Alexander Roglin reports on drum-tec’s second ‘drum-tec days’ event.
Germany’s drum-tec recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a weekend of performances, clinics and product demonstrations.
“In the beginning, I just wanted to have my own drum store,” drum-tec founder Konrad Müller-Bremeyer said at the opening of the event in Fischbeck, near Hannover in Germany. “Now, 20 years later, we have come a long way together, and much more than just a drum store has seen the light of day since then.“
Under the new motto LIFE IS DRUMS, the drum-tec CEO shared his vision for the fusion and future of electronic and acoustic drums to offer visitors the best of both worlds. “Drums are not just an instrument, they are a way of life,” Müller-Bremeyer explained.
Visitors at the weekend event got to see and try the drum-tec pro 3, diabolo 3 and Jam 3 kits as well as innovative products from Efnote, GEWA, Roland, Ludwig and others.
In addition to instrument demonstrations, workshops included a masterclass with Anika Nilles and Claus Hessler, during which participants learned first-hand about the nuances of timing and micro-timing, and, of course, one of the holy grails of drumming, the Moeller Technique.
Claus, as a master student of Jim Chapin and Dom Famularo, and Anika, one of the most renowned drummers of our time, drew strong interest. Over the course of three days, the enthusiastic participants not only learned hand and foot techniques at the highest level, but also got a behind-the-scenes look. They discovered how and what masters like Anika and Claus practise and how to apply these insights to their own drumming.
Another highlight on the drum-tec Open Air Stage was Michael Schack playing a Roland VAD706 with TD-50X and SPD-SX Pro. His performance was an impressive and enthusiastic demonstration of what is possible when high-end electronic drums and passionate performance come together. After an hour of non-stop entertainment, there was no questioning the sound and capabilities of an e-drum.
His performance was followed by Ralf Gustke for GEWA and Thomas Heinz, endorsed by Mapex and Zildjian.
There was also a premiere at the drum-tec days 2024: for the first time in Europe, a DWe drum set was on show and available for playing.
The new electronic/acoustic line is being sold under a new agency model from Roland, where the drums can only be purchased through carefully selected dealers worldwide. drum-tec is the first and, currently, the only drum dealer in Europe. The drum-tec showroom currently has the only DWe set available for playing and testing on the continent. “We are very proud of this and consider it a very special honour,” says Müller-Bremeyer.