Alexei Volkov
The BBC has featured drums in many contexts, from news themes to educational content. For instance, during the first coronavirus lockdown in England, BBC viewers witnessed a unique drum performance of the BBC News theme. This performance was part of a 24-hour Drumathon for the BBC Children in Need fund, featuring a mix of traditional drum sets and unconventional instruments like plastic containers and toys. Beyond this, the BBC has also explored the cultural significance of drums, such as through its coverage of the steel pan drums and African drumming traditions. Additionally, the BBC offers educational content on percussion, drums, and beats, teaching about different types of drums and their sounds and their role in modern popular music.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Event | Drumathon for Children in Need |
| Participants | Owain Wyn Evans, Pros, Amateurs, BBC Children in Need mascot |
| Instruments | Traditional drum set, Plastic containers, Toys |
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What You'll Learn
The Drums, the band
The Drums is an American indie pop band from New York City. The band was formed by Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham, who met as children at Bible camp. They initially formed a short-lived electro-pop group called Goat Explosion, which was later renamed Elkland. In 2008, Pierce and Graham came up with the concept for The Drums, and the band was officially formed in 2009. They released their debut album on June 7, 2010, on Moshi Moshi and Island Records. The album included the singles "Let's Go Surfing", "Best Friend", and "Me and the Moon".
The Drums have received significant recognition and acclaim for their music. In December 2009, they were shortlisted as one of the 15 music acts for the BBC Sound of 2010 and ultimately placed 5th. They were also named the number 1 tip for 2010 in NME's first issue of that year and in Clash Magazine's Tips for 2010. Additionally, they were voted "Best Hope for 2010" in Pitchfork's 2009 Readers' Poll and won the Hall Radar Award for 2010.
The Drums have released several albums and singles since their debut. Their second LP, "Portamento", was released on September 5, 2011. The album title holds a special meaning for Pierce, signifying his and Graham's shared love for synth pioneers. In 2014, The Drums announced their third studio album, "Encyclopedia", marking a departure from their signature "tonal palette". On March 1, 2017, they released the debut single "Blood Under My Belt" from their album "Abysmal Thoughts". Longtime member Jacob Graham announced his departure from the band that year, leaving Jonathan Pierce as the sole remaining member.
The Drums have continued to release new music and pursue solo projects. On April 3, 2023, they released their first single in years, "I Want It All", along with announcing a U.S. summer tour. The Drums have also explored solo endeavours, with both Pierce and Graham announcing solo records in 2013. While Pierce's album was never completed, Graham released his album "Towards a Quaker View of Synthesizers" under the name Cascading Slopes. The Drums' most recent releases include the singles "Plastic Envelope" and "Protect Him Always" in 2023.
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Drumming for children
Drumming is a fun activity for children and can be a great way to introduce them to the world of music. It can be a little intimidating for parents when their child expresses an interest in learning to play the drums, especially when it comes to the noise! However, there are many benefits to learning to drum, and it is a fantastic activity to encourage.
There are many health benefits associated with drumming for children. It is a great form of exercise and can help children manage stress, fatigue, and anxiety. Drumming can also improve symptoms of ADHD, chronic pain, and even mental illness. It is a powerful form of self-expression and can help children focus, with the sounds of a snare bringing their attention back to the present. Drumming is also linked to the release of endorphins, enkephalins, and Alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with feelings of well-being and euphoria.
Drumming is an excellent way to teach children about rhythm and get them engaged with music. You can start by clapping and stomping to their favourite songs, and then move on to teaching them simple rhythms. For example, ask them for their favourite food and then play that out on a drum; "chocolate cake" could be played with both hands together on the snare and floor tom. You can also try making homemade percussion instruments, such as using plastic containers or toys as drums, or creating a drum kit out of rubbish like buckets and pans.
If your child is interested in taking up drumming more seriously, there are a few things to consider. You will need to find them a drum teacher and purchase a beginner's drum kit, preferably an electronic one to keep the noise down! You could also look into getting them lessons at a local music school. It is also worth checking if their school has a band that they could join, which is a great way to get them involved with other children and build teamwork skills.
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Drumming with non-drum objects
Drumming is a fun activity, and you don't always need a drum kit to do it! You can make a drum kit out of anything, even rubbish or junk. This is known as "junk percussion". During the COVID-19 lockdown, the BBC organised a 24-hour "Drumathon" for its Children in Need fund. While many participants used traditional drum kits, others got creative with plastic containers, toys, and even the BBC Children in Need mascot, Pudsy.
There are plenty of household objects that can be used for drumming. For example, cylindrical barrels or water bottles can create a bass sound. You can also use buckets and pans to create a drum kit.
So, if you're feeling creative, why not give it a try? You might be surprised by the sounds you can create with everyday objects!
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Drum kits
A drum kit, also known as a drum set, is a collection of drums and other percussion instruments set up to be played by a single player. Drum kits are commonly used in pop and rock music to play steady beats that make people want to dance. They are also used in orchestral music, along with other percussion instruments such as timpani and glockenspiel.
A typical drum kit consists of a bass drum, also known as a kick drum, which is played by pressing a pedal with the foot and typically played on the first beat of each bar. The snare drum, which produces a loud "crack" sound with a higher pitch, is usually played on the second and fourth beats of a bar in what is called a backbeat. A drum kit will also typically include two or three tom drums, also known as tom-toms, which produce different pitched sounds.
In addition to drums, a drum kit will often include cymbals, such as a ride or crash cymbal, which produces a high sound that fades over time, and a pair of hi-hats, which are metal cymbals that can be played closed or open using a pedal.
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Drum patterns
The drums are an essential part of modern popular music and remain the consistent force behind musical evolution. They are often used to play a steady beat that helps people tap their feet or dance along to the music. A typical drum kit will have two or three tom-tom drums, which produce different pitched sounds. The kit will also have a ride or crash cymbal, which makes a high sound that decays or fades away over time. The bass drum, or kick drum, is the lowest sound on the kit and is played by pressing a pedal with the foot. It is often played on the first beat of every bar.
The snare drum produces a loud 'crack' sound and is usually heard on beats two and four. A snare drum played on these beats is called a backbeat. The hi-hats are a pair of metal cymbals placed on top of each other, with a pedal to control whether they are closed or open. They play a quick, regular pattern. All these components come together to form a drum pattern, which can be written on a grid. Drum patterns can be fed into drum machines or music software to create complex, repeated rhythms.
Drummers can also create music from junk percussion, using plastic containers, toys, cylindrical barrels, water bottles, or even kitchen items like buckets and pans. This was demonstrated by a group of drummers led by BBC presenter Owain Wyn Evans, who organised a 24-hour "Drumathon" for the BBC Children in Need fund. The event featured a mix of professionals and amateurs playing on both real drums and makeshift instruments.
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Frequently asked questions
A drum kit can be made of anything, even plastic containers or rubbish!
A typical drum kit will have two or three tom drums, a bass drum, a snare drum, a ride or crash cymbal, and a pair of hi-hats.
Examples of percussion instruments include drum kits, timpani, and glockenspiel.
A drum machine is an electronic instrument that produces beats and can be used to make complex repeated rhythms.
A drumathon is a 24-hour event where people play drums to raise money for charity.
