David Valdés delves deep into Igor Stravinsky’s “Histoire du Soldat,” underscoring its importance in the percussion repertoire. Valdés details his access to the original sketches which illuminate Stravinsky’s intended drum setup and compositional process. In advance of his PASIC 2024 presentation, he shares new insights in…
Grover Pro featured in Music Inc.
In advance of our 45th anniversary year, this month we’re featured in Music Inc. magazine. “Tradition Meets Innovation” focuses on the founding of the company, our core values, and keystone achievement. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
PAS Hall of Fame Interview
Neil Grover, the Founder of Grover Pro Percussion, is being inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in November 2024. His significant contributions to the percussion field as a musician, educator, and innovator are highlighted in this new interview with the Percussive Arts…
In The Beginning…
Neil Grover Talks Protégé™ Tambourines & Woodblocks
Protégé™ Series Tambourines Now Available!
Our new Grover Protégé model tambourines have been meticulously crafted to deliver unparalleled sound quality and exceptional value for budget-minded students and music educators. These tambourines seamlessly incorporate professional features, setting a new standard in the world of student-level concert tambourines. Key Features: Percussionists have the option to select from two professional-grade jingle…
Two New Tambourines Introduced!
Grover Pro Percussion, a trailblazer in the world of percussion instruments, is proud to introduce two new additions to its esteemed lineup – the Model T2/BC-H Headless Tambourine and the Model T2-PhBr-X Tambourine. These cutting-edge tambourines showcase Grover Pro’s commitment to precision craftsmanship and innovative…
Tchaikovsky’s “Arabic Dance” – Articulate or Roll?
by David Valdés “The Nutcracker” is a work that, despite being part of the repertoire and being performed/played very often (specially during Christmas), it is played with some mistakes due to a wrong interpretation of the instructions given by Tchaikovsky and the writing that he…
From the back of the band room…
In this video interview our founder, Neil Grover, discusses his mentors, musical influences, the spiritual nature of music and starting a percussion manufacturing business. This is the first of the two part episode.
The Forgotten Life of Sleigh Bells
As we approach that “most wonderful time” of the year, percussionists around the globe begin dusting off their sleigh bells in preparation for playing repertoire of the holiday season and while much of the rep is modern, the fact is that the utilization of sleigh…
Our founder is the featured artist this month!
CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW WITH NEIL GROVER
Polyrhythm vs Polymeter…what’s the difference?
Our good friend and endorser, Casey Cangelosi (James Madison University), brings clarity to the difference between polyrhythms and polymeters. CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH VIDEO
Percussion Summer School Starts Now!
Our July summer newsletter contains over 20 great educational videos and downloads covering tambourine, triangle, castanets and snare drum. Whether you’re starting out, or a seasoned pro, there’s plenty of innovative information that will help you sound your best! CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR JULY…
The Advantage of Staggered Jingle Slots
Some manufacturers claim that “stacked” jingle slots allow for better response at very soft levels. We do NOT find this to be true and really do not hear any lack of clarity at soft levels with our staggered slot arrangement. In fact, THERE IS an…
NEW! Educational Essentials Guide
For some, selecting the right gear can be a daunting task! But don’t worry, we have developed a tool to help make selecting the perfect product both quick and easy… CLICK HERE to access our new “Educational Essentials” guide where you’ll be able to view…
Australian Percussion Academy strives for the stars…
The Australian Percussion Academy‘s, core mission is to provide the highest quality of percussive arts f education. They are producing young percussionists with strong fundamental skills capable of performing at the highest skill level. Under the direction of acclaimed percussion virtuoso, Sergei Golovko, the students…
Percussion Accessory Clinic w/Neil Grover
Watch Neil Grover’s 2023 PASIC presentation, “Percussion Accessories – Not as easy as you may think!”. Neil Grover’s PASIC 2023 Masterclass “Video used with permission. The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) is the world’s largest percussion organization, with over 5,000 members in over 80 Chapters across…
TMEA – A SMASH!
We recently returned from the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention in San Antonio. It was a terrific three days of meeting and talking to music educators and percussion students. Everyone love our exhibit, especially the new products on display. Here a quick tour of…
NEW-Rosewood Castanet Machine!
The Boss…
A Grover Pro tambourine was recently spotted in Bruce Springsteen’s new video, “Nightshift”. Our tambourines are widely used in today’s contemporary music scene with such iconic musicians as “Funk Brother” Jack Ashford, Martha Reeves, Rhiannon Giddens, Sheryl Crow and many others…
PASIC ’22 – OUR BEST EVER!
This year, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention was one of the best shows we’ve experienced – ever! The exhibit halls were bustling with activity, the mood was upbeat, and thousands of like-minded percussionists spent 3 days immersed in what we are all passionate about…
New Rosewood Castanet Machine
Here’s a sneak peek of our newest product, the “Dual-Action” Rosewood Castanet Machine.
NEW! Sleigh Bell Cradle
This unique sleigh bell cradle makes it easy for anyone to pick up and put down the bells without making ANY extraneous sound. The cradle securely holds the bells while at the same time, it is flexible enough to allow for single-handed sleigh bell playing!…
Neil Grover To Present @ PASIC’22!
We’re thrilled to share that our founder, Neil Grover, has been invited to present a Symphonic Lab at PASIC ’22! His session, “Percussion Accessories: Not as easy as you think!” will be held on Friday, November 12, 2022 in room 205. Students in need of…
ChromaTone II Recovering Kits Now Available!
With this sew-free kit, you’ll receive a pair of hand-sewn cover patties and instructions on how to apply them to your current mallet head. Percussionists always stay prepared for the unexpected when it comes to their instruments and mallets, now with Grover Pro Percussion offering…
NEW ROSEWOOD CASTANETS!
Frustrated by having to choose between castanets that sound good but have no adjustment, and others which have adjustable tension but lack clarity and richness of sound? ¡Olé! Then our GWC-2R castanets are for you! Once you try them you’ll fall in love with the…
COME SEE US AT NAMM !
We’re thrilled to be returning to the NAMM show this year! Please remember to stop by our exhibit in Booth # 7615 where we’ll be displaying alongside our sister brands, TOCA and BOOMWACKERS. Our team of percussion experts will be on the floor to show…
New ! Temple Block Set
Our Temple Block set includes our 5-Piece Baltic birch “Open Tone” temple blocks w/ mounting clamp, our adjustable-height, double-braced stand with sound-isolating rubber feet, and a pair of our professional 1″ rattan-handle (M-14) woodblock mallets. Everything is packaged in a sturdy Cordura carrying case which…
Timpani Road Case
Organize, store, and transport your timpani safely.
New! Professional Timpani Cases
Developed over a two year period, our new timpani cases are both innovative and designed with ease of use in mind. Features include: Two-Step internal foam padding Fold down loading ramp Unique rear trap door to lock timp wheels Spare head storage cubby Available in…
Grover Pro Rings In The New Year!
Grover Pro’s Sleigh Bells were chosen to be used in Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center production of “Candlelight Processional”. Performed each year the nightly event is one of the most popular musical presentations of the holiday season! The Grover Pro Sleigh Bells are have a…
Prince Igor’s Tambourine Mystery (part 2)
by David Valdés In the previous article we got to know the tambourine part of the “Polovtsian Dances” was written by Glazunov and not by Borodin. We now can pull the thread to try to figure out the meaning of that notation and the technique…
New Endorsing Artists X4
We’re thrilled to announce the signing of four new artists to our endorser roster! (l to r) Cara Wildman is a multi-instrumentalist and Irish music specialist in Texas. Maddie Shake is the new Principal, Percussionist of the Arkansas Symphony. Tommy Dobbs is Assistant Professor of…
Our 2022 Catalog Is Out!
We’re starting the holiday season with a “bang” by releasing our UPDATED 2022 CATALOG! Jam packed with exciting new offerings, as well as those innovative products that made us the leading in concert percussion, you’ll want to set aside some private time to peruse the…
Prince Igor’s Tambourine Mystery (part 1)
by David Valdés TAMBOURINE PART IN “POLOVTSIAN DANCES”: AUTHORSHIP, NOTATION AND TECHNIQUE (PART ONE) “Polovtsian Dances”, by Alexander Borodin, is a suite from his opera “Prince Igor”, a work that remained unfinished when the composer died in 1887. Dances #8 and #17 (taken from the…
The Brush Book Joe Morello Never Wrote
Berklee School of Music Professor Jon Hazila is considered one of the leading proponents of jazz brush technique. His book Mastering The Art Of Brushes, which has sold thousands of copies worldwide, is a definitive volume focused on the concepts and techniques used by top…
Motown Legend Martha Reeves Signs with Grover!
We are incredibly excited to announce the official signing of the legendary Motown artist, Martha Reeves, as an endorser for Grover Pro Percussion. Martha is known for her group, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, who performed the hits Dancing in the Street, Jimmy Mack and…
Dr. Karlyn Viña Joins Shenandoah Conservatory Faculty!
Praised by the South Florida Classical Review for her “dazzling” and “incisive” performance, Dr. Karlyn Viña is a dynamic and creative percussionist based in Virginia. Dr. Viña is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Percussion at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, and previously taught at…
Suspended Cymbal Arm & Stand Review
Kudos to Dr. John Baldwin!
We want to personally congratulate and thank Dr. John Baldwin for his 50 years of service to Boise State University, the Boise Philharmonic and to the percussion world itself! John has been a tireless advocate of the percussive arts. As a musician, educator and scholar…
Tambourine Shootout!
Percussionist Mark Kuliini recently posted a video comparison of five Grover Pro tambourine models. This is an excellent, concise video that presents the sonic textural differences of some of our most popular tambourines. Here is a time stamp to assist: 0:46 single row Beryllium Copper/Phosphorus…
NEW! Percussion Footrest
Grover Pro Percussion, world leaders in high quality percussion products since 1980, has introduced an innovative solution for percussionists of all skill levels. Designed in collaboration with professional percussionist Kirk Gay, the new Grover Pro Percussion Footrest is a versatile performance tool which will prove…
FREE COMPOSER TALK
Our friends at lineuponline percussion are carrying on with their third composer talk of the fall, this time with Norwegian composer, and recent Arne Nordheim Composer Prize winner, Kristine Tjøgersen. The talk is FREE and takes place on Zoom, ending with a bit of Q&A.…
Happy 90th Ian Turnbull!
Today we tip our hat to a very dear friend of the percussion world, Ian Turnbull, who turns 90 today! Winner of the first PAS Outstanding Chapter President’s award in 1991 for his leadership in Ontario, Canada, Ian was born in Worcester, England to parents…
CT Halftime – Reimagined !
The Rolling Buzzards Brigade, under the direction of Sean Kennedy, recently recorded a new version of the classic, “Connecticut Halftime”! This arrangement, made by Sean Kennedy, features a number of today’s top percussive artists! (Check out the blue Grover Pro SD that Dame Evelyn Glennie…
Grammy® Award Winning Band Selects Grover Pro!
The Grammy® award winning band, Hanky Tanky, was recently featured on the PBS Newshour. They are bringing back a musical genre known as “Gullah” music, which has been lost to popular culture. The tambourine plays an important part of this musical genre and we’re delighted…
THIS Is Why Our Chime Mallets Are Simply Better…
Grover Pro chime mallets were designed 30 years ago specifically with flat handles – and for good reason! To strike the capped end of a chime tube “square on” you must be able to orient the chime mallet head directly at a right angle to…
Polyrhythms Explained
Ever wonder how to play 4 against 3? Give us 2 minutes of your time and I guarantee that you’ll not only fully understand complex poly rhythms, but, that you’ll be able to amaze your friends by calculating ANY poly-rhythm, easily and quickly! CLICK HERE…
Join Us For TECH-TALK TUESDAYS !
What are you doing Tuesday at 2pm? Why not catch our Facebook Live percussion discussion with some of the top professionals from around the world? You will have a chance to ask questions and interact with your favorite percussion luminaries from all walks of the…
TMEA – A “Smashing” Success !
We recently returned from the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention where our display of products became a central meeting spot for both percussionists and music educators. Our three storage cases on display for the first time, and, they created quite a stir! The booth…
New Products For 2020! Available soon...
Here’s a quick look at some of the new products that we’re starting to roll out in early February!
Come See Us @ NAMM! Booth #7212
Grover Pro will be exhibiting our products at NAMM for the very first time! If you are planning on attending NAMM please stop by to chat with one of our percussion specialists. We’d love to see you.
Check Out Our New 2020 Catalog!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR NEW ONLINE 2020 PRODUCT CATALOG!
Tour Our PASIC Exhibit
PASIC ’19 – A Smashing Success! Grover/Toca exhibit
We’ve just returned from our greatest and largest PASIC exhibit ever! Along with our sister brand, TOCA, our booth was consistently filled with excited percussionists, eager to see and play some of the world’s finest percussion products! If you’ve never experience thousands of passionate percussionists…
WE’RE HEADING TO INDY FOR PASIC ’19 Over 100 products will be on display...
This will be our largest PASIC display ever! Along with our sister brands TOCA and Boomwackers, we’ll be displaying the full line of Grover Pro products, including our new Percussion Tour Box and Percussion Workstation! We’ll be in the main hall Booth #1021. Come…
Grover Pro Welcomes John Shaw to Artist Roster
We’re thrilled to announce that The Florida Orchestra’s Principal Percussionist, John Shaw has joined the esteemed roster of endorsing artists! In addition to his duties in Florida, John has been with the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina since 2008, where he also serves…
Questions To Ask When Learning A Piece Of Music by Brian Blume
Unless you have a) learned all the music there is to learn in this world, or b) chosen that you don’t want to learn any more music in your lifetime, then learning new music is in your future! As an active performer, I’m constantly learning…
Grover Snares Featured in Drumhead Magazine! The great benefits of using our linear snares.
Finding the “Sweet Spot”
Professional percussionists often mark the “sweet spot” on instruments. This “targeting” helps percussionists to consistently sound their best. I have always placed light pencil marks on accessories such as cymbals, woodblocks and even triangles! Click the image to watch a short video demonstration…
Sistro, Sistri and Sistrum in “Il Barbiere di Seviglia” by David Valdés
It now seems like a tradition; every time “Barber” gets on the music stand, a discussion arises about what sistro, sistri and sistrum mean and what instruments correspond to that nomenclature. I´ll try to clarify this issue, and I´ll begin with a little bit of…
Grover Pro Is Joining The RBI Music Family !
Grover Pro Percussion was founded in 1979 with one clear goal; to design and manufacture the world’s finest percussion products. As a professional percussionist myself, I understand the importance of using the best tools available. My approach to business has always been from the perspective…
Professor William Moersch To Present at the Wyoming Day of Percussion
University of Illinois Professor William Moersch will be presenting a number of clinics at the annual Wyoming Day of Percussion on April 13, 2019. Bill will present clinics on marimba, timpani and percussion accessories. The event will be hosted by Dr. Andrew Wheelock and will be…
We’re the 2019 Small Business Manufacturer of the Year! SBA Chooses Grover Pro
Grover Pro was founded with one clear goal; to manufacture the world’s finest percussion products. Over the past 39 years we have worked tirelessly to achieve that goal. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that our accomplishments are being recognized by the US Small Business Administration!
Grover GSX-6N Model Chosen – “Snare Drum of The Month” Receive A $50 Rebate Thru March
Throughout March our friends at Percussion Source are featuring our GSX-N 6.5″ x 14″ high gloss natural finish snare drum at the lowest price ever! Here’s the deal…buy one of our GSX Snare Drums from Percussion Source this month and get a $50 REBATE! Don’t delay…this…
New Percussive Connections
Our latest installment of “Percussive Connections” features Dr. Paul Buyer. Dr. Buyer is an acclaimed percussion educator and author of “Working Towards Excellence – 8 Values for Achieving Success in Work & Life”. CLICK HERE TO WATCH
Neil Grover Featured On @percussion Podcast
Our prez and founder, Neil Grover, was a featured guest on episode #172 of Casey Cangelosi’s popular and innovative @percussion podcast! Also joining the discussion, hosted by Casey, are percussion luminaries Karli Viña, Megan Arms & Ben Charles. CLICK TO WATCH or CLICK TO LISTEN
NEW Gong Mallets ! TT-4A & TT-5A Added To Line
We’ve added two new aluminum handle gong mallets to our line: TT-4A – ROLLING GONG MALLETS Our TT-4A Gong/Tam-tam rolling mallets are perfectly weighted to produce consistent rolls on any size gong/tam-tam. Features include a 3 1/8″ diameter head, 5/8″ lightweight aluminum handle and solid…
“Discussions in Percussion” launched!
New for 2019 is a series of in-depth interviews posted to our Youtube channel. “Discussions in Percussion” will feature guest percussionists, educators and composers who each bring a unique perspective to the percussive arts. The first of these videos feature Dr. Brandon Arvay and Casey…
The Great Snare Misconception
Years of snare research and development brings us to the conclusion that runs contrary to the traditional concept of snare functionality. By questioning everything believed to be true about snare response, we unearthed the shocking truth: Just because you play at the edge of the…
The Triangle by Jim Neglia - Percussionist & Personnel Manager, Jacksonville Sym.
The triangle is an idiophonic musical instrument of the percussion family. It is a bar of metal, most usually steel in modern instruments, bent into a triangle shape. One of the angles is left open, with the ends of the bar not quite touching –…
The Fallacy Of In Line Jingles
There are a number of percussion myths that are circulating, such as “warming up crash cymbals”. In all my years of playing cymbals with both the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony, I have never played a crash where I think the cymbals spoke late –…
Percussion Quick Tip: Flamenco Style Castanet Trick
Percussion Accessory Note Duration – The Mystery
When playing triangle, tambourine and cymbal parts of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries – the exact duration of a note can often be unclear. While composers of those periods were good at notating when to start a note, more often than not, they…
NEW! “QUICK-ADJUST” CASTANET MACHINE
The Grover Pro Quick-Adjust™ Castanet Machine is the “do-all” castanet solution for percussionists of all skill levels! Two thumb wheels facilitate quick and easy “dialing in” of the desired tension. No more guessing—now you can quickly be in complete control of the castanet tension setting!…
Mark Shelton To Present At FMEA
Our good friend, Mark Shelton, will be presenting this January at the Florida Music Education Association Convention in Tampa. Mark’s presentation, Teaching Improvisation With The Drum Circle, will be an informative, entertaining look into the issues facing young students wishing to learn the art of rhythmic…
Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra Visitors
Danish percussionists Gert Sorenson and Jakob Weber were in town picking out cymbals at the Zildjian factory and stopped by to visit us. They picked out a great selection of range of our products including numerous tambourines and triangles. Both perform with the Danish National…
Percussion Tour Box Now Available!
The new Grover Pro Percussion Tour Box will help you organize, store, and transport a vast array of percussion items including: Snare drums (up to 3) Snare Drum & Cymbal Stands Cymbals (up to 30) Bass Drum & Gong mallets Temple Blocks & Woodblocks plus…
A Visitor From Sweden
While coming through Boston, Swedish percussionist Markku Reinikaninen stopped by to visit us. Markku specifically was interested in picking up a couple of tambourines that he could use in his studio recording sessions. While he already had a few Grovers, Markku was very interested in…
Endorser Dr. Jason Baker To Present Snare Drum Clinic
On October 22nd, Jason Baker will present a snare drum clinic at Sam Houston University. Jason serves as Director of Percussion Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Mississippi State University. An active performer, Jason is a member of the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra (principal timpanist),…
Mark Shelton’s Tambourine Shuffle
Mark presents a tambourine shuffle in his own, engaging personal style! The warmth and humor of Mark Shelton combine with his percussion prowess to create a family-friendly concert experience that connects with audiences. Mark entertains (and educates) with his trademark high-energy style as he romps…
We’ve Been Nominated For 2 “Drummie” Awards ! Vote Today To Help Us Win
THIS IS THE 3rd STRAIGHT YEAR WE’VE BEEN NOMINATED! HELP US WIN a Drummie award by voting today! Category – Accessories GROVER PERCUSSION WORKSTATION Category- Auxiliary Percussion GROVER 35-BAR MARK TREE Click this link to vote: https://bit.ly/2w9brLZ A BIG THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! DRUM! Magazine
Dr. Ben Tomlinson Joins Artist Roster!
We’re pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Ben Tomlinson to our endorsing artist roster. Ben is the Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX where he teaches Applied Percussion, Steel Band, Percussion Techniques, Music Appreciation, as well as…
Casey Cangelosi Does It Again! Check out this cool new solo tambourine composition...
Percussion Quick Tip: Play Fast Tambourine Passages Fist/Knee Technique Explained
When it comes to playing loud, fast passages on tambourine, especially when the tempo is too fast to play using one hand, the fist/knee technique proves invaluable! CLICK THE IMAGE TO LEARN MORE…
The Magic 45° Holding the tambourine to get a fully balanced sound.
I have often been asked about my tambourine grip, and while I employ a range of variations, my basic “go-to” technique is to hold the tambourine at a 45° angle to the floor. The reason is simple – it produces a balanced jingle sound. Think…
Percussion “Quick Tips” Launched! See what you can learn in under 30 seconds...
We’ve started posting individual 30 second instructional videos that will cover a wide-range of topics. New “quickies” will be added each week, so, if you like what you see, check our Youtube Quick Tips playlist for more valuable goodies!
“Super Deluxe” Triangle Beater Set Unveiled !
Super Deluxe Beater Set Product Categories: New Products, Triangle Beaters, Triangles With so many choices, it is hard to decide which type of triangle beater to purchase. Our new Super Deluxe Triangle Beater Set takes out the guesswork. This special set of twelve beaters contains three different models…
Andre Sonner Visits Factory
In his quest for the perfect triangle, Boston based percussionist Andre Sonner stopped by yesterday to check out some of our Bronze Pro Hammered Triangles. Apparently, Andre heard one being played by a colleague in the Sarasota Opera and he fell in love with the…
Casey Cangelosi To Visit Southeastern U
Grover Pro Endorser Casey Cangelosi will be visiting the Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida on April 24, 2018. Casey will be performing and presenting masterclasses with percussion and composition students. Casey’s appearance will be hosted by Grover Endorser and SEU percussion faculty Brian Blume. CLICK…
Thoughts From A Department Recital by Tracy Wiggins
Dear Music Majors, Let’s discuss recital performance etiquette briefly. Going on stage to perform is an important part of your training as a musician and teacher but is also the culmination of all your hard work in the practice room working at perfecting your craft…
Josh Wynnyk Joins Artist Roster!
We are happy to report that the Regina Symphony Orchestra‘s Principal Percussionist, Josh Wynnyk, has joined our roster of endorsing artists! Josh has played in music festivals in Austria with the Vienna Philharmonic, in New York playing at Carnegie Hall and has toured Canada, USA, Belgium,…
Dr. Karlyn Vina Joins Artist Roster!
We’re pleased to announce that Dr. Karlyn Vina has joined our esteemed roster of endorsing artists! Praised by the South Florida Classical Review for her “dazzling” and “incisive” performance, Dr. Karlyn Viña is a dynamic and creative percussionist based in Miami, FL. As a performer,…
Levi Cull Joins Artist Roster!
We’re proud to welcome Levi Cull to our esteemed roster of endorsing artists. According to Levi, “It is truly an honor to be associated with Grover Pro Percussion! The quality of product they produce is world-class and helps me to sound my best in any…
Carnatic Tambourine
Check out this unbelievable display of rhythmic aerobatics by our friend Ian Wurf! (Watch-then you’ll know why I’m speechless).
Zac Pulak In Residence At Southern Methodist University
Canadian percussionist Zac Pulak will be in residence at the Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts from February 11-18, 2018. While there Zac will be presenting a solo recital that will include a new work by SMU composition faculty member Kevin Hanlon as…
Lancaster Symphony To Premier Work By Sean Kennedy
Percussionist/composer Sean Kennedy’s composition, “Kākū, kūpala | Fear in Neutral Buoyancy”, will be premiered on February 17, 2018. Featuring percussion, the work will be performed by the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. Sean is a multi-faceted musician, equally accomplished on the stage, in the recording studio,…
Grover Pro Miller Machine Video
Check out the video for the new Grover Pro Miller Machine!
We Wish You Happy Holidays!
McCormick Percussion Group Releases New CD!
Our good friend Bob McCormick and his percussion group have released “KID STUFF” a CD of music for percussion and piano. Works by John Liberatore, Seunghee Lee, Hilary Tann & Ciro Scotto are expertly played by Bob and his band of fine percussionists. John Lane…
GROVER PRO’S PASIC SMASH!
We’ve just returned from our biggest and busiest PASIC show ever…GPP practically took over the aisle with our world-class percussion products! Many new items were featured, including the Grover Pro Miller Machine, which was the talk of the convention. Inventor Billy Miller was on hand…
Our New Suite of Percussion Workstation Accessories!
Our new suite of Percussion Workstation Accessories is now available! Each of the mounts is designed to fit a standard 3/8″ rod bracket or any standard cymbal stand with our new Multi-Stand Adapter! Follow the links below for more information and to BUY NOW! Multi-Stand…
Aaron Ragsdale Visits Factory
Endorsing Artist Aaron Ragsdale stopped by today to say hello and pick out one of our Bronze Hammered Lite Triangles & a Bantamweight Heat-Treated Silver Bronze Tambourine. He is in town performing and will be presenting masterclasses at both the New England Conservatory & the…
Meet “line upon line”
On October 17th, meet the three virtuoso percussionists known collectively as, line upon line, at their second informal “hang”. No notes to play or gear to move, just they’ll be just visiting and shooting the breeze. This will be a great opportunity for young aspiring…
SX Series™ Tambourines Now Available!
Our SX™ Tambourines are general-purpose concert instruments specifically designed for those looking for a value-priced, quality concert tambourine. Fabricated from wood fiber, the Acousticon™ shell is formed under heat and pressure creating a strong, durable frame. Pre-tensioned heads made from durable Fiberskyn™ material are chosen…
Backstage at “The Enharmonic” Working with John Williams, The Boston Symphony, and more...
Percussionist and blogger, Sean Kennedy, recently interviewed me for his podcast series The Enharmonic. I am thrilled to be included with a distinguished roster of musicians who have been interviewed! People Sean has featured include jazz greats Gordon Goodwin and Clayton Cameron, legendary session musician…
Artist Update Dr. Benjamin Fraley
Marking his fifth season with the Tallahassee Symphony, Grover Pro artist Dr. Ben Fraley has
GROVER PRO WELCOMES NEW ARTIST! Professor Tony Steve Joins Endorser Roster
We are pleased to welcome Tony Steve to our roster of endorsing artists. Tony teaches percussion and world music at Jacksonville University. He has performed with the Jacksonville Symphony, Israeli Festival Orchestra, Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra, Hartford Symphony, North Eastern Pennsylvania Symphony, Greenwich Symphony, and Bridgeport…
Mastering The Art Of Brushes The Epitome Of Cool...
If you have not yet checked out Berklee Professor Jon Hazilla’s Brush Control – The Key To Mastering Brushes, this is your chance. It has just entered the second edition which means the first run sold out! WATCH JON DEMONSTRATE his masterful brush technique! That’s a GROVER CUSTOM…
Harmony Central Praises Studio Pro Tambourine! by Dendy Jarrett
“You’re reviewing a tambourine? Have you lost it, man?” Yeah, that’s what I was dealing with around the office while wailing away on this tambourine. In the spirit of full disclosure, I was a Percussion Performance Major in college and was schooled in the proper…
Florida Wind Band Plays Grover
Here’s the six member percussion section of the Florida Wind Band showing part of their collection of Grover Pro products. The band was formed to carry on the rich band traditions established by John Phillip Sousa, Edwin Franko Goldman and Frederick Fennell. based in the Tampa…
Grover Pro Featured in MMR
Check out our feature in the July 2017 issue of Musical Merchandise Review!
Happy 90th To A Legend!
When I was a young percussion student I was eager to gobble up music, records, catalogs… anything related to percussion! One of the recording groups I liked was the Percussion Pops Orchestra, and one of their members was Jim Sewrey. Not only is Jim…
U.S. Army Field Band On Tour
Our friends with the U.S. Army Field Band are about to embark on a summer concert tour. Be sure to catch their concert when they come to your area. CLICK HERE to see a full touring schedule. I am personally looking forward to performing with…
Pat Flaherty Visits Studio
Boise, ID percussionist and educator Pat Flaherty came to visit us today. Pat is a longtime friend and supporter of Grover Pro. He picked up a set of Grover Performance Snares for a special Gene Krupa model Radio King snare drum he is restoring. Pat maintains…
This Summer’s Oberlin Percussion Institute June 25th - July 1st
The Oberlin Percussion Institute will be held on the campus of Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin Ohio from June 25 to July 1, 2017. The faculty this year will include Chris Deviney (Philadelphia Orchestra), Jauvon Gilliam (National Symphony Orchestra), Mike Rosen (Oberlin Conservatory), Al Otte (Cincinnati…
CT DRUM SHOW – A Smashing Success!
We recently exhibited at the Connecticut Drum Show, held in Newington, CT (a suburb of Hartford). The Grover Custom Drums exhibit was continuously jammed with drummers wanting to see and hear our custom drums. We had both an aqua sparkle and copper sparkle kit on display…
Grover Pro Products Now Available In Hong Kong
We’d like to congratulate Karina Yau on the opening of INITIAL P, a percussion specialty shop located in Hong Kong. Karina is a superb percussionist (and Grover Pro endorser) herself, having trained with our friend, Jon Haas, at NYU. If you’re a serious percussionist who…
How to Travel to an Audition: What to bring and how to get it there! by Will James
For percussionists, traveling to auditions can be more challenging than playing the audition. We have to get ourselves, as well as a shopping cart full of gear to the audition, that could be halfway around the world. We are not the only ones that have…
Justin Mabrey Clinic
Justin Mabry, Adjunct Percussion Instructor at Mars Hill University, was a featured clinician at UVA-Wise on Friday March 17th, 2017. Justin presented master classes on rudimental drumming, and both orchestral and world percussion methods. Special emphasis was placed on practicing efficiently, a subject that is…
Darin Wadley Joins Artist Roster
We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Darin Wadley has joined the roster of Grover Pro endorsers! Dr. Wadley is the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. He performs regularly as principal timpanist with the Sioux City Symphony and…
Oklahoma Day of Percussion Features Tommy Dobbs
Catch Grover Endorser Tommy Dobbs this Friday Oct. 10th at the Oklahoma Day of Percussion where he’ll be performing with Dr. Andy DeBoer (UAFS Professor of Clarinet) and then again with his percussion quartet, The Great Plains Percussion Group. Tommy will then head to the University…
Justin Alexander – Percussive Globe Trotter!
Starting Wednesday Endorsing Artist Justin Alexander will be travelling around the world (literally) giving recitals and masterclasses Here is his tour schedule: March 8: Master class and recital at the University of Arkansas – Ft. Smith March 10 – 11: Clinic and recital at the…
Jeremy Branson Joins Artist Roster!
We have just received the endorsement of Jeremy Branson, Associate Principal Percussionist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his appointment in the Pittsburgh Symphony, Branson was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.…
13th Ohio State Percussion Ensemble Festival
Last week I had the pleasure of participating as a clinician and adjudicator for The 13th High School Percussion Ensemble festival held at Ohio State University. Hosted by Dr. Susan Powell and the OSU Percussion Studio, over one hundred young percussionists had the opportunity to…
Why are we so out-of-tune? by Jeremy Epp
Good intonation is one of the pillars of musicianship for those of us who play pitched instruments. It’s also an area in which many timpanists struggle; it was one of the major issues which kept applicants from advancing at last year’s DSO timpani/percussion audition, and…
Neil Grover Percussion Masterclass Friday, Feb 3rd at University of Central Florida
Join me for a FREE percussion masterclass at the University of Central Florida this Friday at 11:30am. Hosted by Grover Endorser and Professor Kirk Gay at the University of Central Florida the class will cover the arts of tambourine & triangle playing. Bring your tambourine and…
Rim Guard™ Now Available!
Tired of accidentally “clicking” the rim while playing a roll at the drum’s edge? Want the security of a soft bumper but don’t want to continually have to add sticky moleskin over your rims? Drum roll please… INTRODUCING THE GROVER PRO RIM GUARD!!! Our Rim…
Tips for Moving to a New Country: What Gear to Bring by Chris Tusa
When I was preparing to move to China to start my new job with the Wuhan Philharmonic, I had a rather large list of concerns. There were the normal hassles of moving to any city, such as securing an apartment, getting phone and Internet set…
Third Coast Percussion Nominated For A Grammy!
We want to congratulate our friends know collectively as Third Coast Percussion for the recent Grammy nomination! Their nomination is for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance. Here’s what Colorado Public Radio said about the album: “Steve Reich turned 80 in October 2016. Third Coast Percussion kicks…
The Cymbal “Warm-Up” Myth
Increasingly, I am being asked about the need to “warm-up” cymbals. Time to put this myth to bed… Here is a recent response I sent addressing the question: Regarding cymbal “warming up”, I am not a fan of this concept. It seems to be an extension of…
South Carolina All-State Tune Up Day Saturday, December 10th
Join Grover Pro Endorser Professor Scott Herring and the University of South Carolina at the 2016 Percussion All-State Tune Up Day! Students will participate in an afternoon of free instruction and guidance which will be focused on the South Carolina All-State audition material. This is…
Amassing and Choosing the Most Appropriate Sounds Why am I collecting all these instruments? by Erick Saoud
People often ask me, “Why do you have so many tambourines?” Usually this question comes from a non-percussionist. It’s a good question—one that many of us have answered a thousand times. When discussing this topic with colleagues, I often think of an editorial written by…
Will James Signature Snare Drum Video
Click here for more information and to BUY NOW!
Guidelines for the New Theater Percussionist by Dr. Peter P. DeSalvo
Many percussionists delving into the musical theater world, for the first time, find this new venture a bit daunting. Often the classical training acquired doesn’t fully prepare one for playing a musical theater show. The evolving process of performance preparation goes far beyond the…
New PASIC Exhibit Turns Heads!
We just returned from PASIC 16 in Indianapolis where we unveiled our new GROVER “Wall of Sounds”. The WoS features many of our world famous percussion accessories including triangles & tambourines. Thousands in attendance had a chance to not only see, but play our world-class…
Sitting In With The Army!
Last Friday I had the great privilege of going to hear the United States Army Field Band. Not only is this a fantastic ensemble that performs at the very highest musical level, but, they are a great group of people too! The Army Field Band…
Brian Blume Joins Artist Roster
Percussionist, composer, and educator Brian Blume has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and studio percussionist, with groups such as the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and BluHill Percussion Duo. He recently won a position as section percussionist…
EQlipse Dual Apex™ Snare Drums Now Available! Change the sound and feel of the snare drum as simply as changing heads!
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! Change the sound and feel of the snare drum as simply as changing heads! The Grover Pro EQlipse is the ONLY drum that gives you TWO distinct bearing edges! Double 45-degree edge for a bright contemporary sound Rounded edge for that traditional,…
Grover Pro Wins DRUMMIE We're #1 in the Tambourines/Shakers Category !
What else is there to say? It’s nice to be on top!
Setting Goals In Percussion by Brian Blume
I recently had a discussion with the percussion studio at Southeastern University regarding goals. I am asking the students to set some goals for themselves and for the studio as a way to better understand their purpose and direction during their time at SEU —…
Unraveling the Mysteries of Rhythmic Notation
Join our friend and master percussionist Ken Crawford on October 16th @ 2pm for an insightful and educational session delving into rhythmic notation. The session will be held at Gelb Music in Redwood City, CA. Ken is the Director of Pacific Sticks percussion group. He…
Glowing Comments From Peter Erskine
We recently received this very nice email from legendary drummer/composer Peter Erskine; “Playing with the LA Phil tonight … Bernstein’s ‘Prelude, Fugue and Riffs,’ among other things. The BlocKnock makes it possible to play the first burning tempo part (piano and clarinet duet, etc) with…
Wei-Chen Lin Joins Artist Roster!
We welcome Shanghai Symphony Percussionist, Wei-Chen Lin, to our roster of top percussion artists! In addition to his duties in the orchestra, he is forging an active solo percussion career. An active arranger, his pieces for marimba are published by Edition Svitzer in Denmark. According to…
Catch The Kraken Quartet This Fall!
The innovative and entertaining Kraken Quartet will be presenting a number of free shows this fall. Be sure to catch them if you are in the Austin, TX area – you DON’T want to miss these guys! September 19th…
From The Archives…
I found something interesting while recently going through some of my old correspondence. Here is a postcard that I received in 1992 after meeting famed Indiana University Professor George Gaber. George and I studied with the same teacher in N.Y., Joe Castka. Joe played percussion…
Will James To Join Missouri Faculty
It was announced that Grover Endorser and St. Louis Symphony Principal Percussionist, Will James, will be joining the music department faculty at the University of Missouri. Will has played with many outstanding ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, San…
Matt Greenwood Presents At The N. Florida Day Of Percussion
Join Grover Pro Endorser Matt Greenwood on September 10, 2016 at the Escambia (FL) H.S. for a robust day of clinics, workshops and percussive fun! Also appearing will be the Dr. Luis Rivera and the South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band drum line. The doors open…
Sound Advice For Timpanists by Andrew Proctor
What is the most important aspect of playing timpani? My answer is tone production because without quality tone production from the timpani you might as well play your part on card board boxes. Let’s look at a couple of exercises that will help every timpanist…
Swingin Bartok
The Bartok “Concerto for Orchestra” was commission by Serge Koussevitzky and premiered by the Boston Symphony in 1943. While studying the timpani part with Vic Firth, I remember him telling me how Bartok was at the rehearsals for the premier, sitting and commenting from the first…
Boston’s Historic Drum Makers By Lee Vinson
At the turn of the 20th century, Boston, Massachusetts was the drum building capitol of the world. Nowhere else in America did there exist a city so densely packed with music and musical instrument manufacturers in the early 1900s. Leedy of Indianapolis was the largest…
Factory Visit
Our day was brightened by the presence of Desiree Glazier-Nazro who is a Boston based percussionist and music educator. Desiree not only holds the distinction of a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from Boston Conservatory, but, she is also an accomplished entrepreneur and steel drum player too!…
GET A FREE TAMBOURINE MOUNTING CLAMP! Our BEST back-to-school promo ever.
Purchase ANY pro level tambourine and receive a tambourine mounting clamp FREE! This is a $49 value… Available at participating Grover Pro retailers. Hurry, offer ends Aug. 31st!
The New Will James Signature Snare Drum!
Whether you’re an aspiring professional on the audition circuit or a seasoned pro still searching for that perfect drum, the Will James Signature Snare Drum will help you sound your absolute best! St. Louis Principal Percussionist Will James challenged us to create a snare drum…
Jesse Sieff Dynamic Demo of G3T Snare Drum!
Check out virtuoso drummer Jesse Sieff playing one of our new G3T Snare Drums with ITaP snare technology! Jesse has recently accepted a position as a snare drummer and active duty Marine with the “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, stationed at…
Whatever The Gig Requires – Percussionists Perform
As a professional percussionist for over 35 years I’ve been asked to play some really strange items. At one performance of a Lukas Foss piece I was assigned the task of breaking glass beer bottles into a metal garbage can! Not only was it loud,…
NEW Custom Shop Drum Finishes
We’ve added many dynamic new finishes to our Grover Custom Drums! Check out this short video showing some of the new choices.
New Spanish Silver Tambourine Video
Click here for more information on our new Spanish Silver tambourine!
Julie Hill Appointed Principal Percussionist!
We’re pleased to announce that Grover Pro Endorsing Artist Dr. Julie Hill (Chair, Department of Music & Director of Percussion Studies – University of Tennessee at Martin) has been appointed to the principal percussion chair of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra (Paducah, Kentucky) under the baton of…
Pioneers Of Percussion Debut
Our good friend and endorser, Joby Burgess, is hard to keep track of. He is touring all around the globe as one of the premier solo percussion artists. Joby’s newest endeavor, Pioneers of Percussion, is a recital program by Joby Burgess that brings together solo works by…
Bill Shaltis Joins Memphis University Music Faculty
Grover Pro Endorser Dr. Bill Shaltis has been appointed Assistant Professor of Percussion at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, University of Memphis, starting fall 2016. In addition to teaching at the University, Bill is the timpanist with the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra…
Grover Pro Tambourines Heard On Top Country Hits!
I met drummer Fred Eltringham last summer while playing a concert which featured music super-star Sheryl Crow. Fred provided the rock solid backbeat and rhythmic drive behind Sheryl. Fred and I got to talking after rehearsal and I offered to send him one of our Studio-Pro…
Caixa Trio Performs In Peru
Julie Davila, Amy Smith & Julie Hill – collectively known as the Caixa Trio – are performing in the Festival International de Cajon Peruano. These three outstanding women are not only top professional percussionists, but, they are leaders in the field of music education as…
The Sounds Of Science Evelyn Glennie Working On New Project
We recently received a very nice note from our dear friend, and one of the world’s preeminent solo percussionists, Dame Evelyn Glennie. She wrote, “I’ve been enjoying using your wonderful anvils for a project I and two others have instigated called the ‘Sounds of Science’!”…
line upon line Celebrates Steve Reich Noted Composer Turns 80!
Join celebrated percussion group “line upon line” for the first installment of a 2-weekend, mini-festival celebrating the 80th birthday of one of America’s greatest musical minds, Steve Reich. Steve Reich has been called “our greatest living composer” (The New York Times), “America’s greatest living composer” (The Village…
Furman & Clemson Host Masterclasses
I recently returned from a wonderful trip to South Carolina where I presented masterclasses for The Governor’s School, Clemson University and Furman University. I was hosted by Everett Beale, Dr. Paul Byer and Dr. Omar Carmenates respectively. I have to say that I was very…
Career Possibilities: What a Music Degree Doesn’t Tell You by Myranda Harris
Many music programs across the U.S. continue to perpetuate unrealistic assumptions about being a music performer, while few musicians ever achieve a sustainable income solely from music performance. There are fewer full-time positions for conservatory-trained performers than ever before, as local music organizations continue to…
Spanish Silver Tambourine Now Available!
One of the distinguishing features of the traditional Spanish tambourine (sometimes referred to as a Basque or Gypsy tambourine) are jingles that are fluted (or crinkled). This effectively dries up the resonance of the instrument while at the same time adding a focused richness to…
Alan Stewart Visits Factory
A rising star on the percussion scene, Alan came to us on the recommendation of St. Louis Principal Percussionist Will James. He visited us in his quest for the “Holy Grail” of triangles. Alan came to the right place! In addition to being seen in the…
ChromaTone™ Timpani Mallet Video
Click here to learn more about ChromaTone™ mallets and to BUY NOW!
Suffolk County Day of Percussion
I urge my fellow Long Islanders to be sure to attend the Suffolk County Day of Percussion, presented by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association. it will be held on February 26t, 2016 at Sayville High School 4pm – 9pm. Our good friends Pete DeSalvo…
Dr. Ben Stiers Joins Artist Roster
We pleased to welcome Dr. Ben Stiers to our roster of illustrious percussive artists! Ben is is Assistant Director of Bands, Athletic Bands and Percussion at Illinois State University, where he directs the Pep Band and Drumline and serves as assistant director of the Big Red…
Dr. Julie Hill Recieves 2016 Educate Honoree Award This award honors accomplishments that enhance educational offerings and diverse learning environments
In nominating her for the award, University of Tennessee at Martin Interim Chancellor Robert Smith attributed Hill’s teaching to the University becoming a national draw for young performance musicians. “Her modeling of the way has led to a reinvigorating of the entire department and attraction of…
New Modular SHaKERZ Now Available
Grover Pro Percussion is shaking up the music world once again! Our innovative line of modular SHaKERZ™ provides an exciting range of new and traditional sounds with unprecedented performance versatility. Whether in the studio or out on the road, SHaKERZ™ are a vital addition for…
Our NEW Flagship Concert SD ITaP™ Snare Technology Unveiled
Our innovative Independent Tension and Pressure snare system sets a new standard for concert snare drum technology! No more compromising on dynamic response – just “dial-in” exact snare pressure and tension independently. Who said cable snares aren’t sensitive?
We Welcome Two New Endorsers
We are pleased to announce the addition of Joe Porter & Justin Mabry to our roster of esteemed percussive artists! Joe Porter, a member of the World Percussion Group is Principal Percussionist with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra in Canada. He also holds the post of Professor…
Universal Percussion To Distribute Grover Products
We’re happy to announce the addition of Universal Percussion to our list of U.S. distributors! Universal Percussion was started by Tom Shelley in 1976 and has grown to be one of the largest US based percussion focused distributors. They handle many of the top brands…
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Have you seen the new Star Wars movie? If you have, you’ve heard more than a few Grover Pro products being played on John Williams’ superb soundtrack! Apparently the force is with us…
Taking A College Audition? 7 Things You’ll be Judged On During Auditions by Brandon Arvay
College professors will gather as much information about prospective students as possible to determine if the student will be a good fit for their program. For students, the college audition process can be a scary endeavor with a lot of unknowns. The following areas of…
Robert McCormick Receives Award PAS Recognizes Lifetime Achievement In Education
The recipients of the “Lifetime Achievement” award have demonstrated the highest ideals and professional integrity in percussion education and pedagogy with a significant history of exceptional and/or innovative teaching practices. They have strong reputations in areas such as (but not limited to) private teaching, ensemble…
Introducing SHaKERZ…modular shakers easy to connect, fun to play
Our new SHaKERZ™ are small hand-held shakers, 3 models – each with a distinct sonority. What’s different is that they connect, end to end, to form a tube shaker! Easily configurable, now you can create your own sonority by just connecting different combinations. Watch the…
Our Drums Deemed “Invaluable”!
Chris Tusa, Principal Percussionist with the Wuhan (China) Philharmonic, just sent us some glowing feedback on their 3″ x 14″ Grover Pro KeeGee Super Piccolo Snare Drum! He writes, “…this snare drum has become invaluable in the past few months! We have used it on…
G3 Concert Snare Drum Prices Lowered The World's Best Concert Drums Are More Affordable Than Ever!
We’re always striving to improve our products, not only in form and function, but also with an eye on value. Soon we will be releasing the details of our dramatically redesigned G3 line of concert snare drums. In an unprecedented move, we are also reducing…
Ring In The New Year! 2016
From all of us here at Grover Pro, we wish you a joyous and prosperous start to 2016. Thank you to everyone who has helped make us one of the leading percussion companies in the world! We have many new and exciting products on the…
Grover Tambo Sighted At Lennon’s 75th
In demand session percussionist, Taku, is a busy guy. Along with our friend Kenny Aronoff, he performed as part of the house band on the John Lennon 75th Birthday Celebration at Madison Sq. Garden in NYC. The show was broadcast worldwide on CBS. Here’s a…
Sound Production On Percussion Instruments presented by Will James
Be sure to catch St. Louis Principal Percussionist Will James at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic-10:30am on Thursday December 17th in McCormick Place – Room 179. Will will cover good sound production concepts on mallet instruments, snare drum, tambourine & cymbals. Click here to…
Vic Firth’s “Solo Timpanist” Etude Studies with Bill Shaltis
Vic’s “Solo Timpanist” is an iconic timpani book that contains some of the best etudes written for the student timpanist. I was fortunate to have worked through this book in private lessons with Vic while a student at The New England Conservatory. Boise Symphony Timpanist…
Grover Pro Scores For Mahler 9
It always encouraging to get positive feedback from dedicated percussionists and I was thrilled to get a very nice letter from my old friend George Mardinly. George and I met while Boston Symphony fellows at Tanglewood in the 80s, subsequently George had a professional career…
The Fine Art Of Practice by Karen Ervin
I first met percussionist Karen Ervin when she came to Boston in the early 80s with the National tour of “Pirates of Penzance”. She astonished me with her non-stop virtuosic mallet playing throughout the show (it was a revamped Broadway production). We became instant friends,…
In Tune With Your Timpani Ear Training and Sound Production Strategies For The Student Percussionist
Going to the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic? Be sure to catch Endorser Bill Shaltis at Midwest – Room W183 on 12.16.15, 12-1PM. Bill will present an informative and highly useful clinic on timpani tuning. Tuning and tone production is a skill set that is…
Grover Endorser Performs @ “Sinatra 100”
We sighted Grover endorser Patrick Bowen in a star-studded, Grammy-produced tribute show at the Wynn Las Vegas resort-casino, which aired last night on CBS. Among the stars paying tribute to Frank Sinatra were Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Nick Jonas, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Adam…
Gregg Koyle Factory Visit
Santa Fe Opera percussionist Gregg Koyle took time out of his visit to Boston and stopped by our shop. In addition to his work with the Santa Fe Opera, Gregg is the Principal Timpanist and Personnel Manager of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. Gregg asked specifically…
Endorser Taku Performs at Kennedy Center Awards
Our friend and endorser Taku recently performed on percussion at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, honoring Eddie Murphy. He was in the house band alongside Shawn Pelton (SNL) on drums and Hagar Ben Ari (The Late…
CUSTOMIZED TAMBOURINES NOW AVAILABLE Over 64.2 Undecillion Possibilities!
For the first time in the company’s history we’re offering a tambourine customization service! This unique service grants the percussive artist a hand in the design and creation of a personalized, one-of-a-kind custom tambourine. On our tambourine customization page you are able to select from a range…
Welcome To Our New Website!
Look around our redesigned website and you’ll notice that it is sleeker, faster and chock full of more product information, artist news, educational downloads and videos than ever before! The new site has been optimized for mobile viewing, this way you can keep up with…
35th Anniversary “Limited Edition” Tambourine
2015 marks our 35th year in business. We’ve grown from a basement operation to one of the most respected percussion manufacturers in the world! To commemorate our milestone achievement, we have created a special “Limited Edition” 35th Anniversary Tambourine. We will only produce 60 of…
Visitors from Hawaii Tour Factory
Today we were visited by Grover Pro Endorsing Artist Zack Morita who came to Boston with a group of his students. Zack is a leading music educator in Hawaii who has had groups perform at WGI and at the Hawaii State Capital. The students are…
Kraken Quartet Joins Endorser Roster
We’re thrilled to announce that the Austin based group, Kracken Quartet, joins our esteemed roster of top percussive artists! Chris Demetriou, Andrew Dobos, Taylor Eddinger, and Sean Harvey Their new video “Chance The Dog” is a blend of many different genres of music. Sit back,…
Calling Dr. Rob…
Nerves can affect you in all sorts of ways, like making you shaky and sweaty while “under the microscope” at auditions. Our friend and Metropolitan Opera percussionist Rob Knopper has developed an effective method that works to overcome nerves and he’s teaching it free, live,…
Factory Visitors from MIT
MIT percussionist (and plasma scientist) Mark Chilenski and Dr. Fred Harris (conductor of the MIT Wind Ensemble) stopped by to talk to me about our Brass Tubular Triangle Beaters. They seemed interested, so I gave them a tour of the shop, taking time to let…
Cangelosi Joins James Madison Faculty
Grover artist, Casey Cangelosi, was just appointed Director of Percussion Studies at James Madison University. The position, formerly held by another Grover endorser, Bill Rice, oversees a world recognized percussion education department. Casey, who has been teaching at Concord University, will be starting this coming…
Boston’s 4th Of July Celebration
This Saturday will be my 36th consecutive year that I am performing as part of the Boston Pops July 4th Concert on Boston’s scenic Esplanade. Yesterday I received a call from a reporter at Boston.com who interviewed me for her article on Arthur Fiedler. You…
We’re Nominated For 7 Drummies!
DRUM! Magazine has announced their 2015 reader’s choice awards and we’ve received 7 nominations in 4 categories. This is the first time we’ve received seven nominations and we’re thrilled! NOMINATIONS Grover Pro Percussion Musicians Accessory Tray™ Grover Pro Kee-Gee™ Piccolo Snarer Drum Grover Pro GSX™…
Sheryl Crow Presented with Studio Pro Tambourine
Last Friday night I played a concert at Tanglewood with the Boston Pops. The featured artist was Sheryl Crow. Did you know that Sheryl is a former music educator and was a composition major in college? I had the opportunity to present Sheryl with one…
Get A Free Skype Snare Drum Lesson!
I will give you a 30 minute FREE LESSON you purchase any new Grover Pro snare drum from an authorized retailer or a Grover Custom snare drum between June 5 and July 5, 2015! Your lesson will be 30 minutes long via Skype. Lessons will…
FACTORY VISIT
Berklee College of Music percussion student Grace Herzog visited us today. Grace is a talented, creative percussionist who also builds instruments! I first met her when I gave a speech to the Berklee student orchestra a few weeks back. Today, Grace brought her “CLAY MARIMBA”…
The Melodic Snare Drummer
My good friend and colleague, Ron Tierno, recently sent me a copy of his fabulous new book, “The Melodic Snare Drummer“. Ron takes a uniquely musical approach to his playing, which is reflected in the “play along” exercises contained in his book. I recently presented…
Grover Products Shipping To China
We all hear about all the products imported into the USA from China, well, here’s a story of American made products being exported TO China. The Wuhan Philharmonic recently requisitioned a number of our products, including our snare drum, tambourine, triangle and accessories. Principal Timpanist…
Women In Percussion
Over the past 85 years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of women entering the percussion world. Our friend, Meghan Aube’s, doctoral dissertation on the subject is a comprehensive study into the rising involvement and accomplishments of women within the percussion community.…
Hear Us On New Diana Krall Tracks
Virtuoso percussionist Rafael Padillo sent us this link to a new track from Diana Krall. Rafael’s subtle playing of our tambo on this track is both elegant and effective!
Which Model Tambourine Should I Buy?
One of the most common statements we hear from percussion students is, “My teacher told me to purchase a tambourine, but I don’t know which one to choose“. Given the fact that we offer 28 different models this is not surprising! Our time-tested model T2/GS…
Holiday Vibes From Dan Moore
We just received some very uplifting music and comments from Professor Dan Moore. Dan is a terrific performer who also teaches at the University of Iowa. From Dan, “Just wanted to share this little video with you from my 8 Days of Christmas Project. Today’s…
Hybrid Artist Visits Grover Pro
Greg Jukes visited our facility today to check out some of our newest products. Greg recently moved to Boston with his trio, The Fourth Wall Ensemble, from Indianapolis. The Fourth Wall is a self described “Hybrid Arts” ensemble, mixing theater, music and more. Check out…
New KeeGee 3×14 Piccolo Snare Drum
One of the most talked about products at PASIC was our new 3X14 piccolo snare drum. Named “KeeGee” after a famous orchestral work that contains a very soft and challenging snare drum part, this drum symbolizes the epitome of sensitivity and articulation! Used by St.…
PASIC ’14 – A Smash!
Chalk up another great PASIC success for us! During the three days in Indy many percussive celebrities came to see us; Alan Abel, John Beck, Bob Becker, Rob Knopper, Arnie Lang, Mike Rosen, Gordon Stout, Casey Cangelosi and Bill Moersch, all stopped by the booth.…
Catch Us At PASIC In Indy
Please join us for our 33nd exhibit at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis! We’ll be at the Indy Convention Center from Nov. 19 – Nov. 21 in Booths #336 AND #944-946. Yep, we’re splitting up and showing all our mallets, including the…
An Organized Percussion Section: The Key To Success by John R. Beck
Getting Organized. We all aspire to it. We know it will make our jobs easier. We know that our students will learn more quickly and become better performers. Then, if we are successful by May, a new group of students shows up the following year…
Grover Pro Sightings
As our tagline states, Grover Pro products are found in the world’s finest concert halls being played by the world’s finest percussionists! Here are pics of our products recently being used by two of our top professionals.
Thanks For Chiming In
A number of percussionists have asked us to place an identification marking on the soft side of our Two-Tone Chime mallet. This makes sense and clearly helps distinguish between hard/soft sides. OK gang…here it is! (And just in time for all those holiday concerts.) Happy…
Learn Why Our Tambourines Are Considered The World’s Finest!
It’s no secret that our concert tambourines are revered by percussionists around the globe! What you may not know is that we have pioneered many new features and have literally redefined the standard for concert tambourines. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO EXPLAINING AND…
Percussion Accessories: Musical Instruments or Weapons of Mass Destruction?
A common mistake made by non-percussionist music educators is the relegation of weaker percussion students to the bass drum and cymbal chairs. While it may seem reasonable to assign the “harder” parts to stronger percussion students, in actuality it is the accessory instruments that are…
Looking For A Fun Tambourine Duet?
Our good friend, Bobby Lopez, has written Conversation for two tambourines, a fun duet for concert tambourines that showcases techniques (both commonplace and otherwise) often found in orchestral tambourine playing. The piece is a running dialog between the two players as they execute articulated grace…
Fact – We Manufacture More Tambourine Models Than Any Other Company!
I have been asked to clarify the difference between the various tambourine models that we have been hand making since 1980. Here is a concise list of features of each of the 8 different lines: Projection Plus • Original Grover tambourine – General Purpose Instrument…
Not Just In The Concert Hall…
Grover Pro Products are used world-wide in a myriad of performance venues including on the field! This summer, both the Santa Clara Vanguard and the Bluecoats are playing our products while touring with the DCI Tour of Champions.
Timpani Calisthenics
Here’s a free download of my timpani warm-up exercises. They have been developed over many years for my personal use. The focus is on hand/arm conditioning with an emphasis on stick crossing. Timpani Calisthenics can be played by timpanists of all levels. DOWNLOAD TIMPANI CALISTHENICS
Road Case Featured In Modern Drummer
Modern Drummer is featuring our new Model PRC Percussion Road Case. CLICK HERE TO READ THE PRESS.
New England Percussion Institute
I just returned from presenting a master-class at The New England Percussion Institute. Their beautiful lakeside location is ideally situated at the Snow Pond Music Festival in Maine. Participants get an intensive six days of study geared to high-level undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students. Program…
Follow Us On Instagram
We are giving away a FREE set of Grover Pro Club Combo Snare Wires (MSRP $48) to a lucky follower! To enter the contest, follow our Instagram page (@groverpro), then re-post the top picture tagging us and also using #grovergiveaway in the comments. In two…
McCormick Group Wins Global Music Award
Congrats go out to Endorser Bob McCormick and his McCormick Percussion Group, who placed in the GMA “Outstanding Achievement” winning both Silver and Bronze awards. The Global Music Awards goal is to celebrate truly independent musicians. GMA is a showcase for original music, unique voices…
Dr. Tom Toner Chooses G3 Concert Snare
Endorser Thomas Toner visited our factory last Friday. He came in search of a new concert snare drum. He left with one of our new G3 Symphonic Models. Tom is Chairman of the music department at the University of Vermont. He holds a DMA from…
Why Buy American? Our tax dollars go to support school music.
I will be performing with members of the Boston Pops next week in a ceremony honoring those killed and injured last year in the Boston Marathon bombings. Knowing that we live in a land of caring citizens who cherish the tenets of freedom gives all…
Why We Use White Tambourine Heads
I’ve been asked the difference between white and so-called “translucent” tambourine heads. There is actually quite a big difference and our choice is deliberate and significant. All natural skins are processed to remove hair, fatty deposits and other organic matter. After processing, the heads are…
Lt. Dan Band Plays Grover Studio Pro!
Grover Endorser and percussionist extraordinaire, Beth Gottlieb, tours with Gary Sinese and the Lt. Dan Band. Gary is best known for his award-winning role as Lt. Dan in the blockbuster movie “Forest Gump”. Beth was one of the first players to add our new Studio…
TMEA Convention Bustling With Excitement!
This week we’re exhibiting at the massive Texas Music Educators Association Convention held in vibrant San Antonio. Our exhibit has been constantly busy with music educators wanting to speak with us about improving their percussion arsenal. We’re taking the opportunity to roll-out a few new…
Top Mexican Percussionist Joins Artist Roster
We pleased to welcome Oscar Salazar to our roster of world-class performers. Oscar received his bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the Mexico State Conservatory of Music, where he graduated with an Honorable Mention. In 2000 he joined the percussion section with the Queretaro State…
Percussion Soloist Joby Burgess Interview
Grover Endorser Joby Burgess was interviewed for I Care If You Listen, an online magazine about classical music, art and technology. It’s an interesting read, especially for aspiring percussion soloists! CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW
Join Us At TMEA
We will be exhibiting at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio from February 13-15, 2014. On display will be many of our new products for 2014 including Chromatone™ timpani mallets; GSX™ Concert Snare Drums; 3 new model SV Tambourines; and our newest…
WE’RE HOLDING 2013 PRICING !
It’s tough enough to be a working musician without having to endure continually rising prices of sheet music and musical instruments. Let’s not even talk about the ridiculously inflated price of a college education! We were shocked to learn that one of our competitors is…
Highlights of 2013
We close the year with a look back on the major accomplishments made by the Grover Pro team: • New Bantamweight Series Tambourines • New Pro Musical Anvils • New Tambourine Mounting Clamp • New Castanet Frame • New Studio Pro Tambourine • New Brass…
Preparing for Life as a College Percussion Major by Prof. James Campbell
The college-bound percussionist can face some exciting challenges as they prepare for a professional career. Percussion crosses all musical boundaries and percussion students have the widest possible vocabulary of instruments and musical genres to master – more than any other instrumentalist. Although some students don’t…
Update From Danny & Beth Gottlieb
We just received updates from Danny and Beth Gottlieb. Beth is currently playing with the “Disney Candlelight Orchestra” along with fellow Grover Endorser Kirk Gay. Danny Gottlieb is one the most recognized drummers in the world. He is best known as the original drummer in…
The Percussion Section – A Minor Miracle by Joseph Jones
I’m often asked if there are different personalities among musicians who play different instruments. It is an extremely difficult question to answer; after all, it is hard to stop laughing when one is laughing that hard! To explain this to someone who has spent little…
Ensemble Evolution Endorses Grover Pro
Ensemble Evolution is an international ensemble exploring the future of percussion through composition, education and technology. Taking elements of jazz and contemporary classical music, Ensemble Evolution creates musical experiments by incorporating improvisation, new media, and music technology into their original concept of a 21st century…
New Cangelosi Work Written for Grover Pro
Casey Cangelosi is a rising new star on the percussion horizon. He is making quite a name for himself as a “triple threat” – composer, performer and educator. I was so impressed with Casey’s work that I asked him to write a piece for some…
Advice To College Music Students by Michael D’Angelo
I started teaching at the University of North Carolina Wilmington right after finishing my Master’s degree at Indiana University in 2012. While I wasn’t expecting to get back into academia so quick, it was enlightening to get the teacher’s perspective, especially in a smaller school…
Laura Jordan Factory Visit
We were visited today by NYC based percussionist Laura Jordan. New York based percussionist Laura Jordan has performed in Europe, Canada, Mexico and throughout the United States, in venues including Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Hall, the Massachusetts MoCa, the Skirball Center of Los Angeles, the…
FACTORY VISIT BY URI PERCUSSION
Today, we hosted Charles Kalajian and the fine group of percussion students currently studying at the University of Rhode Island. After touring our factory, learning about our computerized drum shell machining center, and, having a delicious lunch, the students were “set loose” in our factory…
PASIC ’13 – Great Success!
We just returned from our 32nd consecutive Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and we couldn’t be happier. Throughout the three-day event our booth was mobbed…MOBBED! All of our newest products were received with great excitement and enthusiasm. Both the new brass tubular triangle beaters, and…
Kirk Gay Joins Artist Roster
Kirk is Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies and Instructor of Music at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. He also directs the “Black Steel” steel drum ensemble. As a composer and arranger he has works published by Tapspace Publications, Alfred Publications and Pan Press…
Ensemble Evolution Factory Visit
We were visited by Maria Finkeleheimer, Jacob Remington and Charles Martin, collectively known as Ensemble Evolution. These three talented young percussionists met in Sweden while studying with our good friend Anders Astrand. On Thursday, November 14th they will be giving an exciting, multi-media presentation at…
VISIT US AT PASIC!
Please join us for our 32nd exhibit at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis. We’ll be at the Indy convention center from Nov. 14 – Nov. 17 in Booths #1046/48. You’ll have a chance for “hands on” sessions with all of our products…
St. Louis Symphony Principal Percussionist Visits Factory
Grover Endorser and St. Louis Symphony Principal Percussionist, Will James, visited our factory last Wednesday. Will came by to check out our new Bantamweight tambourines, musical anvils and other new Grover Pro products. While here Will gave us a sneek preview of his upcoming book,…
Gwen Burgett Joins Artist Roster!
Gwendolyn Burgett is assistant professor of percussion at the Michigan State University College of Music. She began her musical career studying piano and violin at the age of two. As a percussionist, she has maintained a career as an active solo, chamber, and orchestral musician.…
Dr. Grant Dalton Joins Roster
We’re pleased to announce that Dr.Grant Dalton, professor of percussion studies at Samford University, has joined our list of leading percussive artists. Dr. Dalton directs the Samford Percussion Ensemble and Samford Steeland the university’s steel drum band. He is also the assistant athletic band director…
Grover Custom Free Die-Cast Rims Upgrade!
We are offering a FREE UPGRADE to Chrome Die-Cast Rims until the end of August 2013! Just select Chrome Die-Cast Rims when building your drum! Click here to build!
DRUM! Magazine Meet Your Maker Online Edition
Check it out! Meet Your Maker: Grover Pro Percussion
Factory Visit
Maybe it’s the heat, but seems like everyone is delirious about visit the Grover factory this summer! Today we hosted (l to r) Josiah Rushing, Amy Lynn barber and John Evans. Amy Lynn Barber is Professor of Music and former Dean of the School of…
Factory Visit
We received an impromptu visit from percussionist, conductor, music educator and Apple Genius Bar Specialist, Fai Fai Ho. Fai Fai is a graduate of the University of South Florida where he studied with Professor Bob McCormick. He currently plays, teaches music in an elementary school…
Ten Useful Tips For Percussionists
by Dr. John Beckford
Assist your colleagues in striking the stage following a percussion recital — even it you didn’t play. This is common courtesy and will be greatly appreciated when you are the performer. Arrive far enough in advance of a rehearsal to guarantee that all equipment is…
Casey Cangelosi Demonstrates Pro Musical Anvils
Soloist, educator, and composer Casey Cangelosi is writing a percussion work incorporating many Grover Pro products. He recently sent us a short except of the piece that demonstrates our new anvils. He wrote, “Man, the anvils are freaking A M A Z I N G,…
Boston Conservatory Factory Visit
Three current and former students from The Boston Conservatory Of Music stopped by to check out our new anvils and other Grover Pro products. The BoCo curriculum includes marimba studies with Nancy Zeltsman, percussion with Sam Solomon and timpani with John Grimes. While at the…
Endorser Clinic At Southern Illinois University
St. Louis Principal Percussionist, Will James, will be presenting at the Southern Illinois University Summer Percussion Institute. When: June 11, 2013: 10 am Title of Clinic: Preparation: How to approach a new work on Day One Contact: Daniel R. Smithiger Percussion/Director of Basketball Bands Department…
Successfully Show Your Stuff by Grant Dalton
As percussionists we are called on to play countless instruments and their appropriate styles. Here, from Grant Dalton, are six important tips to consider when called on to play a “Broadway” type show: 1. Find out everything that you can about the show that you…
Dr. Guy Gauthreaux II Joins Artist Roster
Principal Timpanist of the U.S. Navy Band (ret.), Dr. Gauthreaux is a sought after clinician and percussion educator. He has presented percussion master classes at the University of Maryland, Howard University, Louisiana State University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has also been…
SilverFox Ridiculous Stick Tricks Winners Announced!
Click below to see the winner and runners-up! Thanks to everyone who entered, everyone who voted, and everyone who helped publicize this contest. Stay tuned for another SilverFox event this summer!
Pace-setting Percussionists
Percussion Trio Line Upon Line’s busy concert season comes to a close with performances at the Menil Collection, the Protos Festival, and an appearance at the Victoria Bach Festival. This summer the group will begin work on four new commissions, soon to be added to…
Five Tips To Perfecting A “Thumb Roll”
Many young percussionists have trouble executing a tambourine thumb or finger roll. While it is a relatively easy technique to master, students often ignore spending the time necessary to develop good technique. Here are a few tips to expedite the learning process: Keep the thumb…
Record Set @ CT Drum Show!
We just returned from our first appearance the Connecticut Drum Show and we couldn’t be more excited! Attendance was strong, the mood was upbeat, and sales were brisk! This was our first “outing” of the dynamic, new, Grover Custom drums – the response can only…
Catch Us In Connecticut!
We’ll be on hand exhibiting a gorgeous array of our new custom drums from our GroverCustom.com shop. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday…. at the Connecticut Vintage & Custom Drum Show! In addition to getting a chance to play on our new custom drums, clinics will be presented…
Robert McCormick Featured on TampaClassical.com
Back in 1931 the term “Ionization” wasn’t a common household term. It was, however, the title of a pioneering piece of music by Edgar Varese that helped launch the realm of Percussion Ensemble music as a genre in its own right. “Ionization has been recognized…
Announcing the SilverFox Ridiculous Stick Tricks Contest!
Percussion Playing: Body and Soul by Dan Moore
My percussion program here at the University of Iowa has a tradition of beginning each semester with our own little “convocation,” that sets the tone for the semester. We use it to formalize our goals and get everyone on the same page for how we…
Plan For Success by Jim Dallas
Knowing that many of you may hope to enter the arena as a freelance player sometime in the near future, I have a few suggestions which I hope will improve your chances for success. Although the highest playing levels are necessary to be in a…
Do Yourself A Favor by John Parks
One of the biggest lessons I learned out of school was that subbing in professional orchestras did not mean playing snare drum, xylophone, or bells–or timpani. It meant being really, really good at the stuff I never played in lessons (other than for audition preparation)–triangle,…
SNEEK PEEK AT OUR NEW GSX CONCERT SNARE DRUM!
Here’s a quick look at our new GSX entry level concert snare drum. Designed for those players who want a terrific sounding concert snare without having to worry about multiple adjustments. Our Silver/Bronze snares combine silver wire and bronze cable, pre-adjusted to provide optimal body…
NEW “CUSTOM EXPRESS” OPTION
As part of the launch of our GroverCustom.com site, drummers who want custom features with immediate delivery can purchase “pre-configured” drums in our new “Grover Custom Express” shop! These Grover Custom Drums are demo models, “one-offs” and photo samples. They represent a broad range of…
Five Percussionist “Must Haves” by Peter DeSalvo
Towel– Having a tray to place mallets, sticks, beaters and small percussion instruments on is an important accessory for a percussionist, but unless it’s carpeted or foamed it could be a source of noise that is unmusical, offensive and unwanted. Having a towel (preferably not…
Five Hints For Playing Concert Bass Drum by Robert McCormick
Here are some tip for playing bass drum – aka:gran cassa, grosse trommel, grosse caisse Tune the drum as low as possible without sounding flabby. Most people tune the beating head looser than the vibrating head. The important thing to remember is not to set…
You Gotta Do More Than Pray
Grover endorser and motivational artist Mark Shelton is a contributor to the latest edition of “Worship Musician Magazine”. CLICK HERE TO READ “TRIANGLE & SUSPENDED CYMBAL BASICS”
A Percussionists Guide To Subbing A Show by David Edricks
As percussionists, one of the most challenging skills to learn is subbing a percussion book for a show. It is a skill set that you must master to be fully prepared for the career challenges that lie ahead. In most situations, you will be expected…
GROVER CUSTOM SITE LAUNCHED!
For over 30 years, we have manufactured some of the finest, most innovative concert snare drums for percussionists across the globe. In the past few years many drummers have asked us to design & fabricate custom snare drums. While we have never promoted this part…
Playing Concert Castanets – No Time To Be “Macho”
You may be aware that castanets entered the symphonic orchestrator’s toolbox via Spanish flamenco music. Along with the sound of the 5-string guitar, the “clacking” of the castanets defines the Andalusian flavor associated with flamenco music. Traditionally, one or more flamenco dancers play the castanets.…
Mallet Selection Guidelines by David Collier
One of the most important musical choices a percussionist makes—regardless of the instrument—is mallet selection. Selecting the most appropriate mallet for a passage makes all the difference but with the hundreds of mallets available, how does one make this choice. Here are some principals that…
Steve Fitch Joins Artist Roster
Steve Fitch, born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, plays percussion, associate principal timpani and drum set with The Phoenix Symphony. He has performed in the Drum Corps International Championship finals, and attained sixth place in DCI’s “Snare Drum Individuals.” Steve earned his bachelor’s of music degree…
Playing Mallet Instruments Musically by Dean Anderson
While there are a number of different mallet instruments that we perform on as percussionists (marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, chimes, etc.), there is one important aspect to include in your performance; playing with phrasing and musicality. Of course, this is easy to say, though, hard to…
Factory Visit
Our good friend, Bill Manley, stopped by the Grover factory yesterday to select a pair of our new Pro Concert Castanets. Bill, a very busy Boston based percussionist, is heading south next week to play the season with the Sarasota Opera, where he holds Principal…
Six Triangle Tips From Chris DeChiara
Always hold the triangle between the music and conductor where you can see both without moving your head. Experiment with different playing areas-and the amount of beater surface-to get the optimal sound for the specific passage. Experiment with different triangles to get the optimal sound…
How to prepare for a first orchestra (or other) rehearsal by Angie Nelson
Prepare your music at home first. Obtain your parts from the orchestra or ensemble that is employing you. Don’t feel bad about bothering a principal percussionist or librarian. It’s their job to get you the music so you have enough time to prepare it thoughtfully.…
Matt Darling Joins Artist Roster
Matthew Darling is a Professor of Music at California State University, Fresno, where he has taught percussion since 1991. In addition to teaching, Matt is the principal timpanist/percussionist with Music in the Mountains (Nevada City, CA), a position he has held since 1987. Matt is…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US!
On behalf of all the staff and craftspeople here at Grover Pro Percussion, I wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season! Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Factory Visit
Today we were visited by top percussionists Carl “Butch” Small and Marcus Hunter, who were both in town performing with the legendary Motown artists the “Four Tops” and “The Temptations”. These two dynamic musicians have years of experience recording and backing top artists like Whitney…
National Symphony Principal Percussionist Joins Roster
Eric Shin, the new Principal Percussionist of the National Symphony in Washington D.C. has just joined the impressive roster of Grover Pro endorsing artists! Previously, Erik was acting principal percussionist of the Detroit Symphony and principal percussionist of the Honolulu Symphony. He has also performed…
Guest Blog – The Unexpected by Jim Neglia
Referring to one’s brain, we have been told there is a direct correlation between mathematics and music. I would like to expand this finding to the similarities between that of a percussionist and personnel manager. I can hear the sighs now … but wait, educator…
German Silver Jingles Set Off Alarm!
Here’s a true story we received from a young percussionist in Florida. Apparently our German Silver jingles were having an quite an affect on her alarm system when she practices! You can’t make this stuff up. “I was just practicing tambourine and I set off…
Down In The Heart Of Texas
Grover artist LineUponLine Percussion Trio was recently hailed by the Austin Chronicle as being first-in-class. Here’s what the Chronicle’s critic had to say: Best Drum Circle, Line, Triangle, Rhombus, and Moebius Strip: line upon line percussion (Critics Picks, Arts & Culture) Austinites with a yen…
PASIC ’12 – A SMASH!
We just returned from the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), held this year in Austin, TX. During the 3-day event over 3,000 percussionists gathered for clinics, masterclasses, performances and a exhibits filled with the world’s top percussion products. This year we celebrated our 30th…
SEE US AT PASIC 2012 IN AUSTIN!
Hurricane Sandy not withstanding, we will be exhibiting for the 30th consecutive year at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin Nov. 1st-3rd. Come visit us in booths 335 – 337, where we will have a huge display of our new custom snare drums,…
New Artist Casey Cangelosi
Casey recently returned from guest lecturing at Morehead State University. Despite his very busy schedule, which includes performing, teaching and composing, Casey took time out to arrange a photo shoot for us. For more photos and to hear some of Casey’s innovative percussion music, be…
Why Grover Castanets?
Have you been frustrated by having to choose between castanets that sound good-but have no adjustment, and others which have adjustable tension-but lack clarity and richness of sound? If the answer is YES then our new castanets are for you! Discover the only internal-tension castanets…
Top UK Percussionist Visits Factory
London based percussionist Jody Linscott, stopped by today to visit us. She brought some very interesting prototype and everyone here was impressed (keep your eyes open for more about this). While here, Jody picked up a pair of our new concert castanets and completely fell…
The Best of All Possible Worlds
A percussionist’s instrument preference is highly personal. It depends on many factors, including stylistic preference, concert hall acoustics, ensemble size, technical ability, etc. It would not be an over-generalization to say that some percussionists prefer symphonic tambourines with a healthy amount of resonance, while others…
Will James PASIC Snare Drum Lab
Endorser and St. Louis Symphony Principal Percussionist Will James is seeking participants to perform at his Snare Drum Lab which will be help at PASIC on Saturday Nov. 3rd at 9 am. PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) is the largest gathering of percussionists in…
John Cage Turns 100!
Join Grover Pro Endorser Greg Zuber (Metropolitan Orchestra & Julliard School) when he performs as part of the 100th birthday celebration concert for avant-garde composer John Cage. The concert, which is scheduled for September 5th, will take place in Symphony Space, NY. Start time is…
Happy Birthday John Williams !
This weekend marks the 8oth birthday of my friend and colleague Maestro John Williams. I don’t know anyone who has not been touched by John’s music. His prolific work output has resulted in his earning 47 Academy Award nominations, second only to Walt Disney. What…
Going…Going…Gong
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #6 includes one solo soft gong (tam-tam) note in the last movement. Ask any orchestral percussionist, playing this note at just the right dynamic level can be a tricky ordeal. Last week, while playing this part with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, I…
Romancing The Tambourine?
Sometimes it’s good to just sit back and laugh at yourself. So was the case this morning when I read Pierre Henry’s piece on theonion.com. The title, “You Must Romance The Music Out Of The Tambourine,” sounds like the perfect title of a clinic that…
The Importance Of Being Earnest Visible
During a Boston Pops Orchestra rehearsal yesterday, conductor Keith Lockhart looked up at me immediately prior to an important suspended cymbal entrance. I have a practice of always making sure that, in addition to keeping an eye on the conductor, the conductor can SEE what…
Tambourine Lesson From Dr. John Parks IV
Here’s a great new tambourine lesson from Florida State University Professor John Parks. In addition to his duties at FSU, John performs with the Tallahassee Symphony and is the President-Elect of the Percussive Arts Society.
Casey Cangelosi Joins Artist Roster
We’re thrilled to announce that percussionist/composer Casey Cangelosi has joined the esteemned roster of Grover Pro artists! Casey Cangelosi is a rising composer and percussionist in the contemporary music world. Casey has been called “the Paganini of percussion”, his technique deemed, “ridiculous… he has a…
Motown Goes Grover
Most percussionists think of our tambourines as strictly “concert” or “symphonic” tambourines. That is because Grover tambourines are used by more top concert percussionists than any other! The fact is that since 1980 our tambourines have also been used on countless blockbuster soundtracks & Grammy…
How To Hold & Strike The Concert Tambourine
We’re constantly adding to our “Tech-Talk” section of our website. The newest video lesson is from percussion educator Patrick Herring, who breaks down the elements of holding and striking the tambourine. As Director of the percussion ensemble for the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, Patrick works…
FREE SHIPPING UNTIL MAY 31st!
Through the end of May we’re offering FREE SHIPPING on the purchase of any Grover Pro product! Just go to our online shop and enter code “MAY12FS” at checkout. Your order will be promptly shipped and the freight will be on us! Just our way…
Berklee Visits Grover Pro
Berklee College Of Music Professor, Dean Anderson, and a few of his students took time out from the end of the school semester to visit the Grover Pro factory. The group was given a personalized tour of our facility and joined the Grover Pro staff…
New Haven Percussionists Play Grover
Our percussion products are used in hundreds of top orchestras, ensembles, Broadway shows, and in many of today’s Hollywood’s blockbuster film scores. It’s always nice to hear from percussionists who use our gear in the field! Recently, we heard from the New Haven Symphony percussion…
NEW 5″ “SUPER-OVERTONE” TRIANGLE
Introduced in 1980, our Super-Overtone™ triangles were the first pro quality triangles specifically manufactured to emit a large array of overtones. Available in two sizes (6″ & 9″) the TR-6 & TR-9 models have been some of the most sought after symphonic triangles. Our NEW…
CELEBRATING FENWAY’S 100th!
I was thrilled to be invited to take part in Fenway Park’s 100th Anniversary celebration last Friday. It was a beautiful day to hold what is sure to be viewed as a historic event. Members of the Boston Pops were on hand to perform 3…
Grover Endorsers Featured In Texas
Be sure to catch Grover Pro artists and top percussionists Rich Redmond & Mark Shelton on April 14th at the Percussive Arts Society – West Texas Day Of Percussion. Rich Redmond is a top call recording drummer/percussionist based in Nashville. His versatile, dynamic, musical and…
5 Things To Remember When Playing Tambourine
Playing a concert tambourine at a high level of proficiency takes patience, practice and good technique. Like any percussion instrument, it is an accessory that serious percussionists make the time to practice and master! THE FIVE TIPS TO REMEMBER For general playing hold the tambourine…
Las Vegas Philharmonic Has A New Home
This past week I had the pleasure of joining the percussion section of the Las Vegas Philharmonic for a performance of the Mahler Symphony #2. What made this experience extra special was that the Philhamonic was opening up it’s new home at The Smith Center…
Grover Pro Artists On Tour !
Percussionist John Wooton, Director Of Percussion at the University Of Southern Mississippi, will be embarking on a southeastern U.S. clinic tour next week. In addition to his teaching responsibilities during the school year, John runs four percussion camps at the University of S. Mississippi over…
Timpani Fundamentals With Joanna Dabrowska Huling
Our good friend and endorser, Joanna D. Huling, recently presented a comprehensive timpani clinic at the Percussive Arts Society – Maryland/Delaware Day of Percussion, held at Goucher College. Her presentation covered many important issues which all timpanists face, such as: sitting vs. standing drum positioning…
Download Gene Krupa’s Press Kit & Manual!
Here’s our Valentine’s Day gift to you! Direct from the Grover Pro archives… Mr. Press, may I have a SD roll please….. Gene Krupa’s Press Kit! The download is free; the catch is that to get the download you must share it via Twitter or…
“Ain’t No Woman Tambourine Like The One I Got”
Percussionists will tell you that we’ve been making the world’s best concert tambourines since 1980. Did you know that our tambourines are also used on lots of Hollywood movie soundtracks, Broadway shows, TV shows, in Cirque du Soleil presentations and on mega-hit records by today’s…
Find Our Products @ TMEA
Going to San Antonio this week to participate in the Texas Music Educators Conference? Our products will be available from the following exhibitors: Lone Star Percussion – booth #2455 Columbus Percussion – booth #2145 Percussion Source – booth #2011 Brook Mays Music – booth #1333…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
All of us at here Grover Pro Percussion wish you a very joyous holiday season! With best wishes for the New Year… CLICK HERE TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE “GROVER ELVES” IN ACTION!
PASIC 2011 Highlights
This year’s PASIC show was one of our best and busiest. The Grover Pro exhibit was constantly crowded with percussionists in search of the world’s best tambourines, triangles, SDs and other percussive gear. The new Grover Tunable Tambourine, Tafoya Signature Timpani Mallets and the Professional…
The Mighty (Grover Pro) Triangle !
The late writer George Plimpton was famous for his participatory journalism: He risked life and limb while playing quarterback for the Detroit Lions, trading punches with boxer Archie Moore, blocking 100-mile-an-hour hockey pucks as goaltender for the Boston Bruins. All to get a good story.…
Anchors Aweigh!
We just received a large order from the United States Navy for Grover custom snare drums and bass drums. We manufactured similar ceremonial drums a few years back for the Army band (see photo). When the Navy percussionists heard and saw the Army drums, they…
Grover Pro Artists Are Everywhere!
We welcome percussive artists Thomas Burritt (Univerity of Texas) and Michael Sammons (University of South Alabama) to our Endorser roster. Michael recently wrote us, “”Your products provide the sound and quality for me to perform my best”. Tom & Michael join a roster of many…
Professor Scott Herring Visits China
Grover Pro Endorser Dr. Scott Herring has had a busy summer, recently completed a performing and teaching trip to China. Scott visited Yantai, which is on the coast, about a one hour flight from Beijing. In addition to performing with the Rosewind Duo at the…
New Website Now Live!
After months in the planning stage, here it is, our new Grover Pro website! I hope you enjoy the exciting features, images, educational content, and, our NEW “BUY NOW” FEATURE… We welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback. Keep checking back often as we will regularly…
Custom Shop Now Open!
We’ve just launched our much anticipated Grover Pro Custom Shop. We’ll be listing some exciting new products for sale including: prototypes, “one-offs”, demo models, custom models, etc. Right now we’re listing a few custom drums, available factory-direct at savings from 50%-70% off MSRP. Keep checking…
To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn…
Check out the new 360° dynamic view of our G3™ Concert Snare Drum! It’s easy to manipulate, just use your mouse to grab and spin the drum around, a full 360°. Want to examine our G3™ strainer…no problem. Want to check out the nodal vent…no…
We’re Turning Heads… LITERALLY!
Check out the great update to our tambourine page! We’re starting to employ a new rotational photography technology which gives you the ability to see our products from new perspectives. Simply drag the tambourine image with your mouse and you will be able to see…
Grover Pro & Zildjian Join Forces !
We’re thrilled to announce that Grover Pro products have been chosen for inclusion in Zildjian’s new GEN16 Digital Vault. Gen16’s Intelligent Percussion is a new generation of tools and technologies. Gen16 users include not just drummers and percussionists, but also artists and musicians, producers and…
Grover Pro Founder Interviewed By NAMM
Mark Stevens – Inventor of Mark Tree bar chimes
In 1967, Mark Stevens invented the Mark Tree® bar chime, which has become an important member of the percussion batterie. Mark has been one of the busiest and most recorded percussionists in the LA studio scene for over 4 decades ! Our Spectrasound™ Mark Tree…
Hit Me…
As a percussionist, often you have to perform on an unusual instrument. Interesting “instruments” I’ve had to play over the years include: brake drums, trash cans, breaking bottles, thunder sheet, coffee cans, railroad spikes, pool tubing, anvil, air raid siren, water cooler bottles, taxi horns,…
THE ORIGINAL MARK TREE® NOW AVAILABLE!
It was the early 70’s and LA studio percussionist, Mark Stevens, needed a new sound for a recording project. He went into his workshop and what emerged was an instrument that changed the percussionist’s arsenal forever. The Mark Tree® bar chime was born, and wow,…
Triangle Girls Gone Wild !
Aya Kaminaguchi is a wonderful young percussionist and was colleague of mine while I was on the Star Wars tour. I’m back in Boston, but Aya is still out on the road. She sent me a link to a wonderful blog about her triangle playing.…
Pops Goes The Fourth !
This will be the 33rd consecutive year that Neil Grover will be playing the giant Boston Pops Fourth of July concert on the Esplanade. This year, the guest artist is country star Toby Keith. There will be quite a few Grover products heard, including a…
Grover South Of The Border!
While performing recently in Monterrey, Mexico, I had a chance to visit with Mike Tovar, owner of Mike’s Drum Shop. Mexico’s top percussionists shop at Mike’s and for good reason. Mike’s Drum Shop has an impressive selection of the finest mallets, ethnic percussion and concert…
On The Road Again…
I leave today for a 10 week concert tour of North America with “Star Wars In Concert“. Some of you may remember that I did a short stint in the fall. This time around, I’ve signed up for all 10 weeks! Click on the link…
Berklee Students Visit Factory
Today, Berklee Professor Dean Anderson brought a few of his top students to visit the Grover Pro factory. The students took the factory tour, which includes both Grover Pro and SilverFox production. They were amazed at the level of “hands-on” craftsmanship that goes into every…
Bamboo Aids Haitian Earthquake Victims
We are picky about the quality of bamboo that we use for our TMB Series Timpani Mallets. VERY PICKY! We start with the highest quality bamboo available and then hand select only straight bamboo lengths that are consistent in diameter and have very few nodes.…
Welcome To Our New Website!
I want to officially welcome you to the new Grover Pro Percussion website. I’m sure you’ll agree, our new site has a clean, crisp look and feel. Navigation has improved by the addition of easy to use navigation bars. We have also uploaded new images…
Playin In The Rain…
Recently, we ran a new PAS ad with a photo of Neil playing our new “X-Series” tambourine in the rain. Well, we’ve received so many comments about the new ad that we decided to post it here for all to view. We’re glad that so…
Swiss Drumming Explained
The January issue of Percussive Notes includes an article on swiss drumming that was written by Grover team member Lee Caron. Lee works in our production department here at Grover Pro. Like many of our team members, Lee is a skilled percussionist and also a…
Factory Visitors
We’ve started out 2010 with some distinguished visitors to the Grover Pro Percussion factory. On January 14th, Professor Scott Herring from the University of South Carolina came to Boston to visit us. While he was here, Scott picked out one of our new Bronze Pro…
HOLIDAY WISHES
On behalf of all the craftspeople and employees here at Grover Pro Percussion, I want to wish you a very merry holiday season. We extend our best wishes for a healthy & prosperous New Year. With the winter solstice just days away, I thought that…
PAS Outstanding Supporter Award
Recently, I was honored by being presented with the Percussive Arts Society’s “Outstanding Supporter Award”. The Outstanding Supporter Award was established to recognize an individual each year who has significantly promoted the Society through their professional and educational activities to increase visibility and awareness of…
PASIC 2009 – A Huge Success !
We’ve just returned from PASIC 2009 in Indianapolis and we had a fantastic show! Our exhibit was consistently mobbed by percussionists anxious to see the new line of G3 Concert Snare Drums, our new Bronze Pro Hammered Triangles and new “X-Series” Synthetic Headed Tambourines. We…
Visit Us At PASIC…
2009 marks our 28th consecutive year of exhibiting at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. This year, the convention is being held in Indianapolis, November 11th -14th. In addition to the hundreds of triangles, tambourines and mallets we’ll have on display, we’ll be unveiling some…
Hangin’ with C-3PO
I’ve recently returned from the “Star Wars In Concert” US tour. It was a fantastic experience. The presentation was rock concert meets symphony orchestra meets movie experience. We played music from all 6 Star Wars scores, synced to high resolution film clips shown on a…
Grover Pro on YouTube
All Grover Pro Tech Talk videos are now available on YouTube! Visit our channel, check out the recent additions, and leave your comments! You can still download full-quality versions from the Tech Talk page on our website.
We’re A Hit In Japan!
It seems that the percussion community in Japan really appreciates the high quality and great sound of our hand-crafted tambourines. Recently, we received a record tambourine order from our distributor in Tokyo. When we packed the order for shipping we realized that a “photo op”…
I’m Playin’ In The Rain…
We’ve been deluged with rain the past few weeks here in New England. It has created the perfect opportunity to take out one of our new SERIES-X synthetic head tambourines and put it to the test! I (Neil Grover) suited up and went into the…
THE TOAST OF TEXAS!
We just returned from the Texas Music Educators Association Convention held each February in San Antonio, TX. Throughout the three day event our exhibit booth was crammed with music educators and percussionists wanting to see Grover products, play our instruments and who needed assistance picking…
GROVER ROCKS NAMM
We’ve just returned from the giant NAMM show held every year in Anaheim, CA. The Namm show brings together manufacturers, distributors, retailers and artists from around the world for four days of business and music making. This year we focused our display on our SilverFox…
PASIC ’08 – A GREAT SUCCESS!
We’ve just returned from the PASIC show in Austin, TX, where we had our biggest, most elaborate percussion display ever. In addition to all our Grover, SilverFox and Artist’s Choice products, we also exhibited the full range of Premier concert, marching and pipeband products (Grover…
COME SEE US AT PASIC – BOOTH #218
It all started in 1981, when I attending a small gathering of percussionists in Indianapolis. At that time I brought 24 triangles and 24 tambourines. My goal was to sell all my instruments over the three day event. Imagine how surprised I was when I…
Welcome to our new site!
It’s been a long time coming, but we finally launched the new Grover website. All of the craftspeople and percussion specialists here at Grover Pro welcome you to our new home on the world wide web! I hope that you’ve had a chance to check…
