How many snare drums in a marching band

The marching snare drum is essential to any battery; it has a high-tension head and is deeper in size compared to other snare drums to deliver a big full sound. The marching bass drum is another important drum and produces the deepest sound in the drumline; they come in a variety of sizes each of which are played in a line by several percussionists.

Marching tenor drums are sometimes called "toms" and usually come in mounted sets of drums. Often tenor drum sets are referred to by how many drums make up their configuration: "duos" 2 drums "trios" 3 drums "quads" 4 drums "quints" 5 drums and "sextets" 6 drums. Two popular marching snare bass drum and tenor drum manufacturers are Sound Percussion and Pearl and Evans is often the go-to name for marching drum heads.

Marching cymbals like tenor drums are used to add color to the music. Since each different drum has its own distinctive sound, each instrumentalist is able to add much to enrich the music on the field.

Also, since each drum can easily be heard over the rest of the band, other members of the ensemble are able to listen for certain drum parts to cue them for certain movements in the show. Before the front ensemble commonly called the "pit" was developed, timpani and keyboard instruments--such as the glockenspiel and xylophone--were often used in marching ensembles.

In recent years, these instruments have been confined to the pit along with a wide range of other instruments that can be used for unique effects when shows require them. Sarah Clinton is a graduate student at the University of Missouri, where she holds a graduate assistant position at the University of Missouri News Bureau. She will obtain her Master of Education in sport psychology in May of She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Vanderbilt University.

Marching cymbals are typically pairs of crash cymbals played in a variety of ways. Cymbals are bronze with leather carrying straps. Players in cymbal lines may all carry the same size and type of cymbal, or a variety of instruments may be used. Cymbals are played being held before the body, in unison or split parts. In addition to being played by the cymbalists, snare drummers may play on the cymbals as ride cymbals or like hi-hats, thus there is typically a minimum of one cymbalist for every two snare drummers.

Cymbals are also used for visual effects due to their reflective surfaces. Many contemporary field ensembles do not utilize a cymbal line, as cymbals can also be played in the front ensemble.

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