Learning to play a new instrument is exciting. Perhaps especially percussion instruments because you can make a decent sound right from the very start. There’s no messing around blowing raspberries, or fiddling around with strings. If you have a basic sense of rhythm, you can play from the day that you receive your rental instrument. But there’s more to snare drum ownership than simply playing. You need to care for it too – despite the fact that it’s literally been made to take a beating! And that’s what we’re going to talk about in this blog.
Tips for the School Band: How to Care for Your Snare Drum and Bell Kit
How to care for your snare drum
There are two main parts of a snare drum that will need your attention when it comes to maintenance. The drum head and the snares.
Drum head – There’s some debate over whether or not you should clean a snare drum head, with some drummers claiming that you’ll get a deeper tone from a ‘dirty’ drum. But for the crisper sound you need for the school band, it’s a good idea to give your drum head a wipe down with a lint-free cloth and a little water on a regular basis. This removes any dust and residue. Your drum head will need to be replaced periodically, but cleaning will help it to last longer. Give the exterior a wipe down to remove any fingerprints and dust while you’re at it.
Drum snares – If you want your snare drum to sound its best, you need to keep an eye on your snares. Occasionally, they will break, and you’ll need to trim them back to make sure that the loose ends don’t tangle the other snares or pierce the underside of the drum. You’ll also need to keep them clean. To do this, gently wipe down the snares with a lint-free cloth. An ammonia-free cleaner can be beneficial, but a dry cloth will usually do the job. Don’t forget to tighten the snares after cleaning.
Keep everything moving – Lastly, don’t forget to grease the moving parts of your snare drum occasionally, just to make sure that the screws can be adjusted when needed.
How to care for your bell kit
The bell kit is probably the instrument that requires the least maintenance in the whole of the school band. In fact, it can often be more of a case of learning what you shouldn’t do that what you should.
To clean your bell kit, you simply need to wipe it down with a lint-free cloth from time to time. Otherwise, just remember to only play your bell kit with dedicated mallets. And never rest anything on top of your keys – even the mallets. Because the weight can bow the keys.
Other considerations when maintaining your snare drum and bell kit
Your mallets and sticks – The main thing to remember about your mallets and sticks is to store them well. Don’t store them in with your instruments, and don’t leave them rattling around in the bottom of a school bag. And it’s worth remembering that the heads of your mallets can be quite delicate, so try not to touch them. Even finger oil can damage the fabric on some mallet heads.
Your stands – The main advice for stands is to use them as they were intended. Loosen the screw before adjusting. Don’t screw them too tightly. And oil all moving parts from time to time.
Caring for your snare drum and bell kit is a relatively simple business. And if you’re renting your instruments, you know that we’re here for all the big stuff – like replacing your drum head, or carrying out any major repairs. But if you want to get the best performance from your kit, carrying out this basic maintenance will definitely help.
Are you interested in hiring a snare drum and bell kit? Fund out how Rent From Home can help.
