As the new year gets underway we thought it would be a great idea to go over some easy storage solutions that you can use for your percussion gear to help keep things protected and organized. While there are some solutions that can hold multiple different types of items, we thought we would focus on the best ways to store accessories, hardware, and drum sets. Below we have listed a few great options for each type of storage solution you may be looking for. Hardware and Cymbals These are often stored separately and while the obvious choice for cymbals might be a cymbal bag, depending on how often you use them you may want to consider a more durable and long-term storage solution. SKB Large Hardware Case with Wheels (1SKB-DH4216W) – Great for storing large amounts of cymbals stands, snare stands, etc. Humes & Berg Trap Case with Wheels (DR550XABK) – Great for moving hardware and small accessories to various performance venues Humes & Berg 22″ Enduro Cymbal Case with Wheels (DR526ZBKSP) – Great storage solution for drum set cymbals on the move SKB Trap Case with Cymbal Vault (1SKB-TPX2) – Great all in one store for drum set hardware

Hello! My name is Brian Travelsted, and I am the Percussion Specialist at Chops Percussion. Chops is the drum and percussion division of Paige’s Music. If you’re still renting your child’s beginning percussion kit from Paige’s and it’s no longer being used, I want to let you know about our upgrade rent-to-own options. To see what we have to offer, please visit this link: https://www.chopspercussion.com/run?useUX=true&id=8&opid=712&_tid=475  here you will find all of your upgrade options, along with pictures and pricing information. You can also apply up to 18 months of your payments on your current instrument towards your new rental, which can lower your monthly payment! If your child is showing a high level of commitment to percussion, now is the time to upgrade their instrument and take their playing to the next level. Please call 317-813-2070 or email [email protected] for more information. We look forward to helping the percussionist in your home get an instrument they’ll love playing for years to come!

We know that many schools will using a beginning method book that works alongside of a book that is used by the other instruments in the band program, but we would like to highlight some additional resources you can use with your new drummers! Often times the beginning percussion method books can take it a little to slow and using additional books along side those will allow your beginning percussion students to stay engaged and work from books written specifically for their instruments. While the beginning band method books will cover many of the same topices and have tried and true success, we feel using something extra will go a long way in helping your percussion students progress at a faster pace, without losing any useful knowledge. Below are some excellent books that we feel complement the book you may already be using: Simple Steps to Successful Snare Drumming by Kennan Wylie Simple Steps to Successful Mallets and More Percussion by Keenan Wylie Simple Steps to Successful Beginning Percussion by Kennan Wylie A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum by Mark Wessels A Fresh Approach to Mallet Percussion by Mark Wessels Rhythm Reading for Drums (Part 1) by Garwood Whaley

Although many schools already pick what mallets want their beginners to start on for the first year of band, we thought we would take a minute and highlight different options that are great for the beginning percussionist. Whether you are looking to replace a pair of mallets as a parent or wondering what options are out there as a director, this information will help you understand the different mallet options needed as well as comparative models that are available. Most schools will start by requiring your student to have a synthetic or rubber mallet  that they will primarily use on their student level instrument (bells or xylophone). They will also have a pair of drum sticks required along with a stick bag for easily transporting the sticks and mallets to and from school. Additionally, some schools will also want you to have a yarn mallet for marimba/vibraphone. Bell/Xylophone Mallets Mallets for bells and xylophone can be made of various kinds of synthetic or rubber materials and typically have a birch or rattan shaft. We typically recommend birch shaft for beginners as it tends to be more cost effective and feels better for students when playing on starter instruments. Mallets will

As we continue with summer, we would like to highlight some great online resources that can help you on your musical journey. We believe that a big key to improvement is finding additional things you can be working on outside of your normal practice routine in preparation for school, auditions, marching season, etc. With the vast number or resources you can find online these days, here are a few that we feel offer variety, challenge, and FUN!! Vic Firth Education – https://vicfirth.zildjian.com/education.html This resource by Vic Firth is full of rudimental breakdowns, play along tracks, videos with tips and tricks and best of all it is free. With the variety of tools this site offers it is great for the beginner looking to start from scratch or the seasoned pro looking to take their playing to the next level. Grid Book Percussion – https://www.gridbookpercussion.com/ Grid Book Percussion has many great online resources and while they offer many tools and books for a subscription fee, it is well worth the price. They also have tools for the beginner and advanced players looking to take the next step in their playing. Their YouTube channel has excellent play along tracks as well. This is a

Summer break is here 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. Our percussion repair specialist, 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, we 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 [email protected] for more information.

We’re asked quite often if we give lessons here at Chops Percussion.  While we don’t currently offer lessons, we do feel they’re vital at achieving success and enjoyment on a musical instrument. Summer is the perfect time to get some extra practice in to prepare for the upcoming school year.  This will help ensure a return on your investment with a lifetime of music making enjoyment.  Again, we don’t currently offer lessons here at Chops, but here’s our list of suggestions in finding a lesson instructor that’s right for you or your child. Ask your band director and/or school percussion instructor.  Most will have a list of instructors in the area that they know will get you started on the right path to success. Ask other students in your school.  Sometimes great private lesson instructors fly under the radar and might not yet be well known to your band director. Call us!  We’d be happy to refer you to qualified private instructors we know and trust!  These would be on the northeast side, so if that works for you, just give us a call and we’ll refer you to some of the best in the area. Online lessons.  There are

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. Now is the perfect time to prepare for practice at home this summer. Pearl Export Drum Set We have many drum set options to choose from in our rental pool that includes the Pearl Export 5 Piece Drum Set. As one of the most sold drum set models ever, the Pearl export stands the test of time for both quality and durability. All drum sets come with the full set of hardware and a throne. We also offer two cymbal packages with the rental depending on your needs with either the Meinl HCS or the SABIAN XSR (price varies depending on cymbal option). Available in select colors. Adams MSPA43 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

This time of year we like to remind everyone that Paige’s Music keeps a list of the current job opportunities for both directors and instructors. This is a repost of a past post we have made regarding job openings this time of year. 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. Please keep in mind these may be filled before we are notified and can update this list. 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.

Chops Percussion still has a few items on sale from the 2022 Veritas indoor percussion season. This is a HUGE opportunity to save on gear that has only been used for a few months. If you’re looking to upgrade your front ensemble gear, this is the time to do just that. Options are limited and available on first-come-first serve basis. A school PO, credit card, or check payment is required before delivery can be made. Options are limited but we currently have the following items available: Adams MAHF46 4.6 Octave Rosewood Marimba on Field Frame – Qty. 3 – $7275 each Adams VCSF30 3.0 Octave Vibraphone on Field Frame (no motor) – Qty. 1 – $2850 Adams ABDF4022 40″ x 22″ Adams Concert Bass Drum on Field Frame – Qty. 1 (New never used) – $1940 To check out the current pricing of the gear, click here! If you have any questions give us a call (317) 813-2070 or email us at [email protected].

With many indoor percussion seasons now at an end, it is the perfect time to check over all your marching percussion gear and get it ready for both use during summer camps and into the fall. By taking the time to go through and do an inspection on all your drums you can likely avoid any emergency situation that might pop up at the worst time. Marching percussion equipment is exposed to the most environmental challenges throughout the course of the school year and is often times used year round. With these environmental demands, there comes a need for taking care of the instruments on a routine basis. One of the biggest pitfalls in maintaining marching percussion equipment is failing to regularly change your heads. With the materials and high tension nature of modern marching heads, failing to change them regularly can place unneeded pressure on the bearing edge and shell if heads continue to be over tightened. If you are a school that does both marching band and indoor percussion, try and line up a cleaning day when you are executing a head change. This allows you to thoroughly clean your equipment and get fresh new heads on the

Common Timpani Issues With contest season in full swing, you may start to notice some issues with your timpani. Timpani are one of the more misunderstood percussion instruments with regards to function and reparability, but knowing some common issues that occur can give you a better understanding of what to check. Issue #1 – The Pedals Slip (Won’t stay in position) When the pedal on timpani is not holding either in the high or low position it is more often than not related to the range of the drums.  Over time, the heads continue to stretch and can cause the drums to become out of range and thus not allowing spring and head to be balanced with tension.  This is the first thing to check if you have pedal issues.  You should check that the lowest note on each drum is correct as seen below: If the pedal slips forward from the lowest position, it likely means that the drum is too low and needs to be brought up to the correct low note.  Holding the pedal in the heel down (low position) make small adjustments to each tension rod until you have the lowest note. If the pedal is

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. We’d like to congratulate the IPA board, ISU volunteers, and everyone involved in the daily logistics who did such a great job of making it a fantastic day and great experience for everyone.  We would also like to congratulate all 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! Below is a list of medalist in each class. State Championships Results Concert Classes Scholastic Concert A (PSCA) East Central High School Warsaw Winter Percussion Ensemble Elkhart Percussion Ensemble Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO) Lawrence Central Percussion Ensemble Ben Davis High School Pendleton Heights Indoor Percussion Ensemble Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) Fishers Concert World Castle Indoor Percussion Marching Classes Scholastic A (PSA) Edgewood High School Westfield Indoor Percussion Noblesville

Since it has been a few years since IPA State Finals has taken place at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, we thought we would re-post this past article originally written by Jeff Huffman. This weekend is the Finals for the IPA (Indiana Percussion Association) circuit will require 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. KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THE WEATHER. Be prepared for cold, rain, wind and heat. Take jackets and coats to warm-up. Have a parent push around a large plastic trash can for the kids to ditch their jackets as they enter the arena. They might not need them, but it’s better to be prepared. Standing in a parking lot freezing before your final performance isn’t going to help you have a relaxed, confident performance. Be prepared to change on the bus. If

With concert season in full swing, we thought this would be a quick reminder on things you can check out on your snare drum if you are having issues. 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

Hello! My name is Brian Travelsted, and I am the Percussion Specialist at Chops Percussion. Chops is the drum and percussion division of Paige’s Music. If you’re still renting your child’s beginning percussion kit from Paige’s and it’s no longer being used, I want to let you know about our upgrade rent-to-own options. To see what we have to offer, please visit this link: https://www.chopspercussion.com/run?useUX=true&id=8&opid=712&_tid=475  here you will find all of your upgrade options, along with pictures and pricing information. You can also apply up to 18 months of your payments on your current instrument towards your new rental, which can lower your monthly payment! If your child is showing a high level of commitment to percussion, now is the time to upgrade their instrument and take their playing to the next level. Please call 317-813-2070 or email [email protected] for more information. We look forward to helping the percussionist in your home get an instrument they’ll love playing for years to come!

We often get questions about the best type of drum brushes for certain musical applications and with it being jazz/concert season, I thought I would take a little time today to explain the different qualities of drum brushes and offer a few recommendations as well. While there are many different types, most drum brushes differ in three main ways: brush material, handle material and retractability. We will take a look a each category and then offer some good options depending on the musical setting. Brush Material While most brushes are made of wire materials, the use of nylon wires has becomes more and more popular as they offer a different sound. Wire brushes tend to have a snappy sound with a crisp, bright sound quality when striking the heads. They also offer the best option if doing a lot of sweeping/swishing while playing. There are different weights of metal wires that can be used to give the player even more control of their sound. Vic Firth even makes some wire brushes such as the Steve Gadd brushes or Live Wire Brushes that offer different tips to each metal wire for an even fuller sound . Nylon or plastic wires offer

“So….. how do we tune the drums once we get them set up?” That is one of the FAQ’s we get when someone buys a drum set for the first time. There are many different ways to tune your drums; just look at all of the tuning articles and videos on the internet! We’re going to try and simplify this process for you with the video links and PDF below. Learning to tune drums is a huge part of playing them, so be sure to pay attention to what you see/read (thanks to Evans Drumheads and Drumeo for the great info). You also need to practice and experiment with tuning so that you can find the sound that suits YOU the best. Let us know if anything you see or read doesn’t quite make sense; we’d be glad to help you out!  Evans Drumheads Tuning Tips Drumeo Tuning Videos Tuning Your Toms Tuning Your Bass Drum Tuning Your Snare Drum