The Voices of Black Swamp: How Artists and Educators Shape Our Sound

At Black Swamp Percussion, our journey is deeply intertwined with the vibrant community of artists and educators who not only use our instruments but actively contribute to their evolution. Tim Church, our VP of Sales and Marketing, shares insights into how these crucial relationships have shaped Black Swamp Percussion over the past 30 years, transforming it from a small operation into a global presence in the percussion world.

The Evolution of a Small Business: Adapting and Innovating

Tim Church, Eric's first full-time employee, has witnessed Black Swamp Percussion's growth firsthand. "We're a small crew that wear different hats to meet the needs of the day," Tim explains. His own role has continuously evolved, from light production and shipping to full-time sales and marketing. With two percussion performance degrees, Tim's understanding of instruments is invaluable. This adaptability and willingness to learn new skills are core to Black Swamp Percussion's ethos.

Building Enduring Relationships

Black Swamp Percussion's 30th anniversary in 2025 highlights the importance of strong relationships. These connections extend beyond retail partners to a global network of artists, educators, and supporters. "Some of our earliest advocates are still part of the team because of how strong those relationships have become," Tim notes.

Artist Endorsers and the BSP Educator Network

Our artist endorser roster comprises individuals and ensembles who champion our entire product line. Eric, the founder, initially collaborated with top orchestral professionals and educators, seeking their feedback and ideas. Tim continued to build on this foundation, reaching out to new artists and developing the "BSP educator network" to work with educators interested in building a relationship.

Supporting the Next Generation

Black Swamp Percussion is committed to nurturing emerging talent. Tim emphasizes looking for "who's next," identifying incredibly talented and motivated young percussionists.

We support the next generation through various initiatives:

• Alliance for Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP): Collaborating with Raynor Carroll, a longtime friend and supporter, to back his efforts.

• Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion: Supporting Alana Wiesing, co-founder of this impactful network.

• Solo and Ensemble Showcase: A video performance competition in collaboration with Dan Smither, offering high school and college students feedback from Black Swamp artists and educators, and the chance to win prizes. Tim is continually impressed by the "mind-blowing" level of musicianship from young players today.

Educational Content and Community Contributions

A significant focus of our marketing activities is creating educational content. Tim has actively worked to get artists and educators to contribute video lessons and performances to our YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram, and website. These resources demonstrate how our instruments can be used in various settings, from orchestral excerpts to practice techniques.

Tim also enjoys collaborative projects that contribute back to the percussion community:

• BSP Collective: A collection of solo percussion commissions, published by Oxen Lamb Publications (Josh Smith, one of our artists).

• Original Compositions: Every year, Tim strives to work with artists or educators on an original percussion composition.

• In Person Events: Tim fondly recalls traveling to colleges and universities, setting up a "petting zoo" of instruments, and experiencing the infectious excitement of percussion students.

Tradition Meets Innovation: The Design Process

"Tradition and innovation in regards to instrument design is very important for Black Swamp Percussion,"

"Tradition and innovation in regards to instrument design is very important for Black Swamp Percussion," Tim states. While snare drums and tambourines, our "bread and butter," honor a rich history, we constantly modernize them. This includes using new materials, advanced strainer and snare systems, proprietary hardware, and diverse finish options, all while maintaining the instrument's historical integrity.

Artist and Educator Driven Design

Feedback from artists and educators directly influences our instrument designs and redesigns.

• MultiBass: Developed in collaboration with Morris Palter. (Check out full interview with Morris, here)

• Sound Plates: Most recently, a collaboration with Matthew Lau, which started from a simple text message and evolved into a new catalog product after nearly two years of development.

• Tambourine Shell Design: JB Leclère advocated for years for a deeper handle cutout, a seemingly small tweak that required significant deliberation to ensure consistency and quality. "It took a lot of thought and deliberation," Tim recalls, but ultimately, the change was made and proved beneficial.

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The Global Voice of Black Swamp

"It warms my heart to know that percussionists, musicians around the world are using Black Swamp Percussion instruments,"

"It warms my heart to know that percussionists, musicians around the world are using Black Swamp Percussion instruments," Tim shares. He believes that "the voice of Black Swamp Percussion is not represented solely by the company. It's really the world-class percussionists that are around the world." The thought that our "little company has had a global impact like that on the music world, the percussion industry is pretty exciting and I'm honored to be part of it."