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FriNov 15

National Drummer Day – November 15, 2024

Drummers are truly talented humans, one of the many reasons they’ve earned National Drummer Day on November 15. Drummers are so coordinated they can do something different with each limb and make it all sound perfectly synced. How? Studies show that drummers’ brains are actually wired differently than us mere mortals, giving them enhanced problem-solving abilities and an entirely different way of looking at the world.

History of National Drummer Day

Even though the first drums ever were made out of alligator skin and clay pots (such dapper drums for 5050 BC), the art of drumming extends well beyond humans. Macaque monkeys will drum on objects rhythmically to show social dominance. Some rodents will also express communication by drumming their paws on the ground. Additionally, the way in which animals appear to process this syncopated sound is similar to us, leading many scientists to believe that drumming pre-dates humans in our global evolutionary timeline as a way of communication. 

So by practicing drumming, you’re actually practicing something that is – most likely – older than humanity. 

Additionally, the drums basic shape and build has been unchanged for thousands of years. The difference between Rush’s massive drum kit and the alligator skin drums found in China in 5050 BC may seem huge at first sight but are actually rather small in the grand scheme of things. Drums are drums are drums – and playing them turns anyone holding a beat into a living link to the past. 

While technologies evolve and electric kits fashionably fall in and out of style, drumming’s importance to the way we express emotion and communicate is still as strong as it was before we ever figured out how to build one. 

National Drummer Day timeline

5050 BC
​Drums first appeared

​Drums have been round since humans learned to keep rhythm, and drums dating back to ancient China prove it.

​1300
​The drumstick was first invented

​Though earlier drumsticks may have existed, the first recorded ones go back to 1300 and were made of wood.

​1909
​The drum pedal was invented

​The Ludwig Drum Company introduced the first drum pedal.

​1963
​"Wipe Out" was released

​The classic Surfaris song, an instrumental with a memorable drum solo, spent four months on the Billboard charts.

​1997
​Roland releases TD-10 model

​Lesser-quality electric drums had been around since the 1970s, but the most famous and best quality electric drum set is arguably the Roland TD-10 released in 1997.

National Drummer Day FAQs

How do I celebrate National Drummer Day?

There are many ways to celebrate National Drummer Day, with the best way being to play the drums! 
 

When is National Drummer Day?

National Drummer Day is every year on November 15. Ask a drummer the same question and the may point to any or all of the other 364 days in the year, though. 
 

What is National Drummer Day?

National Drummer Day is a celebration of all drummers and everything to do with drumming! What’s not to love about that?
 

National Drummer Day Activities

  1. Bang on the drums all day

    Drumming is good for you! It burns more calories than many other forms of exercise, enhances happiness, lowers stress hormones, and increases your pain threshold. Hit it!

  2. Play with your favorite drummer

    Playing to a drummer's beat has been shown to increase cooperation among groups, possibly because everyone is experiencing the effects of drummer's high. Besides, it's fun and it sounds so sweet to everyone listening.

  3. Bask in a classic drum solo

    Back in the 1970s and '80s, the rock 'n' roll drum solo was king. So break out your vinyl and listen to some classic solos. Some suggestions: "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin, "Tom Sawyer" by Rush, "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, and "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen.

​5 Reasons Drummers Are Totally "Extra"

  1. ​The world's oldest professional musician is a female drummer

    ​She's 105, her name is Viola Smith, and she can still rock with the best of them.

  2. ​The longest drum roll lasted 14 hours

    ​Londoner Pandit Sudarshan Das performed a continuous drum roll for 14 hours

  3. ​The world's largest drum kit has 813 pieces (at last count) and it took 36 years to build

    Developed by Dr. Mark Temperature, it takes four people and fifteen hours to set up — and an hour to hit each individual piece.

  4. ​Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee played a rollercoaster drum kit

    ​It did a 360 degree loop-the-loop during his solo (and even got stuck upside down once during a concert).

  5. ​Wild Muppet drummer Animal was based on a famous real-life musician

    ​The crazy antics of the Muppet Animal are said to be based on the late Who drummer Keith Moon.

Why We Love National Drummer Day

  1. Rhythm makes us smarter

    Studies have shown that listening to beats can help increase concentration and cognitive function. Being exposed to rhythmic light and sound therapy helped university students bring up their grades, demonstrated a similar calming effect as medication, and even increased the IQ scores of children with ADD.

  2. Drums hold the beat of humankind

    Drums go back to our very beginnings. Throughout time, they've been used to communicate, celebrate, signal, and entertain. The beat they provide is the very rhythm of humanity. Researchers at Harvard showed that drummers have an internal clock that moves in waves, mimicking brain waves and heart rates during sleep. Rock on!

  3. Drummers know how to keep time (and their cool)

    Drumming produces endorphins, creating a "drummer's high" that increases happiness for all of the players. The hypothesis here is that drumming and sharing rhythms were integral to ancient societies and we still respond to them that way.

National Drummer Day dates

YearDateDay
2024November 15Friday
2025November 15Saturday
2026November 15Sunday
2027November 15Monday
2028November 15Wednesday

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