At Drum-Off Global, we do understand the cynical views many people have of a Music or Art competition of any sort but we do want to also say that Drum-Off Global have way more important messages than just being a “competition” that does nothing else other than telling who is first or second etc.
Elevating Drummers EverywherE
the Core Mission & the spirit of Drum-Off Global
The DRUMMER
Not treating music or drumming as a sport at all, but since its a competition, that becomes the common denominator. Like the Olympic games and to inculcate a TRUE Olympic Spirit, this is a competition to better ourselves.
The only competitor is yourself, the only person to beat is yourself.
Start on a blank page
In our years of research, we find it to be unfair to judge drummers via playing to songs. Imagine one playing to a Bruno Mars song, V.S. another to a Snarky Puppy song and V.S. another to a Dream Theater song. Therefore everyone starting on a BLANK PAGE, writing his/her composition & perfecting the execution of the solo is what we have chosen as the fairest way.
Maintaining the main criteriasskills/technique, groove, originality, musicality creativity, stage presence & overall performance.
GLOBAL
It promotes Camaraderie+Unity of drummers across the globe as its an event that extends beyond what we see on a daily basis. It is a competition that is bigger than the country and self.
A Platform where The Nations Gather.
NATIONAL Importance
The veteran and professional drummers of a country have the tasks to “pay it forward” to the next generation of great drummers. A focus for gathering & honing talents and a focus for the veterans to leave a genuine legacy. And this would be doing it at a country level and NOT for self-interest or a small circle of people. That is why our goal is to look for responsible country DRUM-OFF organizers.
A country Drum-Off organizer is dedicated:
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to strengthening the importance of Drumming+Music in the lives of drummers in the country
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to empower & support country competitors and winning representatives to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being
MUSIC is Great & Necessary
Drumming as a sub component can add to make music greater make Music & Drumming bigger in your own country.
The STRUGGLE
We have chosen to have competitors only perform Drum Solo for a very simple reason. We know many drummers are afraid of performing a drum solo because it is always tough to play a drum solo especially those free form standalone solos. No one is nearly “good enough”, maybe not even some of the greatest drummers.
Coming up with a 4 min solo that; has creativity, momentum, ‘storyline’, presence, shows great technique, advances your skills, entertains, enthuses, is pulsating, grooves hard and shows originality & some form of musicality is no easy feat.
A Drum Solo will test every facet of your drumming including your confidence. A drum solo will put all that you have been practicing and learning into good use and focus. there is nowhere to hide during a drum solo. And it takes incredible discipline to even start composing it and practicing it.
How Competition makes you BETTER
1. Competition mutes critics and builds courage
2. Competition helps us find faults
3. Competition increases productivity and encourages new ideas
4. Competition can end in respect, not anger
Written by Samuel Bacharach, McKelvey-Grant Professor, Cornell University @samuelbacharach