Question: How can you tell when a drummer’s at the door? Answer: He doesn’t know when to come in.

Yes, when it comes to jokes involving musicians, more often than not it’s drummers who get the short end of the stick (pun intended) and wind up as the punch line.

But all joking aside, drummers in the city are gearing up for the first annual DrumTalk Festival, taking place Mar. 8 at the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre. While this congregation of timekeepers may be easy fodder for other musicians to whip out their favourite drummer jokes, punch lines are the furthest thing from Ben Reimer’s mind.

“I spend so much time trying to promote smart percussion and smart drummers that I’d probably take offence, but I don’t really pay attention to [drummer jokes],” said Reimer, a percussion instructor at Brandon University.

Reimer is one of five drummers slated to appear in the festival to perform and present a clinic – a demonstration and seminar on how to perform certain techniques. Scott Senior (The Duhks), Mitch Dorge (Crash Test Dummies) and freelance drummers Chris Sutherland and Dom Famularo.

“ Not only will it change how you play the drums, but it will change how you think about drumming.

David Schneider, drum instructor

Reimer, who has been playing for over 20 years, will be playing “Ringer,” composed by Nicole Lizee, which he said shows a different side of using a drum kit.

Reimer said that the festival is a good opportunity to build relationships with other drummers in the city.

“The festival encourages a community within drummers,” Reimer said. “We get the opportunity to watch each other play and learn and help the community grow.”

David Schneider, a drum and percussion instructor and owner of The Music Cellar on St. Anne’s Road, is organizing the event, which is the first of its kind in Winnipeg. Schneider highlighted the educational importance of the festival.

“As a teacher, I feel that it’s important for today’s drummer to experience other guest artists that they may not normally be able to see in one day,” Schneider said.

Schneider said that the festival is designed to be an educational, motivational and inspirational learning experience – not to mention a health-minded one. Schneider made sure that participants in the workshops won’t just be watching drum performances. Schneider said that a massage therapist will be in attendance to give lessons on how to properly stretch.

“Before you can play, you have to learn how to stretch,” Schneider said. “It’s important for a drummer to develop stretching techniques and I wanted someone to demonstrate how to take care of your body.”

Schneider said that although the festival is geared towards drum and percussion players, you don’t have to be a pro to enjoy the event. Schneider also promised that the event will not only be educational, but inspirational as well.

“Not only will it change how you play the drums, but it will change how you think about drumming,” he said.

Published in Volume 63, Number 22 of The Uniter (March 5, 2009)