Chops Percussion

A New Year, A New You: Drumming and Health

With every new year comes the possibility of improvement and change in our lives such as striving to be healthier, relaxing more or do something new to learn. One of the most common New Years resolutions is to work on our health/mental health. There are many great resources that demonstrate the benefits of drumming as improving both your health and mental health. Drumming can help with things such as stress relief, mental awareness, cardio and help increase energy amongst many other benefits. Whether you are an experienced drummer or a casual drummer the benefits of playing for 20 – 30 minutes a day can improve your quality of life in many ways. The activities involved in many types of drumming revolve around movement, so it makes sense that there would be so many benefits to taking part in this activity on a regular basis. Whether it is sitting down behind your drum set for a few hours a weeks or takin part in a group drumming session, your health will be improved. We hope everyone will take some time this year to drum a little more, focus on their heath and learn something new. Happy New Years to all and

Jan 5, 2021 No Comments

Malletech World Vibes Congress 2021

This coming weekend Malletech is hosting a virtual clinic event known as the World Vibes Congress. There will be performances, clinics, discussions and listening sessions with some of the best vibraphonists in the world. With names like Friedman, Locke and Harris, this one of a kind event will be on that you do not want to miss. This event is FREE to the public covers a variety of musical styles in diverse sessions that will deliver over 9 hours of streaming content! You can find all the information for the event at the following link (including YouTube link and schedule): https://malletech.com/wvc2021/ In addition to this you can check out this short promo video for a sneak peek of what is to come. Be sure to check out this great educational opportunity on January 2nd and 3rd!

Dec 29, 2020 No Comments

Chops Percussion Holiday Hours 2020

Just a couple of notes on our holiday hours. We’ll be open on December 24th (Christmas Eve) from 10am – 2pm. We will be closed on Friday, December 25th for Christmas Eve and Saturday, December 26th. We will also be closing at 2pm on Thursday, December 31st for New Year’s Eve and we will be closed Friday, January 1st, 2021 for New Year’s Day. We’ll be back to normal hours on Saturday, January 2, 2021 from 10am-4pm. Here’s a run-down: Thursday, December 24th: Open 10am-2pm Friday, December 25th: CLOSED Saturday, December 26th: CLOSED Monday, December 28th – Wednesday, December 30th: Open 10am-6pm Thursday, December 31st: Open 10am-2pm Friday, January 1st: CLOSED Saturday, January 2nd: Open 10am-4pm Happy Holidays from all of us at Chops Percussion! Here’s to a great 2021!

Dec 23, 2020 No Comments

Yearly Maintenance Tips: A Comprehensive Guide

As the new year approaches, your program is likely going into the busiest time of year with concert band, solo and ensemble, jazz band and indoor percussion all happening at the same time. Often times you may not think about taking a little extra time to do a thorough inspection of your gear, but it will go a long way in getting the most out of your investment. Now is a great time to do some general equipment maintenance and cleaning that can ensure you are ready for the busy months ahead. Having your students actively participate in this process will help them take pride over equipment that will be used long after they leave your program and can help the process move along faster and seem less overwhelming. Below are some quick and easy tips for making sure your gear is in top shape to start the new year: Take an inventory of all your equipment at the end of each semester. Clean all equipment using a soft cloth to remove any dirt or grime that has built up over time. A small amount of diluted rubbing alcohol can help remove major build-up. Inspect your instruments for any missing parts. Check for broken or

Dec 9, 2020 No Comments

IN STOCK: Pearl Decade Maple 5 Pc. Drum Set

We currently have a full stock of Pearl Decade Maple 5 Piece Drum Sets in stock in the Classic Satin Amburst Finish. These would make any beginner or advanced drummer excited to sit down and practice every day. The quality of these drums are unmatched in this price range and would make a great holiday gift for any aspiring drummer! You can even package them together with Sabin XSR cymbals for a Rent-to-Own option. 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): *prices shown in video may not be accurate for current pricing* To learn more about Sabian XSR cymbals, check out this video: https://sabian.com/en/videos/xsr/226055911 If you are a drummer, or have an aspiring drummer at home looking for an equipment upgrade, we hope you’ll

Dec 1, 2020 No Comments

2020 Indiana Percussion Association Virtual Clinic Week

WHAT: 2020 Indiana Percussion Association Clinic Week WHEN: Monday: November 30th, 2020 thru Saturday: December 5th, 2020 WHERE: IPA You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJIuk3ChZTcTdQqyZLdujew With many great clinics lined up throughout the week, this is FREE week long clinic being put on by the Indiana Percussion Association in support of the many students and directors for the upcoming 2021 indoor percussion season. A great opportunity to keep your students engaged and learn from some of the best people in the activity. The week-long clinic will culminate with performances by High Octane, Ball State University Percussion Ensemble, Indiana State University Percussion Ensemble, Mark Ford, and Jeff Queen and Nick Angelis with Blast from the Past! In addition to the great clinic opportunities, they will be giving away a free lesson with Dr. Jimmy Finnie, percussion professor at Indiana State University. This is open to an student in IPA, great for college prep, individual/ensemble feedback. Spots are limited so sign up soon at this link: http://www.tinyurl.com/IPAfreelesson Keep an eye on all the Indiana Percussion Association social media posts throughout the coming weeks for updates. This free clinic is one of a kind opportunity that you don’t want to miss. Follow the Indiana Percussion Association

Nov 24, 2020 No Comments

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Meinl Drumsticks and Brushes

Meinl is well known for the versatile line of cymbals they produce for styles ranging from fusion, rock, pop and more. They are known for producing cymbals that really allow you to find your “sound” and have the most individualized sound possible. With the relatively new line of drums sticks from Meinl, you can take this individualized sound even farther with many variations on popular models such the Standard 5A, Heavy 5A, and Hybrid 5A. Each stick is made from American Hickory wood and produced in Germany with the highest in weight matching standards. If you are looking for even more unique sounds, check out their different lines of brushes, hot rods and drum set beaters. Meinl has focused on creating drum sticks and brushes that give you the drummer the ultimate voice! Check out the video linked below to see even more detail about why Meinl started making drumsticks and stop in today if you would like to check out some sticks for yourself!

Nov 17, 2020 No Comments

Last Week For PASIC Early Registration Discount

If you and your friends are planning to attend PASIC 2020 in the virtual format this year, this is the last week to register and get a discount. Registration fees go up next Tuesday, November 3rd, so get registered today and save yourself a little cash. You can register for PASIC here. Please note that once you’ve registered, you are locked in. There are no refunds for cancellations. If you have any specific questions regarding the event, please check out pasic.org for more info.

Oct 27, 2020 No Comments

How Do I Payoff My Instrument?

Did you know you can pay off your instrument rental contract early and save! If you choose, you may pay off your instrument balance in full and save 40% off your remaining balance. You can do this at anytime during your contract. There is no penalty for paying your instrument off early. To do this, please call our accounting office at Paige’s Music by calling 1-800-382-1099. You can also complete this process online on the Paige’s Music website. Please refer to this earlier post that explains how to make a payment on our website. As always, please give us a call if you have any questions.

Oct 20, 2020 No Comments

Upgrade Your Beginning Percussion Rental at Chops

Hello! My name is Derek Felix, and I am the manager of 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!

Oct 6, 2020 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

Modern Drummer Legends Series To Feature Neil Peart

If you are a fan of the late, great Neil Peart, you are going to want to get your hands on one of these books. We will only have 5 available, so you may want to call to reserve a copy ASAP. “Neil Peart’s ten appearances on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine span the years 1980, when he was five albums and several tours into his historic run with the Canadian progressive rock band Rush, and 2020, the year of his passing. No other drummer has come close to appearing so many times on the front of a drum publication, certainly not the world’s most recognized one. This, the first installment in Modern Drummer magazine’s Legends book series, collects all nine of Peart’s cover stories, plus the complete contents of his May 2020 Modern Drummer tribute issue. Highlights include analyses of Neil’s performances on every Rush studio album, a survey of the evolution of his famous live drumkits, transcriptions of deep Rush cuts, and much more.”

Sep 22, 2020 No Comments

Troubleshooting Common Timpani Issues

Common Timpani Issues With the school year well underway, you may start to notice some issues with your timpani after they sat around all summer not being used. 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

Sep 15, 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

Paige’s Music Staff Spotlight with Brian Travelsted

Paige’s Music has an interview series on their blog they call the Staff Spotlight. The latest episode featured our very own Brian Travelsted. Check out his interview below to learn about all he does here at Chops!

Aug 26, 2020 No Comments

The Positive Impact Drumming Has On Mental Health

* This is a blog from January of 2020. I figured since this year has kicked everyone in the shins, we could use a reminder! Research conducted by the Royal College of Music in London shows that drumming can have a drastic impact on one’s mental health. A 10 week group drumming program reduced depression in the participants by 38% and anxiety by 20%! The 10 week study also shows social resilience improving by 23% and overall mental well-being by 16%. These numbers are astounding to me, but when I think about how I feel when I’m playing drums with my band, I am not at all surprised. Full disclosure: I suffer from depression. Some times are worse than others and the winter can be the most brutal for me. Getting behind my drum set and playing is a huge lift for my mood and my self-esteem. It’s the one thing I have in my life that I can constantly count on to give me joy. I’m so glad to know that drumming can be therapeutic for so many others. If you have never played but have always wanted to learn, or you would just like to find a new

Aug 18, 2020 No Comments

Musser Xylo Kit Assembly

Welcome back to the Chops blog! Now that school is starting (in some form) and kids are getting their instruments, there are instrument assembly questions that need to be addressed. The Musser Xylo kit seems to be the one that people have the most questions about, so we’re sharing an assembly video from Jim Catalano to help you out! If you have any additional questions after the video, please feel free to call or email us!

Aug 4, 2020 No Comments

Yamaha Releases Drum and Percussion Disinfection Guide

If you are one of the teachers or instructors still looking for ways to safely and effectively disinfect your drums and percussion instruments, Yamaha has put out a very helpful guide that you should check out. This guide details what disinfecting agents can be used on specific percussion instruments, which I know has raised a lot of questions in the percussion community as of late. You can find that information here. Yamaha has all the other instruments covered as well, so be sure to check that out here. Chops hopes that this finds you all well and staying safe. Best of luck to all of you as you try to bring school music back in the safest and most effective ways possible.

Jul 28, 2020 No Comments

A Broken Drumstick May Not Be Trash After All

A friend sent me this cool video from Drumeo last week, so I wanted to share it with all of you. It turns out there are several creative things you can do with your broken drumsticks (and even the sleeves they’re sold in!) Most of these involve power tools, so if you don’t have experience using them, you may not want to try this. Drumeo says it best in their video when they say “power tools are dangerous. Be smart.” If you’re adventurous enough to try one of these ideas, share it with us on Instagram or Facebook! If you don’t follow us, we’re easy to find! You can view the Drumeo video here. Have fun!

Jul 21, 2020 No Comments

Remo Marching/Concert Drum Head Sale Starts July 27th

Now that everyone is trying to get marching band up and running, the staff at Chops figured we could do our part to help you out! From July 27th until August 31st, you can save money on your Remo marching and concert head order. Here’s how it will break down: Save 3% on orders up to $499 Save 7% on orders from $500 to $999 Save 10% on orders from $1,000 to $1,499 Save 15% on orders from $1,500 and above Please email your orders for this sale to [email protected]. This sale is good for in stock Remo marching and concert drum heads only, and this discount does NOT apply to World Percussion heads or instruments. Please feel free to email the sales address mentioned previously, or call 317-813-2070 if you have any questions or need to place your order over the phone. Thanks for supporting Chops Percussion and best of luck with the upcoming season! *Qualifying artist orders are not eligible for extra discounts

Jul 14, 2020 No Comments