Chops Percussion

August 2017 News At Chops

DCI 2017 Activities Guide We’re busy gearing up for the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships, held right here this week in Indianapolis! It takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium and surrounding areas. The competition inside Lucas Oil stadium isn’t the only thing to see. There are many events throughout the week, most of which are free and open to the public! Here’s our basic guide to help you take in some of the action.

Aug 8, 2017 No Comments

2017 DCI World Championships

Welcome back to the Chops blog. We’re busy gearing up for the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships, held right here next week in Indianapolis! It takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium and surrounding areas. The competition inside Lucas Oil stadium isn’t the only thing to see. There are many events throughout the week, most of which are free and open to the public! Here’s our basic guide to help you take in some of the action.

Aug 1, 2017 No Comments

Stick and Mallet Packs for the Beginning Percussionist and Beyond

Welcome back to the Chops blog. Today we’re going to cover the different options available for stick and mallet packs. There are great options for starting a young percussionist, as well as expanded packs for the intermediate student. These sticks and mallets should last for many years and can be used at every level (beginner, intermediate, high school, college and beyond). Our most popular packs requested by schools are from Vic Firth and Innovative Percussion. Both make great quality products you can trust. A young percussionist should start with one of these packs, then add to it as they progress through their percussion education. I’ve broken the packs down into four categories: Basic packs, Core packs, Intermediate packs, and Expanded Core packs. The quality is the same with each pack. The difference is what is included in the different levels of packs. The more you get now, the less you’ll need to add on later.

Jul 25, 2017 No Comments

New Product Spotlight – Yamaha Tour Custom Maple

We just got back from Summer NAMM, where Yamaha reintroduced their Tour Custom Maple series, available in five satin finishes and two shell pack configurations. This mid-level maple kit combines the projection and expressive capability of all-maple shells with the beautiful grain of US maple. Features: – 6-ply, 5.6mm thin all-maple shells for a warm, bright tone – 45 degree bearing edges for tonal depth and quick response – YESS mounts to minimize contact between the shell and mount – Inverse (stick saver) Dyna Hoops to control the natural overtones of maple shells – Absolute lugs

Jul 18, 2017 No Comments

July 2017 News at Chops

Student Equipment Lists We sent this request out last year and heard back from many of you. We’re asking again this year just in case you’ve made changes to your list of required items for 2017. For parents with kids in band for the first time, back to school can be quite confusing (especially with a young percussionist at home). Do you, the teacher, have a required list of sticks and mallets for your percussionists to get? We would love to have an updated copy of that here at Chops. A list of all of your required implements would be a huge help to us and would ensure that your student gets exactly what they need before their first day of band class. This also helps us with keeping your required implements in stock, so that no child is waiting on sticks or mallets when school starts. I know it’s hard to believe, but the first day of school isn’t that far away. Let’s work together and make sure your student is 100% prepared before they walk into your band room. Please e-mail your list to [email protected] and we’ll do our very best to make sure we have what your

Jul 11, 2017 No Comments

July is a Great Month to Have a Birthday if You’re a Drummer

We had no idea, but July is apparently a good month to be born if you’re a drummer. Check out the partial list of legendary timekeepers below! July 1 – Ndugu Chancler (Drummer on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”) July 4 – Butch Miles (Mel Tormé, Count Basie Orchestra) July 6 – Louie Bellson (Jazz Legend) July 7 – Ringo Starr (The Beatles) July 8 – Jaimoe Johanson (The Allman Brothers Band) July 9 – Stanton Moore (Galactic) & Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix) July 15 – Philly Joe Jones (Miles Davis) July 16 – Stewart Copeland (The Police) July 17 – Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck) July 22 – Don Henley (Eagles) July 23 – Jim Chapin (Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey) July 26 – Roger Taylor (Queen) July 31 – Bill Berry (R.E.M.) If you’re a drummer and celebrate a birthday in July, you’re obviously in great company! Happy Birthday from all of us at Chops Percussion.

Jul 4, 2017 No Comments

New Chops Showroom

It’s been several months since we first announced that our space would be going through a remodel. We’re happy to announce that the new showroom is now open for business. The new space is about the same size as our old one, just a slightly different shape and better organization.

Jun 27, 2017 No Comments

June 2017 News at Chops

Demo Gear/Clearance Items Our demo list has been updated. Follow the link below to view what’s changed since last month! View the list on our website. Drum Corps 2017 Season Preview As the school year comes to an end the drum corps season is just beginning. Drum corps (or drum and bugle corps) are marching ensembles (brass, percussion, and color guard) that travel throughout the country each summer rehearsing and performing in competitions. If you’re unfamiliar with the activity, click HERE to find out more. There are many opportunities to see drum corps in competition in Indiana and surrounding states. Here is a partial list of events. Be sure to check out the event information at www.dci.org. View the list on our website. Director and Instructor Job Opportunities It’s that time of year, when director and instructor positions begin to open up around the state. If you’re looking for a certified teaching position, a percussion director position, or part-time tech work, make sure to check the Paige’s Music job openings page. You can also post an opening for a postition you need to fill. Learn how over on the blog! Product Spotlight: Vic Firth Roger Carter Signature Stick and Ralph Hardimon

Jun 20, 2017 No Comments

Summer Symposium Percussion Specialist Academy 2017

The Percussion Specialist Academy at the Music for All’s Summer Symposium, happening June 26 – July 1, offers a great opportunity for some world-class percussion instruction and insight. Whether you’re a beginning instructor or a veteran who likes to stay current, this is a great chance to meet and interact with other instructors and professionals from across the country and exchange ideas on how to run your program. This year’s faculty is a who’s-who of percussion experts, and they’ll be covering a wide variety of topics. Branding your program Ethics and professional development The RIGHT gear Starting a successful winter program Sampling 101 The concert percussion secret De-mystifying the Yamaha 01V Hand drumming The digital audio workstation The history of percussion and essential literature Creating sponsorship opportunities Indoor and outdoor staging Preventative medicine for the drummer in you Winter percussion design and orchestration Essential composition techniques for outdoor “Mic”ing made easy The fundamentals of running sound, EQ and other essential plug-ins The event is coming up quick, so go here to learn more and register for the academy.

Jun 13, 2017 No Comments

Drum Corps 2017 Season Preview

As the school year comes to an end the drum corps season is just beginning. Drum corps (or drum and bugle corps) are marching ensembles (brass, percussion, and color guard) that travel throughout the country each summer rehearsing and performing in competitions. If you’re unfamiliar with the activity, click HERE to find out more. There are many opportunities to see drum corps in competition in Indiana and surrounding states. Here is a partial list of events. Be sure to check out the event information at www.dci.org.

Jun 6, 2017 No Comments

Chops Is Getting Remodeled!

Just last week we posted on our Facebook page that the retail space for Chops would be closed. One week in and a lot has been accomplished! The showroom and the storage area have been flip-flopped. The showroom is now on the north end of our space with the storage moving south. New framing has already gone up that will support various new ways of displaying percussion products.

May 30, 2017 No Comments

Product Spotlight: Vic Firth Roger Carter Signature Stick and Ralph Hardimon Tenor Stick with Nylon Tip

We’re excited about a couple of new products released at WGI this year by our friends at Vic Firth. Roger Carter Signature Stick First up is the Roger Carter Signature Snare Stick. The continuing evolution of the marching activity lead to the creation of this stick. “Roger Carter is well known in the marching percussion activity for his dedication to excellence as well as his unique stylistic approach to rudimental drumming. Throughout his career, Roger has performed with and instructed for some of the foremost marching percussion programs in the world, including the Blue Devils, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, Broken City Indoor Percussion and the Bluecoats.”

May 23, 2017 No Comments

Director and Instructor Job Opportunities

It’s that time of year, when director and instructor positions begin to open up around the state. If you’re looking for a certified teaching position, a percussion director position, or part-time tech work, make sure to check the Paige’s Music job openings page. If you’re a director looking for extra help, please make sure to post the opening here so we can help send candidates your way! It’s easy to do. Head over to the Paige’s Music home page. Hover over “JOB LIST” in the top menu and click on “Job Post Request”. Fill in the form and click submit. We typically have your opening posted no later than the next business day. You can also access that form directly by clicking here. Please let us know if you have any questions about the job list.

May 16, 2017 No Comments

Level Up This Summer With A Rental From Chops Percussion

Level-up 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 Export EXX725S Drum Set This Pearl Drumset package includes absolutely everything you will need to get started on your path to drumming satisfaction, including a set of high-quality cymbals and a sturdy drum throne. [Learn more] Adams MSPV43 Soloist Series Marimba Adams Soloist Series Marimbas offer the precision construction methods and many of the great features found on the Artist and Concert series instruments, and combine them with a number of keyboards and size options ideal for beginners and schools looking for a high quality, wood bar instrument, at an extremely affordable price. [Learn more] Adams AMPD33R Academy Marimba The AMPD33R 3.3 octave Academy Marimba with Resonators is designed to be an affordable option that allows the intermediate student to work on many of the pieces written for a low A marimba, all while still having the full tone and projection of a full size marimba. [Learn more] Adams AMPD30 Academy Marimba The AMPD30 marimba features the same Padouk bars as used on the best-selling Soloist Series instruments, giving the player a true graduated

May 9, 2017 No Comments

Product Feature: The RecPlate from Black Swamp Percussion

Today we have another awesome guest post from Tim Church at Black Swamp Percussion! We think it’s a very unique and versatile product that educators and performers should know about! The BSP RecPlate may look dangerous, but don’t let it scare you away! The unique shape was developed by extensive real-world use and consultation with performing percussionists. The RecPlate attaches to an existing cymbal stand and includes the following accessories to help organize all your percussive fun stuff!

May 2, 2017 No Comments

WGI 2017 Percussion Championship Wrap-Up

Chops Percussion made the trip to Dayton, OH this past weekend for the WGI World Championships. We are very lucky to have the support of many groups that competed at the three-day event. Without these groups, our success would not be possible. Congratulations to the following groups for making it to the Finals round in their respective classes:

Apr 25, 2017 No Comments

WGI Percussion World Championships 2017 – 5 Reasons You Should Go

Below is a post we shared back in April of 2015. It’s still valid today, so we updated it and posted it here again. TLDR? Go to WGI this weekend! The WGI Percussion World Championships are this weekend and we have our top 5 reasons why you should go. But before we get to that, maybe you’ve never heard of WGI and are wondering what this is all about? From their website: “WGI Sport of the Arts is the world’s premier organization producing indoor color guard, percussion, and wind ensemble competitions. As a non-profit youth organization, WGI serves as the leading governing body of the winter guard and indoor percussion activities. It is called the Sport of the Arts because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format. Now entering its 40th year in 2017, the sport continues to evolve and grow.” If you would attend this weekend, you would see the percussion section or “drumlines” of a marching band performing indoors. These show aren’t just thrown together. Hundreds, if not thousands of hours are spent designing, building, rehearsing and competing over several months. Indiana is one of the premier states when it comes to competitive percussion

Apr 18, 2017 No Comments

April 2017 News at Chops

Compete in the PASIC17 Marching Festival & Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition Recognized as one of the premier marching percussion festivals in the country, the Percussive Arts Society’s annual Marching Percussion Festival is an excellent opportunity to be critiqued by some of the leading percussion specialists in the field of marching percussion today. Categories include:

Apr 11, 2017 No Comments

2017 Indiana Percussion Association State Finals

Chops Percussion was proud to once again be the presenting sponsor of the Indiana Percussion Association. It was an exciting day of performances at the Hulman Center of Indiana State University (also with great weather this time around!). We’d like to congratulate the IPA board and ISU volunteers who did such a great job of making it a fantastic day and great experience for everyone. We would also like to congratulate the students, staff and parents on another exciting year of great performances. It’s amazing what these young musicians are able to achieve, and the talent level seems to increase every year. Congratulations to everyone involved with performing and constructing these shows, along with all the support staff who made it possible for the students and staff to do what they do!

Apr 4, 2017 No Comments

Quick Tips for Indoor Drumline – Warming Up Outside 2017

Here’s a repost from last year, just before the first IPA State Finals at Hulman Center in Terre Haute. We thought it was worth sharing again heading in to state finals weekend. This weekend is only the second contest in the history of the IPA (Indiana Percussion Association) that requires an outside warm-up. Those groups who have performed in Dayton for WGI Championships or participate in circuits in warmer regions of the country know this is a normal process. The outside extended warm-up can be very beneficial to preparing for the large arena environment. But for those who have not gone through that process before, here are some tips to make sure the experience is smooth and beneficial for everyone.

Mar 28, 2017 No Comments