To celebrate the current crop of talented, young, American drummers, leading drum, accessory, and media companies have joined together to announce the first annual Drumerica online video contest for teen drummers.

Drumerica is set to take place over the upcoming summer break (July and August, 2014) and is open to thirteen- to eighteen-year-olds who are current residents of the US. To enter, contestants choose one of six official play-along tracks provided by Groove Essentials and Turn It Up & Lay It Down, record a video, upload it to YouTube, and sign-up for free on the Drumerica.us website.

First, second, and third place winners will receive thousands of dollars in prizes, including drums, accessories, and a one-week professional recording session (not including travel and lodging) from primary sponsors Crush, KAT Percussion, TRX/CRX, Evans, Promark, Modern Drummer, and Desert Rock Sound Studios. Alternative Press, Drum Fun, Drum Guru, Drumlite, Cympad, Kickport, Bass Plate, Direct Sound, Gator, Hudson Music, Jamhub, and Puresound are also providing product and media support. Advertisement

The top “Drumericans” will be selected by judging panels made up of world-famous drummers, leading drum educators, and top drum industry professionals, including Tommy Igoe (Groove Essentials), Arin Ilejay (Avenged Sevenfold), Kent Slucher (Luke Bryan), “Big” Mike Clemons (Israel Houghton), and others. Winners will be chosen based on drumming skill, showmanship, and musicality.

In addition, random weekly drawings and simultaneous fan contests on Drumerica’s social media will occur throughout the contest for prizes such as hats, shirts, keys, sticks, heads, and educational media.

The Drumerica national contest for young drummers officially opens for entries on July 1, 2014 and closes on August 1, 2014. All entries must include a video performance of an official track. A preliminary group of twenty-five finalists will be announced on August 9 and the first, second, and third place winners will be announced on August 16. Advertisement

Additional sponsors and judges will be announced as they are confirmed.

For further information and a complete list of rules and prizes, visit www.drumerica.us and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.