Tips

Affordable 5.0 Marimba Options for Student or School Use

With ever changing skill level and demand in marimba repertoire being expanded to the lower registers of a 5-Octave marimba more frequently, there is a growing need for affordable 5-Octave marimbas that can meet both student and school use needs. While there are many companies currently making 5-Octave marimbas, we think a few standout in both affordability and value. This weeks blog will cover a few different models that may be right for you and your students, while giving you our recommendations for the options that are the best bang for you buck. Musser MSPM550 5-Octave Marimba The Musser MSPM550 is a padauk bar 5-octave marimba that is a newer offering in the 5-octave options available on the market today. The bar sizes are slightly smaller than some of the other offerings in the market, but as a student model for someone needing an at home practice instrument that they can also perform on, this is a great choice. The frame is height adjustable, although the it is not as easy to adjust as other models on the market. This model is an excellent option if budget is your number one concern. Price – $6394.95 Bar Type – Padauk Resonators –

Oct 24, 2024 No Comments

Summer Learning: Snare Solo Resources

While summer is a great time to take a break, it is also one of the best times to work on your technique and take some time to learn some new solos. One of the best things you can do as a young rudimental drummer is challenge yourself by learning solos, even when you aren’t preparing something for a solo and ensemble type of event. We thought we could share some of the best solo compilation books out there that we think can fit any drummers needs no matter that level of experience. We are sure you can find a few solos in there that will challenge you over the summer months! 14 Modern Contest Solos for Snare Drum by John S Pratt This is one of the classic and well-known rudimental snare solo books. If you have gone through any music program, you will have surely played at least one solo from this book and if not it is well worth buying and learning the solos in here. The books does have varying levels of difficulty with the solos but most are on the medium to advanced side and will offer a challenge. This book is an excellent

Jun 18, 2024 No Comments

Tips for a Successful Band Camp

With many groups in the middle of band camp or starting band camps in the coming weeks we thought we would put together our best tips for both students and educators. While this is certainly not an all-inclusive list, these are things to consider that we have learned from our past experiences teaching band camp. While some of the tips apply to both groups of students, we have split them out to be more specific to each specific group. Tips for Students Be sure to hydrate before camp starts Of all things you can do to prepare for band camp, this is likely the most important. Remember that going to camp hydrated means being sure to drink lots of water and drinks with electrolytes in the days before camp starts, not just during camp. Being well hydrated and maintaining hydration during camp, will keep your energy up throughout the camp. Practice and prepare for what is expected on the first day of camp Your staff will likely give you materials such as warmups and show music to prepare before camp starts. Be sure to have it prepared (not perfected) before camp starts. Having things such as warmups memorized,

Jul 13, 2023 No Comments

What to Choose? An In-Depth Look at Concert Tambourines

With concert festivals and evaluations coming up in the coming weeks and months you may be missing the exact sound that you want from your concert tambourine. We thought we would do a deep dive this week on what makes different tambourines unique and give you some recommendations based on our past experiences. There are many factors to consider when choosing a concert tambourine and they are not always one-size fits all depending on the style of music, type of ensemble, and number of performers. Important things to consider would be shell material, type of jingles, type of head and number of jingles. Let us look deeper into each of these factors below. Shell Material Most concert tambourines will be 10” in diameter and are usually made of wood. While there are varying types of wood such as ash, mahogany, or cherry wood they are all great options for the lightweight they provide for the musician. There are also options available in ABS or plastic materials, but they tend to be heavier than the wood shells. The shell does not have much effect on the sound of the tambourine, but it can play an important role in the durability and

Apr 10, 2023 No Comments

Set-Up Demonstration: Percussion/Combo Kit

During this time of year we get a lot of questions about starter percussion kits and how to go about setting them up properly. The Debut instrument rental program from Paige’s Music offers a few different options for starting percussion students. You can find a video below to the Percussion (bell kit only) or Combo Kit(bell and snare) model that comes with many components that you will need to know how to set-up. By following the video and keeping the tips below in mind, you should have no problem getting you instrument set-up properly right from the start!

Jul 26, 2022 No Comments

Set-Up Demonstration: Xylo Kit

During this time of year we get a lot of questions about starter percussion kits and how to go about setting them up properly. The Debut instrument rental program from Paige’s Music offers a few different options for starting percussion students. You can find a video below to the Xylo Kit model that has become popular over the last few years with many schools. By following the video and keeping the tips below in mind, you should have no problem getting you instrument set-up properly right from the start!

Jul 26, 2022 No Comments

Common Concert Snare Drum Maintenance

There are some common maintenance issues that will arise over time with relation to your concert snare drum. While most of these are fairly simple we have tried to highlight issues that can be taken care of by you with little knowledge of percussion repair. Cleaning: Wipe down each drum with a soft cloth, including the hardware and the shell. If there is extreme dirt or grime, you can use denatured alcohol diluted in water. If you have anything that is extremely sticky use a small amount of valve oil. In both cases, put the product on the cloth instead of spraying directly on the drum. Parts Inspection: Do a visual inspection for any missing or broken parts that may need replaced. Some common parts missing or broken include the following: Bent Tension Rods Damaged Tension Posts or Tubes Bent Strainer from overtightening snare strands Bent or out of Round Rims Inspect the bearing edges when heads are off for any damage Head Replacement: Changing the heads on a concert snare drum that is used regularly should happen about once a year. Over time the head will get stretched so far that it will not hold tuning for long even

Mar 9, 2021 No Comments

What’s Old is New – Getting Rid of Rust

A majority of percussion equipment contains some type of metal that is prone to developing rust after years of wear and tear. This could be an old snare drum with rusted out lugs, rusty rims and rust on the shell, or an old set of bells that has lost its shine. Don’t let the rust stand in the way of an instrument being used properly and sounding great. With a little bit of time and some elbow grease you can make those OLD instruments look and sound NEW again. You can quickly and effectively remove rust on your percussion equipment by following a few steps: Step 1: Remove parts from the instrument so that all areas can be exposed to cleaning. Do not try to clean or remove rust with parts still attached the instrument. For instance, remove all lugs from the drum so they can be cleaned individually and all the way around.

Sep 29, 2020 No Comments

Take Care Of Your Instruments This Fall

As we move into the latter part of the fall marching band season, we’re faced with weather hazards that can do much damage to our instruments. It’s near the end of the season, so we can’t just escape inside to rehearse music if rain and very cold weather continues to hit during rehearsal times. Eventually, you have to go outside. There’s also the possibility of having to deal with these elements during a contest performance. Here are some tips to help make sure your instruments survive the elements this fall. During Rehearsals and Performances Use covers as much as possible for your mallet instruments, especially when drill is a focus and the pit isn’t playing all the time. If raining during rehearsal, keep mallets dry and use old mallets if available. Keep your “show mallets” in good condition. Try to avoid too much water collecting on your drum heads and dump if needed. Keep tenor drums down in playing position and don’t allow the inside wood shells to get soaked if raining heavy. Keep stick tips and bass drum mallets dry. Use old sticks and mallets if possible. Use a window squeegee to clear water collected on timpani heads In

Sep 10, 2020 No Comments

Improve Your Skills This Summer With A Rental From Chops Percussion

Keep improving this summer with a rental from Chops Percussion! Chops has several drum sets and keyboards available for rental that are perfect for home practice. Pearl Decade Maple Drum Set For $69 per month, you will now be able to rent the Pearl Decade Maple set with 830 series hardware, a Sabin XSR cymbal package (14” hi hats, 16” and 18” crashes, 20” ride), and a Pearl D930 drum throne. We’ve had many requests for drum set outfits with upgraded drum and cymbal options, and this package definitely fits the bill. Do you want to hear the Decade in action? Please check out this video (best to listen with headphones or high-quality speakers): Adams MSPV43 Soloist Series Marimba

Jun 9, 2020 No Comments

Curbside Pickup Available Again

Beginning Tuesday, April 14th we will be open normal business hours to take phone, email, online orders and to provide contact-free curbside pick-up while our showrooms remain closed. We will also be running a modified delivery route to central locations in local school districts on an as-needed basis and every purchase during the stay at home order will receive free shipping to your home. Please contact us so we can work with you to provide the most convenient arrangements possible to serve you during this current stay-at-home order. Curbside Service Details 1. Call us at 317-842-2102 It’s best to call ahead so we can get your order or serviced items ready to go prior to your arrival. This will save you time once you’re here. 2. We’ll take your order or prepare your loaner or repair to be picked up. 3. Call us again when you arrive. The number again is 317-842-2102. 4. One of our staff members will bring your items out to you. Staff members use hand sanitizer between each customer interaction We use disinfectant wipes on the handles of each instrument prior to bringing then out to you. Receipts can be emailed to you if we have your

Apr 14, 2020 No Comments

Go See An IPA Show This Weekend!

Winter percussion is officially in full swing, with the weekend of IPA competition completed! The next few weeks students and instructors will be working hard to complete and perfect their shows. Chops Percussion is a proud to be the presenting sponsor for Indiana’s own winter percussion circuit: Indiana Percussion Association. There are shows every weekend with IPA Prelims on March 21st, and the season concluding with IPA Finals on April 4th. This season’s IPA Finals will return to Ben Davis High School, while the Hulman Center at ISU is being renovated. Interested in scores, schedules, or additional information? Go to www.indianapercussion.org for all the details you will need to enjoy this winter percussion season! Don’t forget to follow us on social media, as Chops will be returning to WGI Finals for more #TeamIndiana coverage in April!

Feb 18, 2020 No Comments

Pro Audio Gear at Chops Percussion

For the past twelve and half years, Chops has strived to serve our customers with the best concert and marching percussion on the market. Our goal to stock the most common and necessary items and to provide quick-turnaround for instruments and not-stock items has allowed us to create positive relationships with both our manufactures and our customers. Over the last decade, the marching arts have evolved at record pace. One of the leading changes: electronics and pro audio.

Feb 5, 2020 No Comments

How To Make The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

It’s the middle of the IPA season and with all of the rehearsals and performances that keep you eating on the run, you may want to slow down and treat yourself to something hand-crafted. Well, this week’s guest blogger, Glen Allman, has got your back. Read on…

Mar 5, 2019 No Comments

You’re Never Too Old To Get Better

Welcome back to the Chops Blog! Today I wanted to share some personal experience and hope to inspire some of the older readers out there. Have you ever thought that maybe you’ve hit the ceiling from a musical standpoint? I think we all reach a point in our playing careers that cause us to reevaluate what we’re doing and how we’re approaching our craft. At some point, we have to decide if we’re going to do something about it, and I recently reached that point with my playing. I decided to see what kind of programs were out there to help me get better. I enrolled in the Todd Sucherman “Rock Drumming Masterclass” recently, and I wish that I had done something like that years ago.

Feb 26, 2019 No Comments

Great Advice For New IPA Directors Regarding Schedules

Below is some great advice that came from an Indiana Percussion Association email last season that we thought was worth passing along again to everyone: IPA Contest Schedules Schedules for IPA can be found on the IPA website. Please remember that schedules are subject to change through the MONDAY prior to the event for minor adjustments. Advice for new directors regarding schedules: When building your itinerary for the day, start with your warm up time and work backward Allow at least 1 hour between arrival at contest site and transit to warm up. This will allow your kids plenty of time to unload/assemble, dress, and feel relaxed going into warm up. Identify travel time to the site and add at least 20 minutes for the slower bus travel times. Look at traffic maps for any delays you might encounter. Give plenty of time post rehearsal for Pack/load at home. Have a plan for your students/chaperones if you are staying for critique. Many directors have communication with their chaperones that allow them to send kids home while directors stay for critique. If not, be prepared that your kids could be waiting at least an hour for you after awards to

Feb 5, 2019 No Comments

Take Your Cajon Anywhere with the Viva Rhythm CAJON2GO Cardboard Cajon

We all know that travelling with a standard Cajon can be awkward. They also take up a lot of storage space in a classroom if you have several for students to use. You can solve both of those issues with the Meinl Viva Rhythm CAJON2GO Cardboard Cajon. Will it sound as good as a Cajon you spent hundreds of dollars on? No, it won’t. It will, however, be a great-sounding Cajon that is easy to transport, has built-in snare wires, and a deep bass tone. The Cajon is also durable – it will hold up to 330 lbs. The best part is the price – just $19.90* and you’ll have a Cajon that everyone will be asking you about! We have a few left over from PASIC, so contact us at [email protected] and get one for yourself or your classroom today!

Dec 4, 2018 No Comments

2018 Indiana Percussion Association Clinic Day and I&E Competition

WHAT: 2018 Indiana Percussion Association Clinic Day and I&E Competition WHEN: Saturday, December 8th, 9am-5pm (on-site registration begins at 8am) WHERE: Plainfield High School HOW: On-line registration is NOW OPEN! On-site registration the day of the clinic will begin at 8am. Cost will be $15/person pre-registration or $20 at the door. Lunch is not included but the Plainfield Band Boosters will have lunch concessions available. Clinic Day Group Registration: https://tinyurl.com/y9frohml IPA will be going with a more “hands on” approach that will allow the students to participate in a total of six, 50 minute hands-on master classes throughout the day! The goal of each clinician is to give your students 2-3 things that they can apply instantlyto their current playing situations.

Nov 27, 2018 No Comments

Proper Nutrition and Hydration is a Must for Marching Band

When it comes to marching band, we tend to spend a lot of time thinking only about the notes being played or the steps being taken. There isn’t always enough thought placed on how to keep performers well-nourished and hydrated for maximum performance. Marching band, like any other sport, counts on members to be healthy in order to be successful. Make sure you (the director, parent, and student) are doing your part to keep yourself and everyone else on the field! Here is an article from July 11, 2014 that was found at halftimemag.com. You’ll find that many of today’s top drum corps and marching bands put a lot of emphasis on proper nutrition and hydration. If you’re in marching band, you are an athlete; it’s time to treat your body as such! http://www.halftimemag.com/features/fueling-your-body.html

Jul 24, 2018 No Comments

Percussion Equipment Evaluations and On-Site Repairs

Summer break is right around the corner and there’s no better time to get your instruments evaluated than now! Chops Percussion and Paige’s Music’s repair department are willing to send a trained specialist to your school to assess your percussion inventory. Dustin Smith, our percussion repair specialist and sales associate for Chops, will work with you in deciding the best course of action to get your inventory back in its best shape! Paige’s Music offers on-site repair for large percussion instruments such as timpani, mallet instruments, concert bass drums, etc. This service is intended to alleviate the need to send in large instruments with your District Manager and be without them for several weeks. If an instrument is not repairable, Dustin will recommend the best replacement options to best suit your ensemble’s needs. No more waiting for your large instruments or going without because the instrument is waiting in the shop! Small percussion instruments can be paired with a large percussion instrument request for added value. If interested in an equipment evaluation or on-site repairs, please email Dustin at [email protected] for more information.

May 22, 2018 No Comments