AHS Drumline Recommended and Required Materials
REQUIRED:
Must have these items by the
beginning of Drum Camp.
Music Folder: All members must have a black 3-ring binder at least 1" thick with clear sheet protectors to hold all of your exercises, music, and important handouts.
Pencil: Bring a pencil to every rehearsal.
Snares, Tenors, Bass Drums: Must buy your own sticks. This is to keep you from breaking too many! They can last the whole season if you treat them well. See Mr. McKnight to buy sticks. Approximate costs: Snares $8-10, Tenors $20-25, Basses $30-40. You must also provide stick tape as often as needed. Sticks must be neatly taped before each performance. Use white electrical tape, it is available at many hardware stores.
Cymbals: Must buy your own gloves. Approximate cost $10-15. The section leader will inform you which type to buy.
Pit: All sticks and mallets are provided.
RECOMMENDED:
Not required, but would
really help!
Practice Pad: All members should have a practice pad to use at home. Any kind of pad will do, but Mr. McKnight recommends the "HQ Real Feel" Practice Pad. It comes in 6" and 12" but the 12" is much more useful since it simulates a real drum. They are available with a variety of surfaces, but any will do. There is even a practice pad for tenors with 5 separate target areas! Click here for the HQ website.
Metronome: All members should have a metronome at home to practice with. Any kind will do, as long as it has an adjustable tempo ranging from 60-200 bpm (beats per minute). They can be found in any music store ranging in price from $15-$200 depending on their features.
Private Lessons: The best way to improve yourself year-round is one-on-one help from a private teacher. See Mr. McKnight for a list of recommended private lesson teachers. Scholarships are available in the beginning of the school year to help pay the cost of private lessons, and money from band fund-raisers can also be used. Lessons are especially helpful in learning left hand traditional grip if you plan to tryout for snare drum.
Questions ? Email Mr. McKnight