cardboard boxes , packing material , and it has helped us move the product out in one day . It seems to fit into a cycle now where three days a week we process orders , and the other three we take apart drum sets and put them into the boxes ,” says Sole .
In fact , they ’ ve made quite a system of it - going so far as to build a photo suite in the back of the store where one of their lessons teachers , Max Trefler , who happens to be a professional photographer and web designer , gives them a hand . “ Max has been a very big part of helping us sidestep into the pandemic future of retail . So , we ’ ve got a photo suite with lights , a good camera , and he comes in one or two days a week and takes pictures of the latest gear , and then we get it up with his expertise onto the website . It ’ s been like that for a year and a half ,” explains Sole .
Of course , there are some challenges that have been harder to tackle than others . The education element of Soul Drums , particularly lessons and the annual recital , took a significant hit due to the pandemic . With the expected drop in students attending , the duo worked quickly to have plexiglass installed to continue conducting lessons safely , until further measures required lessons to move completely online .
“ As soon as we realized COVID wasn ’ t going away quickly , we pursued [ online business ] and it ’ s really become our lifeline . Is it sustainable ? We ’ ll find out , but it ’ s what we do every day now and we ’ re just maintaining that through lessons and through product sales ,” explains Bailie .
As for the annual recital , Sole and Bailie understood the safety of the community took precedence and accepted it would be placed on hold until such events were deemed viable . Still , its presence in the community is missed , especially in regards to how seriously it took its students , showcasing their hard work at local venues with live band accompaniment and understandably making most music school performances pale in comparison .
“ Our suppliers are amazing in helping us with the expenses of the event – it ’ s very , very expensive .” explains Bailie . “ Pre-COVID , it had grown beyond a one-day evening event , because we were just sold out , so it was beyond doing one show with 200 to 300 people attending . We ’ d have approximately 100 drummers performing . So , we separated it into two nights , but it became a huge celebration for our student base and wonderful for the community . It was wonderful for the suppliers , and also really gave us a really great feeling for what we ’ re doing .”
That feeling clearly runs deeply , because to Sole and Bailie , there is so much more to music education than honing one ’ s style or technique . Whether speaking directly with the duo or observing the variety of things they ’ ve done with Soul Drums , it becomes clear that to them , music and community are one in the same .
“ Drumming is not just an educational tool , but it ’ s actually a source of recognition of other people ’ s history and the love of humanity ,” says Sole . “ When we study our own music and our own cultures , we learn more about ourselves . But when we study other cultures ’ music , our level of respect for one another raises the bar . And that ’ s why we ’ ve always wanted to have education as one of the three-legged parts of the table that we have at the store ; education , products , and community .”
And it ’ s true - every step Soul Drums takes to help support and further music education is also another step towards caring for the community . From taking others on spiritual journeys to holding clinics every Saturday where the small fee charged is given completely to the host artist , to creating several interactive drumming videos monthly for special needs adult centres , each act is one that gives back to the people involved . As Soul Drums moves forward into 2021 , Sole and Bailie plan to continue the celebration with product promotions , sales rewards , and special events . Having been selected as a location that has been part of community service and support in the music industry , they will also be working virtually with the City of Toronto on the City Hall Live Spotlight series to feature local drummer Sarah Thawer in their ensemble room . Of course , the list goes on from presenting virtual programs for Black History Month at Algonquin College to over 500 people , to the store holding a Mastercard Foundation team building seminar .
Though both co-founders found the anniversary snuck up on them while they were busy working through the challenges of the pandemic , they still plan to celebrate the occasion thoroughly .
“ It ’ s important to celebrate success in the music industry , rather than the challenges and the failures . I feel so fortunate to be in the music industry . It almost makes me want to cry for my artists and friends that I went
THE ORIGINAL SOUL DRUMS ON YONGE STREET
to college with who are all sitting at home , and who have amazing talent that they cannot get out and use to inspire others . But we ’ re all forced into this box of the Zoom call and people are doing the best that they can . So , we ’ re very fortunate to be able to continue forward ,” says Sole .
One notable way they will be celebrating soon includes dropping off a donation to the Regent Park School of Music , a place their friend Alexander “ Sascha ” Tukatsch is very supportive of .
“ As soon as the school principal allows us to deliver it , we can actually touch each other ’ s hands and do a handshake or maybe we ’ ll do a fist elbow bump or something . But we are going to donate a Yamaha electronic drum set , which came through a customer who sees our commitment to community . He came to us with this drum set of his when he bought another one . He took this particular high-end electronic Yamaha drum kit and he said , ‘ I want you to do what you think is right with this kit ,’” says Sole .
The school ’ s program , titled Starting Kids Off on the Right Note , has a fine selection of musical instruments to choose from but lacks any electronic drum set , meaning the donated instrument will allow the students a new musical option to get familiar with .
Truly , festivities may come and go , but regardless whether it ’ s the 25 th anniversary , the 100 th , or any ordinary day in between , it is indisputable that Soul Drums ’ dedication to the music community and pursuit to support education will forever remain an integral part of its presence and mission .
Selina Setrakian is an Editorial Assistant at Canadian Music Trade .
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