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Percussion Education Hub
Where percussionists learn, grow, and get inspired.
percussion Lessons
Lessons for students and professionals for snare drum, tambourine, triangle, and more.
Buying guides
Detailed guides to selecting the perfect percussion instrument for your needs and budget.
instrument
deep dives
In depth looks at a selection of Black Swamp instruments outlining their features and benefits.
educator resources
Lesson plans, PDF downloads, inspiring interviews and more for percussion educators.
A Deep Dive into the SoundArt Snare Drum Series
The SoundArt snare system encourages a deeper relationship with your instrument, transforming technical adjustments into musical choices. It allows you to approach every piece with confidence, knowing you have a reliable, beautifully voiced instrument ready to respond to your every artistic command.
Oct 10
The Pro10 Studio Snare Drum Deep Dive: Features, Hardware, and Signature Sound
Choosing the right concert snare drum is a critical decision. You need an instrument with a sophisticated voice, reliable hardware, and the versatility to handle any musical demand. The Black Swamp Pro10 Studio snare drum was engineered to be that instrument—a dependable, professional-quality drum for ensembles, studios, and educational programs.
Sep 29
Hear the Difference: A Sonic Guide to Choosing the Right Snare Drum with Gerardo Capaldo
For the dedicated percussionist, the journey from playing notes to making music involves a series of thoughtful choices. Perhaps the most important one is selecting the right instrument for the job. Why does the snare drum in a Shostakovich symphony sound so different from the one in an opera by Verdi? In this guide, we’ll move beyond gear lists and dive into the world of sound, using popular orchestral excerpts to show how a professional player chooses the right tool for the
Sep 26
Mastering The Metronome: Practice Tips to Improve Your Timing
Metronome practice is not about becoming a machine. It’s about training your inner sense of time so you can make musical choices with freedom. Whether you’re holding a delicate roll or locking into a funky backbeat, these practice tips from John Parks help you hear—and feel—time in a deeper way.
Aug 25
From Grip to Expression: Getting Back To Snare Drum Basics
Snare drum basics aren’t just about sticking patterns, rudiments, and hand positions—they’re about the why behind your playing. Bella Scotti, a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network, reminds us that even seasoned players benefit from returning to fundamentals. Their approach blends physical technique with musical storytelling, encouraging students to think of the drum not as an object to hit, but as an extension of their voice. In this post, we’ll unpack Bella
Aug 18
How To Use the Multisonic Snare Drum: A Snare System Tutorial
The Multisonic snare drum empowers you to match your drum’s voice to the room, repertoire, and conductor’s vision. This isn’t about showing off a fancy piece of hardware, it’s about unlocking the right sound at the right time.
Aug 15
Snare Drum Practice Tips: Balancing the Physical, Mental, and Emotional
When most percussion students think about “snare drum practice tips,” they focus on the obvious: stick control, tempo accuracy, and clean technique. But as Josh Jones explains, focusing only on the physical side of practice leaves two equally important elements underdeveloped: the mental and emotional.
Aug 15
Transform Any Snare into a Concert-Ready Orchestral Snare Drum
Ever wonder why your snare sounds out of place in orchestra rehearsal? It might not be your playing—it could be your drum. In this guide, we'll show you how to upgrade a basic snare into a refined orchestral snare drum. With insights from the shop floor to the concert stage, we’ll walk through component swaps, sonic considerations, and how to shape your sound with intention—not just gear.
Aug 11
The 15 Minute Snare Drum Warm Up Routine
Warming up isn’t just the first thing you do at the drum—it’s how you prepare your body and brain to play your best. Too often, student percussionists confuse warming up with jumping straight into practice, burning energy before building focus. In this post, we’re breaking down the warm up mindset with professional insights, examples, and a repeatable approach that sets you up for musical success.
Jun 12
Finding Your Fulcrum: Snare Drum Basics with Todd Meehan
Understanding where the fulcrum exists—and how to manipulate it—opens the door to fluid, efficient playing. It’s not about gripping tighter or hitting harder; it’s about letting the stick work with you, not against you.
Jun 12
Mastering Lt. Kijé for Orchestral Snare Drum
Lt. Kijé is one of those deceptively simple orchestral snare drum excerpts that separates the good from the great. At soft dynamics and fast tempos, every detail counts—and audition panels are listening for nuance, not just notes. In this lesson, Shaun Tilburg, Principal Percussionist of the Phoenix Symphony, walks us through his thoughtful, musical approach using his daily method, The Regimen.
May 7
Think Before You Stick: Orchestral Snare Drum Sticking and Musicality
As a student percussionist, you’re not just developing technique—you’re building your musical voice. That means learning how to make smart, intentional decisions, even when the part looks simple.
May 1
Picking the Perfect Piccolo: Comparing Black Swamp Piccolo Snare Drums
If you're looking for a Piccolo Snare Drum but not sure which series is right for you, you've come to the right place.
Jul 30, 2024
Obsession or Necessity: Cultivating an Ear for Sonic Diversity with Percussion Instruments
Norman Weinberg explores the art of selecting percussion instruments, emphasizing the importance of cultivating an ear for sound variety.
Mar 21, 2024
How to Seat a Drum Head on an Orchestral Snare Drum
Seating a snare side head on an orchestral snare drum is a crucial step in maximizing sensitivity and response. The snare bed, a slight...
Mar 12, 2024
Tips To Improve Your Snare Drum Sound
Percussion from the Podium: Snare Drum The following is excerpted from an article for wind band conductors originally published in the...
Feb 8, 2024
Snare Drum Shell Types: Metal vs Wood Drum Shells
Metal drums vs wooden drums. What is the actual sound difference between the two?
Sep 21, 2023
The 4 Essential Snare Drum Strokes. Are You Using Them All?
Snare drum lesson by Andrew Baldwin addressing the 4 Snare Drum Stroke Types
Sep 13, 2023
Unibody Snare Drums: One Ply to Rule Them All
Our steam bent, single ply, Unibody shells are one of a kind and blend a beautiful combination of art and science to create a beautiful...
Apr 28, 2023
Snare Drum Buying Guide: Which Drum is Right for You?
There is an extensive selection of concert snare drums in the orchestral percussion world, we'll break down the details of what Black...
Apr 26, 2023
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