Brief history of the Drum corps and midsection

 The Drum section of the 306 Wing P&D consists of a drum section and midsection. Our drum section comprises of drummers playing the Highland snare drum, this drum is used uniquely in pipe bands, they are of similar construction to standard marching bands but have an additional set of snares underneath the top head, which results in a more pronounced snare sound. In the early days, rope tension snare drums were common but as the technology evolved, so did the music. Pipe band drummers now play on drums with very tight Kevlar heads, designed for maximum tension to create a very crisp and strident sound. The 306 Wing Drum section is responsible for both supporting the pipes with solid rhythmic foundation and sense of pulse and creating an interesting contrapuntal line unto itself. If you are interested in learning to play the drums, please click here.

The midsection of the 306 Wing P&D consists of a section of tenor drummers and a bass drummer. Their role is to provide rhythmic support to the entire ensemble. In this respect, the midsection allows the drum section to delegate their timekeeping responsibilities and allows more freedom in the drum scores. Generally, the base drum provides a steady pulse, playing on the downbeat and on the strong beats of the bar and the tenors support that pulse, often adding supporting beats, accents and dynamic support.

If you are a drummer looking for a band to play with or if you know nothing about the drums and want to take up the challenge to learn to play in hopes of becoming a member of the 306 Wing Drum Section, please contact us right away so we can begin your training and secure your place within the band. Click here to find out more.

To view Drum Gallery, click here.