Sabian - Because Sound Matters

Pump Down The Volume

Sep 09, 2008

by Cary Nasatir

I am often asked at my school clinics "how does one control the dynamics in the percussion section?" The answer is not easy but here are some actions you can take right now to bring down the volume.

First let me say it is my belief that the percussion section is no louder than the trumpet section of a concert band. Now let me acknowledge that I hold a minority view! Much of the clatter and volume excesses can be handled by simple adjustments to the equipment in the section. The snare stand for instance is often a hidden culprit. If you are using a stand designed for a drum set, it is too short. When a stand is too short, this often forces the percussionist to play with the sticks higher off of the drum. This can be as much as 15" or more, which you have to admit, is pretty darned hard to play ppp passages. Use an extended concert stand such as a Ludwig LM923SSC or Pearl S-1000LS and raise the snare to the player's waist. Position the drum flat. This should bring the sticks within a playing range of about four inches for perfect dynamic control.

Next, check the snare drum itself. Is the drum head the correct model for your ensemble? Double plied tom tom or marching heads are too heavy and not correct for band or orchestral use. Use a medium coated single ply batter head such as an Aquarian Satin Finish, an Evans Genera G1, or a Remo Ambassador. These heads are the correct weight and thickness to give you a perfect timbre at any dynamic level. Make sure the head is tuned fairly tight and responsive. A saggy head does not activate the wire snares which makes the drummer instinctively hit harder to get the snares to "speak." By the same token, over-tightening chokes the sound and creates a weak response, with no depth or darkness to the tone. In a school environment, I suggest changing the head at least twice a year. Heads should be changed immediately when dimples, cuts, or pin holes appear, as they can?t be tuned correctly.

A good size snare drum for concert band or orchestra should be 14" across by 5.5" or 6.5" deep. Whereas deeper field drums are used in the literature, they are too loud to be the main drum in the section.

Take a look at the snare side head. These too should be free of dimples and holes. Under normal circumstances, snare side heads do not need to be changed all that often, but accidents do happen. Care should be taken when placing a snare drum on the stand, to avoid jamming a basket arm into the head. Use a thin snare side head for a quick snare response.

While on the subject of the snare side, the snare wires should lie flat against the head. An individual wire that is bent will buzz and never tune up. When this happens, the wires should be changed. The tension of the wires on the snare strainer (throwoff) should not be tight or over tensioned. I tune my drums by loosening the wires until they buzz, and then tension them slowly so they just stop buzzing. If the wires are too tight, they choke the sound forcing the player to hit harder.

Sticks that are too big or heavy also help to increase volume. A slender 5A or 5B model works well in most situations. My personal favorite is a Firth SD2 with its small round bead, and body of light weight maple. This is also known as a Bolero model which gives you an indication of the dynamic range available.

In an understandable attempt to economize, I have seen many percussion sections utilize a single pair of 20" marching crash cymbals. These thick cymbals are designed for the football field and little else. They are too loud for the stage. For middle school, a set of SABIAN 16" AA Concert Band cymbals is ideal for smaller players. For high school sections I am partial to the 18" AA Viennese models. Orchestras might be better served with 18" and/or 20" Hand Hammered (HH) models which are darker sounding.

For suspended cymbals, using the 20" ride cymbal from the drum set rarely gives a pleasing result. Try SABIAN's 16" AA Molto for a quick responding shimmer, and/or a larger 18" model when you need more energy. The HH series in either size produces a darker sound. Single stroke rolls should be performed with yarn mallets such as SABIAN's Symphonic mallets. For parts where a hard stick is called for, try a timbale stick for a lighter touch.

And finally, for bass drums, avoid hard felt mallets designed for marching. Consider using a soft felt model such as a Gauger TG01 or a Balter CBD3. You will get less bang, but more tone for your buck!

Biography
Cary Nasatir is a SABIAN Artist and the Director of the Nasatir School of Percussion, a private teaching facility in San Francisco's East Bay.