On Sunday, May 3rd, the Wildwoods Convention Center plaza became something the competitive marching arts world does not often get to experience: a full-on percussion carnival, open to everyone, built around nothing more complicated than sharing the love of making music with other people.

More than 400 students, teachers, parents, chaperones, and members of the general public took part in Drum Jawn: Wildwood event at the TIA Atlantic Coast Championships -- a free, participatory event produced by the Mobile Music Lab, a program of Jersey Surf, Inc., in partnership with Tournament Performing Arts. For four hours, music poured out of every corner of the property simultaneously. Steel pan melodies drifted through the air. A bagpiper guided students through their first encounter with Scottish pipe band drumming. Latin and world percussion rhythms anchored one station while a nearly non-stop facilitated drum circle held the center of it all together. The effect was something between a festival and a revelation.

That was the point.

What Happened

Discovery stations ran throughout the event, each staffed by a specialist and open to participants of every background and experience level. Jersey Surf alumnus Joseph Whitney and Kristian Paradis of the Resolution Steel Orchestra  brought the steel pan to life for students who had never touched one. Champion Scottish Pipe Drumming master educator Gordon Bell introduced the rhythmic traditions of the pipe band -- a world that most competitive marching percussionists, despite their depth of experience, had never explored. Brazil-based Jersey Surf Alum Carl Barone anchored the world percussion station with the infectious energy of someone who has spent thirty years falling in love with global drumming traditions. And longtime Surf creative staff member Mike Mercadante, a certified drum circle facilitator and fifty-year veteran of the marching arts, kept the community drum circle alive and welcoming from the first moment of the day to the last. Creative coordination of the day's event was managed by Music Lab team member Colin Bell. 

Two additional activations generated brisk traffic throughout the event. The MarimbaPad station drew steady interest from students and educators curious about the patented percussion practice instrument invented by Mobile Music Lab Director of Operations Rich Klimowicz. And a "Fastest Drummer" activation drew more than 100 participants eager to test their speed -- providing one of the day's most energetic and consistently crowded moments.

A Special Guest

Among those who made their way to the Drum Jawn was former Jersey Surf creative staff member Dennis DeLucia -- Hall of Fame arranger, designer, and instructor, and one of the most respected figures in the history of the marching arts. DeLucia joined the drum circle during his time at the event, a moment that captured something essential about what Drum Jawn is designed to do: create a space where the boundaries between legend and beginner, between specialist and newcomer, dissolve into the shared experience of making music together.

The Response

Many participants arrived having seen the advance promotion. Others simply stumbled upon the event while moving through the championship weekend and stayed far longer than they expected to. The common thread was the same: a sense of exploration and genuine excitement that cut across age, experience level, and background.

Feedback from attendees was enthusiastic and consistent. Multiple students, teachers, and family members asked whether Drum Jawn would become a permanent feature of future Tournament Performing Arts Weekend in Wildwood events. TIA leadership expressed that participation exceeded their expectations, and the depth of programming, quality of facilitation, and organization of the event drew repeated comment from those in attendance.

What Comes Next

Future Drum Jawn and Rhythm Hang events are in development for later this spring and summer, with additional details coming soon. Building on the success of the Wildwood activation, future events will expand the station lineup to include a Rope Drum and Rudimental Percussion station, an introduction to digital audio production, and more.

Drum Jawn in Wildwood was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors -- Remo, Vic Firth, Zildjian, Mapex, Majestic Percussion, Jupiter, Yorkville Sound, Stadium Creations, Ultimate Drill Book, Treeworks Chimes, MarimbaPad, and On2 Percussion -- and through grants from the Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission and The Presser Foundation.

If you are interested in hosting, sponsoring, or partnering with a future Drum Jawn or Rhythm Hang event, we would love to hear from you. Contact the Mobile Music Lab at mobilemusiclab.com.

Drum Jawn is a program of the Mobile Music Lab, powered by Jersey Surf, Inc.