Snare Drum
Pipe band snare drums use two sets of snares (an upper set and a lower set) which is different from the single set of snares used in kit drumming or marching bands. The technique used in pipe band snare drumming is very intricate and full of a precision not typically found in other kinds of snare drumming. Mastering the snare technique provided in pipe bands actually makes the drummer a far superior player on other types of snare drums. Snare drummers are also an important creative force in a band. They write music specifically for each tune, echoing parts of the tune back and forth adding both intensity and softness to the music, something a bagpipe cannot do. Most importantly, well written snare music tells pipers, tenors and bass drummers exactly where to place each note so that they can all play and sound like one loud player instead of many.
Snare drumming is first learned on a snare drum practice pad, in the same way that a beginning piper starts to learn on a practice chanter. Practice Pad and stick work generally takes about 7-8 months before a student is then ready to transfer that learning over to the actual snare drum.
Snare drum clip
TENOR & BASS DRUM
Bass and Tenor drum instruction requires different sticks and skill development. The Bass Drum provides the heart beat for the music and helps hold all of the music together by maintaining a predictable tempo and providing "lift" to the music through pulse accents. The synchronized twirling and counter beat of the Tenor drums adds additional musical accents to the music and provides choreographed visual interest and flourish to the over-all musical and band performance.
