week where we revel in all things female, where we are wild and strong and sexual, where womyn are sacred and girls are safe. We invite you to come and join us as we celebrate the existence and persistence of this planet called Michigan." Check them out at the link above.

Northwest Percussion Festival
The annual Northwest Percussion Festival is held each April at the University of Oregon School of Music in Eugene. Percussion ensembles from universities and colleges from 12 northwest states and provinces in the US and Canada participate in the event, which has been held the for the last 16 years. Check out their latest schedule.

SIUC Summer Music Festival
Check out their Percussion camp (for all ages), it focuses on mostly on concert percussion but Jazz, Latin, and Marching will also be discussed. They hold a Jazz Improvisation Camp every year also, and it's open to high school musicians only. Check the site for the latest dates.

WOMAD
The annual World of Music Arts and Dance festival features more than 40 artists from all over the globe appearing on five stages, plus lots of workshops you can join. And all this spread out over 15 acres of Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington in July. WOMAD also offers other festivals around the world. Check the above site for a list of upcoming events.

World of Pageantry's Hawaii Invitational Intl. Music Fest
Bring Your Band, Drill Team, Orchestra, Flags or Pep squad to the World Famous Hawaii Invitational. An annual event for more than 20 years.

World Percussion Festival
Berkelee College of Music's annual World Percussion Festival is held for a week each June. If you're going to be 15 years old by June 25th, you can join. Check out their latest summer workshop schedules.