Equipment Requirements for AYPO Percussion Participation
2026-27
As we prepare for the 2026–27 season, we would like to inform you that all percussion students will be required to purchase a basic set of percussion accessories, sticks, mallets and towels for their participation in AYPO ensembles. A list is provided below. In some cases, students may already have equivalent items, which is fine. Here is an explanation as to why this is so important.
AYPO is committed to providing students with access to the large percussion instruments needed for rehearsals and performances. These include keyboard percussion instruments (such as marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, and glockenspiel), timpani, concert bass drums, snare drums, tom-toms, auxiliary percussion instruments, and many Latin percussion instruments. AYPO also rents specialty instruments when repertoire requires equipment that is not part of our regular inventory.
However, percussion is unique among orchestral sections in that students may use dozens of different implements and accessories throughout a season. A single concert cycle may require multiple pairs of snare drum sticks, several types of keyboard mallets, timpani mallets, bass drum beaters, triangle beaters, tambourines, wood blocks, shakers, and many other specialized accessories.
Because AYPO rehearses in multiple locations and serves several ensembles, it is not practical to provide every accessory, stick, mallet, and beater at every rehearsal site every week. Transporting and maintaining complete inventories of these items across all locations presents significant logistical challenges, and many implements are considered personal equipment that students use regularly both in AYPO and in their school music programs.
It may also be helpful to view this requirement in the broader context of orchestral participation. Students in every other section of the orchestra are expected to provide and maintain their own equipment. String players supply their own instruments, bows, cases, strings, rosin, and accessories. Wind and brass players purchase and maintain instruments, mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, oils, mutes, and other specialized equipment. In many cases, particularly for advanced string players, the value of a student's instrument and bow can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Percussionists are fortunate that AYPO provides access to the large instruments that would be impractical or impossible for most families to purchase, store, or transport. The expectation that percussion students supply their own sticks, mallets, and essential accessories is comparable to the expectations placed on musicians in every other section of the orchestra. These items represent the percussionist's primary "tools of the trade" and are a necessary part of their musical development.
Requiring students to own a basic set of percussion accessories offers several important benefits:
AYPO will continue to provide the major instruments that would be impractical for families to own or transport. The required accessory package is intended only to ensure that every percussionist has the essential tools needed for successful participation throughout the season.
A detailed list of required equipment, organized by ensemble level, is provided below. We have attempted to keep requirements reasonable while ensuring that students have the equipment necessary to meet the musical demands of the repertoire. In many cases, the required equipment will serve students well beyond a single season and can be used for school ensembles, honor groups, youth orchestras, auditions, and private study.
Thank you for your support of the AYPO percussion program. We look forward to an exciting season of music-making together.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Akagi
Required Equipment:
(must be in hand by the first rehearsal of the season - please do not wait to purchase)
SENIOR DIVISION (AYP, AYSO, AND AYS):
1. Innovative Percussion FP3 College Primer Mallet Pack (or equivalent mallets and stick bag)
2. *Black Swamp SoundArt 10" Double Row Tambourine (or equivalent)
3. *Black Swamp Triangle Pack (or equivalent)
4. 2 Black Hand Towels
*Alternatively, the tambourine and triangle could be purchased together in an accessories pack like the Grover Pro Percussion Pack (or equivalent), however these instruments are not as high in quality and these packs are not always in stock.
-Total cost of everything if the tambourine and triangle are bought separately: $952.94
-Total cost of everything if the Grover Pro Percussion Pack is purchased as an alternative to the tambourine and triangle: $693.94
JUNIOR DIVISION (AYCO, AYSE, AYDO):
-Total cost of everything: $377.94 AYPO Percussion Equipment and Accessory Requirement for the 2026–27 Season
AYPO is committed to providing students with access to the large percussion instruments needed for rehearsals and performances. These include keyboard percussion instruments (such as marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, and glockenspiel), timpani, concert bass drums, snare drums, tom-toms, auxiliary percussion instruments, and many Latin percussion instruments. AYPO also rents specialty instruments when repertoire requires equipment that is not part of our regular inventory.
However, percussion is unique among orchestral sections in that students may use dozens of different implements and accessories throughout a season. A single concert cycle may require multiple pairs of snare drum sticks, several types of keyboard mallets, timpani mallets, bass drum beaters, triangle beaters, tambourines, wood blocks, shakers, and many other specialized accessories.
Because AYPO rehearses in multiple locations and serves several ensembles, it is not practical to provide every accessory, stick, mallet, and beater at every rehearsal site every week. Transporting and maintaining complete inventories of these items across all locations presents significant logistical challenges, and many implements are considered personal equipment that students use regularly both in AYPO and in their school music programs.
It may also be helpful to view this requirement in the broader context of orchestral participation. Students in every other section of the orchestra are expected to provide and maintain their own equipment. String players supply their own instruments, bows, cases, strings, rosin, and accessories. Wind and brass players purchase and maintain instruments, mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, oils, mutes, and other specialized equipment. In many cases, particularly for advanced string players, the value of a student's instrument and bow can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Percussionists are fortunate that AYPO provides access to the large instruments that would be impractical or impossible for most families to purchase, store, or transport. The expectation that percussion students supply their own sticks, mallets, and essential accessories is comparable to the expectations placed on musicians in every other section of the orchestra. These items represent the percussionist's primary "tools of the trade" and are a necessary part of their musical development.
Requiring students to own a basic set of percussion accessories offers several important benefits:
- Consistency: Students rehearse and perform with the same equipment, allowing them to develop a reliable sound and technique.
- Preparedness: Students can practice effectively at home and arrive at rehearsals fully equipped.
- Availability: Students are not dependent on limited shared supplies that may be needed simultaneously by multiple ensembles.
- Responsibility: Owning and maintaining personal equipment is an important part of a percussionist's musical development and mirrors expectations found in advanced youth orchestras, college programs, and professional ensembles.
AYPO will continue to provide the major instruments that would be impractical for families to own or transport. The required accessory package is intended only to ensure that every percussionist has the essential tools needed for successful participation throughout the season.
A detailed list of required equipment, organized by ensemble level, is provided below. We have attempted to keep requirements reasonable while ensuring that students have the equipment necessary to meet the musical demands of the repertoire. In many cases, the required equipment will serve students well beyond a single season and can be used for school ensembles, honor groups, youth orchestras, auditions, and private study.
Thank you for your support of the AYPO percussion program. We look forward to an exciting season of music-making together.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Akagi
Required Equipment:
(must be in hand by the first rehearsal of the season - please do not wait to purchase)
SENIOR DIVISION (AYP, AYSO, AND AYS):
1. Innovative Percussion FP3 College Primer Mallet Pack (or equivalent mallets and stick bag)
2. *Black Swamp SoundArt 10" Double Row Tambourine (or equivalent)
3. *Black Swamp Triangle Pack (or equivalent)
4. 2 Black Hand Towels
*Alternatively, the tambourine and triangle could be purchased together in an accessories pack like the Grover Pro Percussion Pack (or equivalent), however these instruments are not as high in quality and these packs are not always in stock.
-Total cost of everything if the tambourine and triangle are bought separately: $952.94
-Total cost of everything if the Grover Pro Percussion Pack is purchased as an alternative to the tambourine and triangle: $693.94
JUNIOR DIVISION (AYCO, AYSE, AYDO):
- Steve Weiss Best Seller Stick Pack #1 (or equivalent mallets and stick bag)
- Black Swamp Overture 10" Double Row Tambourine (or equivalent)
- Grover 6" Bronze Concert Triangle Pack (or equivalent)
- 2 Black Hand Towels
-Total cost of everything: $377.94 AYPO Percussion Equipment and Accessory Requirement for the 2026–27 Season