In 1989, Colleen Haas founded Drumming Our Fill, a percussion studio for women. Colleen was responding to the cultural norm that percussion was a male pursuit, not suited for women. In her studio, women could freely explore world music through percussion and drumming. Advanced students from the studio formed drumHeart, a performance ensemble that continues to the present day.

The Birth of a Unique Studio

In 1996, Haas relocated to Winona, Minnesota, and left her studio. Not wanting to lose this unique center, members of drumHeart reorganized it as drumHeart Studio, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit. In 2001, drumHeart Studio changed its name to the Women’s Drum Center (WDC). The WDC created a mission statement, operational practices, and hired Kari Kjome as drumHeart director.

The Emergence of the WDC

Kari had been a long-time student of world music, especially African drumming. She had a solid performance background and expanded the drumHeart repertoire to include traditional African drum songs. She offered percussion workshops and classes which established the WDC as a community center/teaching school for women to learn and experience world drumming. In 2008, Kari relocated to Portland, Oregon to further her life goals.

Development as a Community Center/School

Since 2008, the WDC has employed several women as drumHeart directors and lead instructors. Marisa Cuneo-Linsley, Krissy Bergmark, Bettie Seitzer, and Kathy Crocket each brought their own training, experience, repertoire, and leadership to support the WDC’s growth and development. Additional women (and some men) have been employed as teaching artists for classes and workshops.

In 2011, the WDC leadership realized that women and girls may not feel as shut out of drumming as women did 20 years earlier and began discussions about how to best serve a new generation. While the WDC retained a strong focus on women and percussion, it needed to support “the whole woman” and all of the people in her life, including fathers, sons, brothers, and other male family members. In 2020, those conversations led to a revised mission and vision:

Mission: The Women’s Drum Center brings people together to share the powerful connection of drumming.

Vision: To share world percussion as a means of connecting people of all backgrounds and fostering respect and kindness.

The Expansion of the Drumming Community

The WOMEN’S DRUM CENTER is a thriving community. WDC classes are affordable and the Studio owns sufficient drums to allow students to begin their percussion exploration without having to purchase any instruments. Instructors support an expanding list of classes and workshops. These teaching artists are encouraged to continue their study of world music and to share new skills with eager students. Affiliate organizations also offer opportunities for students to expand their knowledge of diverse percussion traditions of world cultures.

WDC is community-minded. Women appreciate being in a space dedicated to fostering their skills as percussionists, leaders, and community builders. WDC members appreciate opportunities to create and present outreach programs for the enrichment and enjoyment of communities. Twin Cities organizations appreciate the performances of drumHeart and other WDC groups at events and fundraisers.

WDC is volunteer-supported. A recent Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) panelist commented that the WDC had an exceptionally high level of volunteer commitment for an organization its size. Individuals within the WDC support the many initiatives through time, financial support, and personal involvement.

WDC will continue to grow and evolve. Women in percussion are not as unusual as they once were, but the WDC is still an unusual place in the best sense of the word. There will always be “women-only” groups and classes. The solid foundation begun by Colleen Haas and expanded upon by the women who have walked in her footsteps will keep the WDC growing for decades to come.

Now and Into the Future