This weekend, Jim Donovan, drummer for the Pittsburgh-grown band Rusted Root, will bring his knowledge and skill to Centre County.

Donovan will teach a two-hour interactive workshop as part of a national event. At 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, he will be at the Center for Well-Being, 123 Mt. Nittany Rd., in Lemont.

The program is billed to help participants develop drumming techniques such as rhythm, listening skills and soloing, but Donovan said he intends to teach much more than that.

"My goal is to get people playing together," he said. "It's a model for existing together with other people in a group. This is truly one of very few experiences that crosses every boundary that humans put around themselves."

Donovan became interested in drumming as a young child while at a parade with his grandmother.

"It just totally floored me -- the vibrations from the drums," he said. "I knew I had to do that."

Donovan brought his sound to the band Rusted Root, which formed in Pittsburgh in 1990. The group's first album, Cruel Sun, was well received and includes the hit song "Send Me on My Way." Since then, the band has put out five more albums.

Fan Eric White (freshman-engineering) said the band has a wide appeal.

"They have a very eclectic sound, and they don't seem to be caught up in the whole Britney Spears scheme, where their image is more important than their music," White said.

For fans of Rusted Root or rhythm and percussion in general, Donovan's tour may be an opportunity worth looking into.

"[Donovan's] drumming is such a big part of Rusted Root's sound," White said. "It would be interesting to actually see his thought process and input to the music."

Paul Berkobin, director of public relations for this leg of Donovan's tour, said he believes that the price is student friendly.

"Jim travels to a lot of areas like State College," Berkobin said. "He cuts the price in half for students. He really wants them to be able to participate."

To this end, Donovan also runs his workshops on a "no experience required" basis and provides the drums. Berkobin said the reception of Donovan's workshops, both from members of Rusted Root and participants in the workshops, has been positive.

"Rusted Root is very supportive," he said. "The members each have side projects; it's just part of how their family works. And the audience reception has been amazing. These events have sold out. Jim is such a people person and such a skilled musician. People love it."