Drums, Sticks & Practice Gear

Here's the reality of getting started as a drummer: you don't need to buy a drum. Your corps owns the drums. What you need is a practice pad, a pair of sticks, and the discipline to use both regularly. Total investment: under $75.

Practice Pads

A practice pad is a rubber surface mounted on a stand, board, or table-top base that simulates the feel and rebound of a drum head. It's quieter than a drum (your family will thank you) and portable enough to use anywhere.

You can get a quality pad for $20–$40 from brands like Remo, Vic Firth, or Evans. An inexpensive rubber pad from a music store works fine too. The most important thing is that you have one and use it daily. Pad work is where rudiment mastery happens.

Drumsticks

Fife and drum drumming calls for sticks that are slightly heavier and longer than standard drum kit sticks. You're playing outdoors on larger rope-tension drums and need the extra mass to project. Cooperman makes sticks specifically designed for this style of drumming, and they're the most widely used in the community.

For a beginner, any Cooperman marching model will work ($25–$35 per pair). Ask your corps what model they prefer — different drummers favor different weights and tip shapes. Buy two pairs so you always have a backup.

Rope-Tension Drums

You won't need to buy a drum for a long time, possibly ever. Corps own their drums communally. But if you want to understand what you're playing:

Rope-tension snare drums used in fife and drum corps have wooden shells (typically maple or similar hardwoods), natural or synthetic heads, rope lacing with leather ears for tension adjustment, and gut or nylon snares. New drums cost $500–$1,500+ depending on the maker. Cooperman, Loyal Drums, and a handful of small makers serve this niche market.

Bass drums are larger, carried with a harness, and struck with felt-tipped mallets. They're even more expensive than snares and almost always corps-owned.

Used drums are common in the community. Corps that fold sometimes sell their entire inventory, and individual drums surface on forums and in community networks. If you're looking for a used drum, start by asking in the fife and drum community.