Advice For New IPA Directors Regarding Schedules

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 No Comments

Below is some great advice that came from an Indiana Percussion Association email earlier this week that we thought was worth passing along to everyone:

IPA Contest Schedules

The first 4 weeks of IPA contest schedules are now available on the IPA website for your viewing.

Please remember that schedules are subject to change through the MONDAY prior to the event for minor adjustments.

Advice for new directors regarding schedules:

  • When building your itinerary for the day, start with your warm up time and work backward
  • Allow at least 1 hour between arrival at contest site and transit to warm up. This will allow your kids plenty of time to unload/assemble, dress, and feel relaxed going into warm up.
  • Identify travel time to the site and add at least 20 minutes for the slower bus travel times. Look at traffic maps for any delays you might encounter.
  • Give plenty of time post rehearsal for Pack/load at home.
  • Have a plan for your students/chaperones if you are staying for critique. Many directors have communication with their chaperones that allow them to send kids home while directors stay for critique. If not, be prepared that your kids could be waiting at least an hour for you after awards to finish up critique. Not fun…
  • Have a plan for when the chaperones let everyone know to call home because buses are close to home. This will hopefully save you from waiting around too long for someone to get picked up. Inform parents that simply because the buses are back, does not mean students are free to leave. Unpacking and clean-up may still need to occur before the child can go (this might encourage parents to come help so it is done faster!)
  • Be sure that students know that post performance, your hallway spot may be given to another school and that all personal items might need to be carried or stored back on the bus. Be sure to ask the unit check in volunteers if you can stay in that location all day.

Once again, please contact Brooke Basso at admin@indianapercussion.org if there is a concern with the schedule.

Pearl MalletStation Demo at NAMM 2018

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 No Comments

Derek and I had a great trip out to NAMM last week.  We were able to capture a demo of the new Pearl MalletStation due out this spring.  The EM1 is a USB powered midi mallet keyboard controller and once you hook this up to a laptop, tablet or even a phone, the possibilities are endless.  Take a few minutes to watch the demo and let us know what you think!

 

Just got your first drumset? Time for some private lessons!

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 No Comments

Did you just get your first drumset this holiday season? What next? If not already taking them, private lessons are the next step in getting a good start. This will help ensure a return on your investment with a lifetime of music making enjoyment. We don’t currently offer lessons here at Chops, but here’s our list of suggestions in finding a lesson instructor that’s right for you or your child.

– Ask your band director and/or school percussion instructor. Most will have a list of instructors in the area that they know will get you started on the right path to success.

– Ask other students in your school. Sometimes great private lesson instructors fly under the radar and might not yet be well known to your band director.

– Call us! We’d be happy to refer you to qualified private instructors we know and trust! These would be on the northeast side, so if that works for you, just give us a call and we’ll refer you to some of the best in the area.

– Online lessons. There are new online lesson opportunities popping up all the time. If you choose this route, be sure to do some background and read all the reviews you can find.

Even if you didn’t get that drum set you wanted yet, get into lessons now so you can be prepared to groove when you finally get the set of your dreams!

January 2018 News at Chops

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 No Comments

Sabian/GonBops Specials from Midwest B&O Clinic

Sabian/GonBops Specials from Midwest B&O Clinic

We partnered with Sabian at the 2017 Midwest Clinic to bring you some great prices on demo gear. These cymbals and instruments were used in performances at the Midwest B&O Clinic.

Visit this page to view the list!

Paige’s Music Repair Shop Now Offering On-Site Percussion Repairs

On-site Percussion Repairs

The Paige’s Music repair department announced a new service that was introduced earlier this school year. On-site percussion repairs at your school! Now offered by appointment only for large percussion instruments such as timpani, mallet instruments, concert bass drums, etc . This service is intended to alleviate the need to send in large instruments with your District Manager and be without them for several weeks.

Read more on their blog!

My First Drum Set – A Great Resource For First Time Drummers and Parents

My First Drum Set

Are you taking up drumming for the first time? Are you buying a drum set for the drummer in your life this holiday season? If so, you may want to start at myfirstdrumset.com. This website was created by the people at Pearl Drums with the idea of educating not only the drummer, but the parent or loved one who is buying the set.

Read more on the Chops blog!

2018 IMEA Professional Development Conference

Tuesday, January 9, 2018 No Comments

If you’re attending the IMEA conference this week, here’s a list of performances and clinics with percussion interest you should check out!  Make sure to stop by the Chops Percussion and Paige’s Music display booth and say hello!

Performing Groups

Goshen Jazz Ensembl Friday 1/12, 11:00am
IU Jazz Ensemble Friday 1/12, 2:30pm
Creekside Middle School Friday 1/12, 2:30pm
Carmel High School Friday 1/12, 3:30pm
Day of Percussion: Brazilian Batucada Saturday 1/13, 9:00am
Concord HS Percussion Saturday 1/13, 10:00am
Decatur Central HS Percussion Saturday 1/13, 1:00pm
ISU Wind Ensemble Saturday 1/13, 3:30pm

All State Honor Ensembles

All State Jazz Band Friday 1/12, 12:00pm
Junior All State Band Saturday 1/13, 9:00am
All State Honor Band Saturday 1/13, 11:00am
All State Percussion Ensemble Saturday 1/13, 12:00pm

Clinic Sessions with Percussion Interest

Friday 1/12:
11:00am How Loud is too Loud?  A Guide to Protecting Hearing (Katrin Meidell)
12:00pm What’s in YOUR Percussion Toolbox? (Chris Crockarell, Chris Brooks)
1:00pm Musicians that happen to play Percussion (Chad Kohler)
3:30pm Put Your Marching Show on the Field in Record Time (Brad Wadkins)
Saturday 1/13:
8:00am Beginning Percussion 101 (Clayton Henady)
8:00am Common Matched Grip Problems for Beginning Percussionists (Kyle Lutes)
9:00am Get a Better Snare Drum Sound in 50 Minutes or Less (Bill Shaltis)
11:00am Using the Kinesthetic Sense to Improve Accuracy of Marimba Performance
1:00pm Engaging Students in Creating Music through Drum Circle Facilitation (K. Michelle Lewis)
1:00pm Finale 101
2:30pm Simplicity in Percussion Composition

Full details and registration can be found at imeamusic.org.