Percussion

When someone hears the word "percussion," they may think of their favorite rock band’s drum set player or perhaps the drumline they see performing at a sporting event. In reality, the percussion family includes a veritable world of instruments. Orchestral percussion instruments include a concert bass drum, timpani, marimba, and chimes. Exotic world percussion instruments such as Afro-Cuban congas, Trinidadian steel drums, and African djembes are also percussion instruments. Sound effects like gongs, slapsticks, sleigh bells, and wind chimes are also included. The common thread among these instruments is that they produce sound by being struck, scraped, shaken, or otherwise activated by an implement such as a stick, mallet, or hand.

There is also a vast range of sounds and meticulous techniques involved in percussion. A percussionist can be responsible for the rhythmic basis of a piece of music—providing the tempo and musical stability for other ensemble members to embellish upon. Yet within the same piece, that same percussionist might take over the melody and even harmony, all at the same time.

Because of the many techniques involved in playing percussion, beginner percussion students must start with the basics, so they learn to apply those basics to the other instruments in the percussion family. The combo percussion kit we offer contains a snare drum, bells, stands for each, a practice pad, sticks, mallets, and a carrying case. These items are perfect for a beginning student to learn all of the fundamentals of percussion and to begin to develop the proper technique.

How to change the top head on a concert snare

1. Select a replacement drum head.
2. Use a drum key to start loosening the tension rods.
3. Use your fingers to loosen the tension rods further.
4. Remove the rim from the drum.
5. Clean the drum and rim.
6. Place the new drum head in the correct position.
7. Reattach the head.
8. Tune the head.

Changing the bottom head on a concert snare

1. Select a replacement drum head.
2. Remove the snare system.
3. Use a drum key to start loosening tension rods.
4. Remove the rim. 
5. Clean the drum.
6. Position the head and rim.
7. Tighten the head into place.
8. Tune the new drum head.
9. Reattach the snare system.
10. Test the snares.

For more detailed information, check out our blog on the topic.
We also have a how-to for changing marching snare drum heads.