Percussion practice aid

#The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for practicing proper playing techniques on a percussion instrument, and more particularly to a barrier used for practicing proper playing techniques on a drum and an associated method.

#As shown in FIG. 1, a drum 18, such as a snare drum, typically includes a drumhead 30 which is stretched tightly over a surrounding shell 32. In a snare drum and other like drums, drumhead 30 may be surrounded by a rim 34 which extends above the playing surface of drumhead 30. Drumsticks or other percussion implements are used to play the drum. It is well know that to generate the best sound quality, the drumhead 30 should be stricken by the drumsticks in the center of drumhead 30 at a point spaced from rim 34 or shell 32.

#One aspect of learning to play a drum properly is learning to consistently hit drumhead 30 in or around its center. As a student looks at his or her music, however, the drumsticks may start to wander and strike other areas of drumhead 30. An untrained ear may not be able to discern the resulting difference in sound, and the student may not realize that he or she is not striking drumhead 30 at or near the center.

#The invention will be appreciated more fully with reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like features, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snare drum;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a percussion instrument barrier secured to a drum;

#In one aspect of this invention, a percussion instrument barrier provides a practice aid or guide that controls the portion of a playing surface that may be stricken by drumsticks or other percussion implements. According to this aspect of the invention, the barrier may help a student learn to consistently strike only a certain portion of the percussion instrument by serving as a guide. For example, when playing the drums, it is desirable to consistently strike the drumhead close to its center. A novice drum player may not be able to determine whether he or she is striking the center of the drumhead without watching the drumsticks. One embodiment of the present invention provides a barrier that prevents an off-center strike from directly contacting the drumhead, thereby alerting the player through sound or feel that he or she has not struck within a certain distance of the center of the drumhead. With practice, the barrier may guide the student to strike the drum near to the center of the drumhead.

#For ease of understanding, and without limiting the scope of the invention, the inventive barrier to which this patent is directed is disclosed below particularly as used in connection with a snare drum. It should be appreciated, however, that the percussion instrument barrier is not limited to use with a snare drum, and that the barrier may be reconfigured for use with other drums and percussion instruments such as cymbals, tom-toms, timpani drums, conga drums, xylophones, vibraphones, gongs, chimes and so on. For purposes of this invention, and without limiting the scope of the invention, a percussion striking implement may be any suitable implement that can be used to strike a playing surface of a percussion instrument. Examples of striking implements include: drumsticks; soft-core mallets; hard-core mallets; and brushes.

#In another aspect of this invention, the percussion instrument barrier may provide a practice aid that encourages certain hand, wrist, and arm positioning when addressing a drum. By restricting not only the area in which a percussionist can strike the drum, but also the angle at which the drumsticks can strike the drum, the barrier may encourage the percussionist to use certain hand, wrist, and arm positions. For example, with the percussion instrument barrier attached to the drum, an attempt to strike the drum with a drumstick held at too low of an angle may result in contact with the barrier before the drumhead is hit.