What snare drum should I buy? Original Snare Drum, or Marching Snare Drum?

Question

Well, im gonna need it for practicing for nxt year's band ( 7th grade ) im currently in 6th grade band ( Percussion ), And my mom said we're gonna buy Pearl, cuz thats the brand of the Bells we bought for the band. I like marching cuz it sounds awesome and I like freestyling, but my mom said we should buy the original snare drum so it might be the drum that we're gonna use for 7th gradE?

this is the Snare drum we might buy : http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-SK-800CH-Snare-Drum-Rolling/dp/B001PPXEAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1272592004&sr=1-1

and here is the Marching Snare Drum: http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-SK-800CH-Snare-Drum-Rolling/dp/B001PPXEAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1272592004&sr=1-1

Answer 1

Your instructor will not want you using a marching snare in class.



Your best bet is to pick up something cheaper, probably metal, until you get the hang of real drumming. http://www.wwbw.com/Pearl-Vision-Sensitone-Steel-Snare-482140-i1410515.wwbw

Answer 2

The drums need to sound different because they are used differently. A marching snare has a harder top (usually kevlar) and a bigger resonating chamber. This significantly increases the drum's volume and ability to articulate fast rhythms. Playing this snare in a concert band would drown out most of the other instruments, so the concert snare is lighter, smaller, and softer. The sticks make a difference, too. Marching sticks are thicker and heavier to add to the volume needed outside. Concert sticks are thinner and have a smaller tip so the attack is not too loud. If I were you, I would buy a concert snare. It can be used for concert band, jazz band, orchestra, even rock or pop. Plus, most marching groups supply percussion equipment to their members, so you won't need one if you decide to do a corps or something. Hope that helps! p.s. make sure you have a practice pad so the neighbors don't complain.

Answer 3

As said in the name (if you look between the words) I'm in band. 7th grade, going into 8th. Also said in the name, I play flute, so I don't know a lot about drums, but my advise to you is to first, ask your band directer if they provide drums. At my school (Oxford Middle in Alabama, fyi) drums are provided, all you need is a practice pad for, well, practicing. Second, decide what you'll need it for. If you're going into marching band in 7th grade (as we started doing last year at my school, so my class was the testers) you may want to go ahead and get the marching snare. But beware: if your school works like my school does, your going to have to be better than juniors and seniors to get the snare part, because most students start out with cymbols, then bass drum, followed by your choice of snare or tenor, unless you decide to play bells. Again, I advise you to ask your band director for more information. I really didn't know there were different types of snares, but I think it would be a better idea, if you're not going to be marching snare, to buy the original snare, but I think (as long as the school provides drums for performances and such) that the best idea would be to get a practice pad.

Answer 4

a trap (original) snare and a marching snare are two totally different drums. you use different sticks for each, both have a different bounce response and the play style is like night and day. if you are looking at pearl, there are many type of marching snares alone (free floating, traditional, etc...). you need to ask your band director what choice is right for the curriculum of the class.