Why do we need your help?
The Birmingham Drum Battery (BDB) will be a group for adult (18+) drummers and percussionists of all levels who want to improve their skills, perform together and make friends. We want to explore the music of Western Military tradition and performance groups like Stomp, Blueman Group, Stickstoff, and many others in a fun and accessible way that people in Birmingham will enjoy.
We need to raise £1650 to fund the pilot of our new Birmingham-based percussion group. This will pay for:
- Six sessions (fortnightly)
- Room Hire
- Professional Music Leader and Session Assistant Fee
- Resource development
- Printing
- Marketing
- Supporting free places for those unable to afford to attend
Don't worry if the Birmingham Drum Battery isn't for you. You can still support us in making the group happen.
We believe that the BDB would be a valuable asset to Birmingham's musical community. The project will help to bring people together, develop skills, and promote Birmingham's unique and exciting musical heritage. The pilot that we are proposing would allow us to get the project started, collect evidence and use this to assist in future fundraising and sponsorship opportunities so the project can run long into the future.
What Will We Do During Sessions?
We'll be learning:
How to read music notation
- Using bespoke resources, we'll show participants of any ability, from beginner to advanced, how to develop their knowledge of reading notated music.
- Reading notation can open doors to a whole new world of musical enjoyment, from writing down ideas to joining orchestras and bands.
How to play and look after our instruments
- We'll develop technique through:
- Rudiments (scales for percussionists)
- Sticking Exercises
- Drills (set technical pieces)
- How to tune our drums
- Exploring extended techniques, tricks and sounds
How to perform as a disciplined group
- We'll be performing bespoke music composed/arranged specifically for the group
- We'll learn how to perform in front of an audience
- Then, perform in front of an audience so participants can show off their new skills
Anyone over 18 can join, regardless of experience. We recommend that people bring a floor tom or a snare drum (though any drum will do as long as participants bring sticks). The sessions are planned fortnightly on Wednesdays, with location and timings to be confirmed.
For further information or to express your interest in joining, please visit this link
What Will The BDB Look Like?
As previously mentioned, we'll be taking influences from
Western Military Tradition
Using ideas around
- Uniformity
- Light Choreography
- Battery Formation
- Presentation
Performance Groups
Blueman Group
Stickstoff
Using ideas around
- Creative live performance and staging
- Unorthodox use of materials and/or instruments
About Misfits Music Foundation
Misfits Music Foundation was established in 2018 by Rob Jones and Reuben Penny with the aim of "bringing people together through music".
Click here for more info
The foundation currently runs six unique music projects across Birmingham and The Black Country. We break down barriers and make music accessible and fun to all, no matter their background or ability.
Brum Rocks
Last year we ran this exciting project that celebrated Birmingham's profound contribution to rock music by bringing together hundreds of people to play as one massive band. Ultimately, we reached thousands of people nationwide through free workshops and national press coverage, including a feature in The Guardian Newspaper.
The final performance showcased:
- Our 450-person rock band
- A new anthem for Birmingham by Birmingham's Poet Laureate, Jasmine Gardosi.
- Video appearances from local music legends showing support for the project, including Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne
This mega project, along with our regular weekly activities, truly shows our commitment to our charitable aim of "bringing people together through music" and also to the city of Birmingham.
Final Thoughts
We believe that the Birmingham Drum Battery will be the perfect addition to Birmingham's musical heritage, and with your help, we'll make it happen!