D R U M I T !
- The New Drums and Percussion Training
Envisioned and created by Túpac Mantilla
Training Dates 2025
22 - 26
JANUARY
2025
Workshop 1
2 - 6
APRIL
2025
Workshop 2
11 - 15
JUNE
2025
Workshop 3
20 - 24
AUGUST
2025
Workshop 4
12 - 16
NOVEMBER
2025
Workshop 5
ABOUT DRUM IT!
DRUM IT! is a new Drums and Percussion training, created by Colombian percussionist Túpac Mantilla, who after more than 30 years of performing and teaching experience, has developed a concept that brings together key tools and rhythm contents, to dive into the world of drums and percussion, by learning in an integral, comprehensive and effective way.
The core principle of the training is to tap into the rhythmic knowledge and archetypal memories of the Body, as they are enhanced and trained through contents such as Body Percussion and Body Rhythm, and to use percussion technical tools, from traditional to classical, to translate them into any percussion instrument and therefore genre or music style. Thus allowing proficiency at any level and specially creativity and rhythmic freedom.
FOR WHOM IS DRUM IT!?
DRUM IT! is a training offered for rhythm and percussion lovers and enthusiasts, and specially for people interested in serious progress and comprehensive knowledge around drums and percussion instruments, that can be successfully applied to their needs, fields and personal interests.
Despite the level of experience and expertise, Túpac's pedagogic methodology has proven to be successful over the past 5 years, by welcoming and helping processes of both beginners and advance students, since the focus of learning is customized to every person's individual case.
Whether you are interested in beginning to study or improve your percussion and rhythm skills on an instrument, or as a teacher or an advanced player, benefit from Túpac's expertise and wide-range knowledge, be sure DRUM IT! can help you in the process.
EXPERIENCE RHYTHMIC FREEDOM
THROUGH CREATIVITY & GROOVING FLOW
DRUM IT! OFFERS YOU
INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE
DRUM IT! brings together a great balance among technical tools, application routines, historic and ethnomusicological background, listening and analysis sessions, individual and collective playing journeys and ground-breaking modern rhythm concepts easy to comprehend and apply for anyone.
COMMUNITY LEARNING
It brings together like-minded students with similar learning interests, who share their experience and allow collective practice and playing to take place throughout the training, as stronger colleague / friendship bonds develop.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Túpac is committed to your learning process and progress. Therefore, one of his main goals as your mentor and guide, is to make sure you accomplish your learning goals and reach new percussion and rhythm milestones. For that, one-on-one coaching, the support of the DRUM IT! online training platform and remote follow-up from him will be part of the training.
FREEDOM THROUGH CREATIVITY
DRUM IT!'s ultimate goal is to allow rhythmic Freedom. The learning structure of the training is to accompany the students in their own process, as they enhance their unique percussion voice and gain tools to boost their own creativity, thus enriching their personal rhythm vocabulary and musical expression..
PLUS MANY OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDING...
Right-Left coordination tools and exercises / Flexibility and independence / Pedagogic strategies / Brain-cognitive learning tools / Composition and arrangement insights for groups / Improvisation and soloing practice / Longer percussion play-throughs / Relaxation and flow tools / Reading and notation practice / Endurance and stamina / Speed and fluidity / Ensemble practice and live playing / Evening rhythmic gatherings / Dance and movement tools.
INTEGRATE AND OPEN UP YOUR
PERCUSSION & RHYTHMIC KNOWLEDGE
DRUM IT! CONTENT LIST
BODY PERCUSSION:
Túpac's unique Body Percussion System that works with warm-ups, sounds, scales, Dun-tas, Circulines, polyrhythms, etc. which develop coordination and increase the awareness of rhythm from the Body.
RHYTHMNASTICS:
Combines dance movements and Body Rhythm physical exercises.
RHYTHMECHANICS:
Learn the movements the body needs to master different percussion instruments, styles and techniques.
STICKNASTICS:
Integrated routines with Drumsticks and Body Rhythm, which deal with technical aspects and provide the tools to learn to play with sticks any percussion instrument or rhythmic cultural approach.
POLYRHYTHMIC ENSEMBLE DRUMMING:
Different groups of instruments play different rhythms at the same time and perform live arrangements and compositions.
POWER DRUMMING:
Extended-hours drum journeys which develop stamina and allow to reach states such as the Theta Meditative State.
MAIN INSTRUMENT TRAINING & BASIC KIT TRAINING:
The learning core of DRUM IT!, where students focus in an in-depth learning of the basic training learning percussion kit, in order to bring and translate that knowledge to their desired main choice of percussion instrument.
COMPOSITION AND ARRANGEMENT SESSIONS:
Collective sessions to learn core composition and arrangement tools, oriented for drum and percussion instruments specifically.
Join Túpac in a
FASCINATING RHYTHMIC JOURNEY
SCHEDULE
General Schedule of Activities
22.1.25
23.1.25
8:30 - BREAKFAST
10:00 - 13:00
Morning Sessions
13:00 - LUNCH
15:30 - 18:30
Afternoon Sessions
18:30 - DINNER
20:30 to 22:00
Evening Gathering
24.1.25
8:30 - BREAKFAST
10:00 - 13:00
Morning Sessions
13:00 - LUNCH
15:30 - 18:30
Afternoon Sessions
18:30 - DINNER
20:30 to 22:00
Evening Gathering
25.1.25
8:30 - BREAKFAST
10:00 - 13:00
Morning Sessions
13:00 - LUNCH
15:30 - 17:00
Afternoon Sessions
18:30 - DINNER
20:30 to 22:00
Evening Gathering
26.1.25
8:30 - BREAKFAST
10:00 -12:30
Final Session
13:00 - LUNCH
Registration from
15:00 on available
17:00 - 18:00
Introduction Meeting
18:30 - DINNER
20:30 to 22:00
Evening Gathering
PLACE & DIRECTIONS
Schloss Wasmuthhausen
Directions / Map
GERMANY
Contact us for questions at: contact@percuaction.com
PRICES
€575 Euros per Workshop
€2500 Euros for the Full Year Training
By attending each workshop, you additionally get private one-on-one coaching with Túpac, and get exclusive access to the DRUM IT! Online Study Platform, which contains several hours of videos and material that allow you to continue and follow up with the training contents.
Room and board must be arranged and paid separately and directly with the center's
administration team by:
Emailing them to: info@schloss-wasmuthhausen.de
Calling them at: +49 09567/208
or contacting them via their website:
REGISTRATION
Please fill in the registration form below, selecting your desired event and making sure all the fields are completed. Once we receive your subscription, our team will get back to you with the details about the payment and additional specific information for the training.
For specific inquiries or questions, feel free to email us at: contact@percuaction.com.
We will be happy to assist you.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Train with one basic percussion kit to translate the knowledge into
YOUR MAIN INSTRUMENT OF CHOICE
DRUM IT! TRAINING KIT
In collaboration with
The training concept of DRUM IT! is that, besides Body Percussion, every participant learns with the same basic percussion kit, in order to work with the fundamentals of rhythm and specially to develop proficiency and creativity around drums and percussion, by practicing with a hybrid and versatile setup.
The Kit is compound of:
CAJON - FRAME DRUM - DRUMSTICKS - PRACTICE PAD with STAND - SMALL PERCUSSION ACCESSORIES (such as Shakers, Cowbells, etc.)
Besides the core practice with the basic percussion kit, participants are invited to choose their desired:
MAIN INSTRUMENT
Which is ultimately where the whole focus of learning and progress will be applied for every specific case.
Main Instrument choices can vary from Body Percussion, to any of the basic percussion kit selection, to instruments such as Hand-Pans, Congas, various types of Frame Drums and traditional percussion instruments, and even melodic or harmonic instruments. As the rhythmic contents of DRUM IT! can be translated and applied accordingly, which will be Túpac's task as a mentor of every participant.
*For information about Schlagwerk Percussion instruments you can download the catalog visiting the link bellow:
www.schlagwerk.com/en/downloads
ABOUT TÚPAC
Túpac Mantilla holds degrees in classical, world and Indian percussion studies from Javeriana University (Bogotá, Colombia), the New England Conservatory (Boston, U.S.A.) and Harvard University (Cambridge, U.S.A.). His performance activity includes regular appearances at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center, as well as festivals such as Montreux, Newport and North Sea Jazz, and collaborations with artists like Bobby McFerrin, Esperanza Spalding, Zakir Hussain, and Julian Lage, with whom he was nominated for a Grammy in 2009 for best contemporary Jazz Album.
He regularly teaches and gives lectures and residencies at educational institutions such as Stanford University, New York University, Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. In 2012 he founded PERCUACTION (www.percuaction.com), an organization that develops and runs rhythm oriented artistic and social programs around the world, through an innovative rhythm curriculum, which in 2020 surpassed a teaching coverage in Colombia of 200.000 children. He is the founder of the Youth Education Program at the Panama Jazz Festival and the director of the World Rhythm Program at the Stanford Jazz Workshop since 2016. In 2020 he joined the Faculty at the Summer Educators Program at Carnegie Hall in New York City, recognition that goes along with nominations as a 'Rising Percussion Star' by Downbeat Magazine in recent years.
In 2023, Túpac had the honor to be invited by the legendary Tabla Master Ustad Zakir Hussain to join his world-renowned Masters of Percussion project, wich toured extensively in Canada and the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous knowledge to join DRUM IT! ?
You don't need specific previous experience to join DRUM IT!. However, basic knowledge of drumming and reading notation skills make it easier to get started. Participants with vast experience and technical abilities can benefit from precise instruction to restructure and continue their learning process.
How many instruments can I learn in DRUM IT! ?
The idea of the training is to focus on one main instrument. In addition, a variety of percussion instruments will be approached, which will certainly complement your learning journey. If there is a desire to learn another main instrument, together with Túpac that can be decided.
Can I choose instruments such as Hand-pan, a Bass or other melodic instrument?
Yes. DRUM IT! welcomes anyone interested in gaining rhythm skills and knowledge, which can be technically applied to any musical instrument. As an example, previous participants have brought, hand-pans, electric bass and piano. However previous basic knowledge knowledge in those instruments is required.
Can I integrate the content of the training into my work later?
Yes. The skills on the drums and the experience in the group sessions, besides DRUM IT! pedagogical approach, can easily be integrated and will definitely enrich your work.
Do I need to have and bring my own instrument for the training?
Yes. We recommend you come prepared with both your main instrument and the basic kit to each workshop.
What is the difference between DRUM IT! and R.I.T.M.O. ?
R.I.T.M.O. is a training that works only with the body as an instrument and that aims to achieve well-being and holistic balance not only through musical rhythm but also through biological and cognitive rhythm. DRUM IT!, on the other hand, is specifically a percussion training to learn percussion instruments, which focuses on technical, musical and performing abilities and skills.
Can I learn R.I.T.M.O. while attending DRUM IT! ?
Technically yes. The learning methodology and pedagogic strategy implemented by Túpac in both processes is the same. Similar rhythmic exercises and concepts may be offered in both trainings. However, be aware that the depth and amount of body-related contents and work offered in DRUM IT! is never as in depth and detailed as it is in R.I.T.M.O., which we recommend you experience at a live workshop in person.
What is the course language?
The main instruction is given in English. However translation into German is available.
Can I get guidance and advice about which instruments should I buy or bring to DRUM IT! ?
Absolutely. We are ready to support you regarding instrument selection and specific references through links and direct advice. For which you only need to reach to us regarding this matter. Túpac has been endorsing and working with Schalgwerk Percussion Instruments in Germany for many years now, and absolutely recommends his students to work with them as well, due to their quality, sound and overall consistency, which would be our initial "go-to" advice. However you are most welcome to bring your own choice.
You can now Pre-register and save your spot for the Full Year Trainings in 2025 and 2026
by selecting your desired option in the Registration section.
Confirmed Training Dates 2026
4 - 8
FEBRUARY
2026
Workshop 1
15 - 19
APRIL
2026
Workshop 2
17 - 21
JUNE
2026
Workshop 3
26 - 30
AUGUST
2026
Workshop 4
11 - 15
NOVEMBER
2026
Workshop 5
Confirmed Training Dates 2027
20 - 24
JANUARY
2027
Workshop 1
7 - 11
APRIL
2027
Workshop 2
16 - 20
JUNE
2027
Workshop 3
18 - 22
AUGUST
2027
Workshop 4
10 - 14
NOVEMBER
2027
Workshop 5
For more information or specific questions or inquires please contact us here:
