OVERVIEW Over the past 10-15 years creativity and divergence has taken a back seat to compliance and conformity regardless of background or capability. Nowhere is this more evident than in today’s public school system. As budgets tighten and classes get larger with fewer teachers, the ability to foster and mentor individual thinking is diminished. An educator lamented recently that as these budgets tighten, the ability to offer advanced classes for gifted and accelerated students is decreasing dramatically. A dangerous trend is developing in that we are turning out fewer and fewer young minds capable of creative thinking that requires individual initiative and entrepreneurial attitudes. The irony is that in the business world, the best companies succeed when individual initiative and problem solving skills are promoted and encouraged. In the past, the arts have been an area where such individualism has been fostered and as we all know, these budgets are hit harder than any other in municipal education budgets. This is especially true in music as it represents one of the few arts disciplines where originality and individual thinking is more common than conformity. The music industry is facing the loss of young artists and if this trend continues, future expansion will be severely diminished. However, there is a positive aspect to be considered. A growing trend is developing within the business community subscribing to the hiring of employees with creative and/or entrepreneurial skills. The opportunity to work hand in hand with the business community to generate young idea makers now exists. With music as the foundation; START is about the 3 phases of idea making, Getting, Growing, and Giving ideas. The primary initiatives of the START program are: To cultivate idea making qualities inherent in young children To empower individuality through creative thinking To develop unique partnership between music retailers, world brand business corporations, and the public school systems.

BACKGROUND Bob Gatzen is highly respected as a product innovator and music producer. He is well known for is dedication to the advancement of the Arts. Bob, along with famed drummer, Billy Ashbaugh is spearheading the START project. START is an outgrowth of the “Inspiring Drummers Video Series” Bob created and produced for Warner Bros. Music Publishing. The latest IDS release entitled, “Takin’ Care of Business”, features drummer, Bill Ashbaugh and the musical group, ‘NSYNC. The Video series is distributed worldwide. As the TCB project developed, the Ashbaugh/Gatzen team had the good fortune of meeting the support of Johnny Wright Entertainment, Jive Records, and the ‘NSYNC group. A Close friendship ensued, and the two drummers have decided to combine their talent to motivate young children to think creatively through playing the drums.

TALENT The core group is Billy Ashbaugh, the resourceful, dedicated, pragmatic, famous touring drummer, and Bob Gatzen, music/video producer, drum guru, inventor, idea man. Together they are a portrayal of two very different idea makers that make their ideas happen. Guest artists and celebrities will accompany the drum duo along their musical journey. Bob Gatzen, an extremely gifted, multi talented individual known and respected throughout the Percussion industry as an “Idea Person” and a drum scientist. Bob is a creative who switches effortlessly between retail music sales, product design, music production, and performance. Recently, I was asked the question, "What is the single most important objective of START?" My reply was, "to inspire everyone, children and adults, to apply a creative approach in everything they do. As children we have this natural talent for creativity and if we use it, than a part of that 10 year old stays with us through life." Musical accomplishments include: Warner Bros. Music Videos, producer of the “Inspiring Drummer Series” Featured artist on Warner Bros. Best selling video “Drum Tuning, Sound and Design”,and the new,“Drum Tuning Simplified”for early 2004 release Beginning drum set video Series for 8-12 year old children Music scoring for radio, TV Spots and national campaign ads. Original music for audio CD in both education and entertainment fields. Redeyes Recording Studio/B.M.I artist/publisher, Eyes-on-Music Clinician presenting exposure programs in public schools, clinics in retail music stores, drum festivals throughout the USA, including multiple appearances at the Percussive Art Society Nation Conventions (PASIC) Numerous spotlight in drum magazines worldwide Numerous Features in the prestigious, Modern Drummer Magazine and appearances at their drum festivals. Currently releasing a Warner Bros. solo CD project. entitled, “Prior Art” featuring the Baschet Sound Sculptures Product Innovation /Design - Bob has made impressive achievements for his consulting and design work. Noble & Cooley Drum Co. Zildjian Cymbal Company DW Drum Co. Shure Microphones Evans Drum Heads Kaman Music Corporation Regal Tip Drum Sticks DrumSlinger Drum Cases DrumFrame Ltd., his own company introducing a revolutionary new way to play the drums. Bob holds numerous USA patents licensed to companies such as: Yamaha Corp. Mapex Drums D’Addario Company Noble & Cooley Drum Company Kaman Corporation Bob Continues to work as a design consultant for many other companies as well. In 2002, Bob was awarded the prestigious German Messe M.I.P.A. Award and Gig Magazine’s Readers Poll, Most Innovative Percussion Product of the Year award.

Billy Ashbaugh has performed in front of more people than just about any other drummer in the world. He is the drummer for the ‘NSYNC band and has been with them from the beginning. Ashbaugh is an inspiring drummer because his hard work, dedication, and relentless pursuit for perfection has catapulted him from the local club scene to playing in the most popular band in the world. Billy is a stellar drummer that ranks with the industry’s best, and his career well on its way, he now feels compelled to give something back to the music industry by reaching out to the youth with the message; anything is possible with hard work and resourcefulness. His list of appearances and credits speaks for itself. "START is designed to help motivate kids to think creatively. With the use of drumming as our universal language, we hope to send everyone away with the powerful message that 'thinking creatively' is something that can benefit every aspect of your life." Performance Credits: 50+ TV appearances including: Super Bowl Half Time Show The Tonight Show (6 times) The Rosie O’Donnell Show (6 times) Good Morning America (3 times) HBO & Pay-Per-View Concert Specials Saturday Night Live Disney Channel Concert Specials (2 times) Grammy Awards Blockbuster Awards Billboard Awards MTV Awards Artist performed with: SNAP ‘NSYNC Britney Spears Jordon Knight Samantha Mumba Aaron Carter Pat Benatar Product Endorsements: DW Paiste Evans Drumheads Vic Firth DrumFrame Latin Percussion Shure Brothers PureSound Perc. E-Pad! Levy Case Co. Warner Bros. Publications Received the key to city and a plaque from Osceola County School System for clinics Worked with Radio Disney Campaign to reach the kids – House of Blues, Respect Campaign Clinic tour in May including Modern Drummer Magazine Festival Performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) 2001 Featured twice in Modern Drummer Magazine & on MD online & Drum Magazine News coverage on FOX 61 & various news papers