So... I happened to see the order for next year's drums, the first set of drums we've recieved in about 10 years. I've seen the way the kids here treat our current drums, but I'm not sure how they'll treat these new ones. Has anyone had experience with getting kids to take care of things? I know that sounds funny but I know that if our percussion section blows it, then there goes our band's funding. Any advice is appreciated.

-Zach

we have this issue with our drums, so what we decides to do to get people to take care of these drums is check individual drums out to kids, and then the drums are inspected every week, this puts pressure for the kids to keep the drums in a nice condition, and keeps them completely responsible for any dents or dings in the drum.

This last year we had a problem with the drumline not taking care of their drums. When we had break they would just throw them on the ground, even if it was wet. They would also just throw them back into their cases, not even caring. This coming year we have an all new drumline, so our band director isn't going to let these things even touch the ground.

Make everyone stay after rehearsal for half an hour once a week and have a drum cleaning/maintenance party. The less they mess up the equipment, the shorter they have to stay.

This, of course, is in addition to any time you spend right before shows cleaning up the drums.

Yea, make sure you wipe them down frequently... Make sure you're using amonia free cleaners too so you don't get discoloration. If you aren't getting drum covers too, try to get the band parents to make them out of some tough, rip-stop nylon or canvas and use them religiously. Take them off only before you're about ready to go to the field, or in your warmup block before a performance.

If you want to set them down, set them down on the grass and in the shade. Pavement should only be used if grass is too far away.

I'm not sure if once a week cleaning is needed, but atleast keep up with it for before shows and absolutely make sure you take extra time to wipe things down when it may rain outside.

And make sure the only people playing or using the drum are the people who actually play that drum. Don't let bandies come up and hack away with some stick they found in the grass...

Issue some simple policies and things will go fine. Sure, you'll have your clumbsy person who takes a spill while marching and the drum goes rolling, but thats all inevitable. You can't prevent stupid things like that from happening, but if you make some little policy changes, people will understand to have a some more respect for the drum in general. Its not hard to enforce this stuff.

Wipe down often. Keep covers on. Set down in shady grass. Wipe down immediately after being exposed to rain.

This year, our drumline is getting all brand new percussion equipment also. The band boosters is going to make an instrument rental fee to show documentation that they use the drum. SO...if that person scratches or breaks equipment, they MUST fix or replace it.

Also, (what kevin_fu said about setting the drums down), what is the correct way to put tenors on the ground so grass and junk doesn't get in the shell?