Pedal to the Metal: DIY Timpani Repair for Directors

Fix your timpani issues without calling a technician, if you even have one available! Designed with middle and high school band directors in mind, this webinar equips you with the skills to identify and fix common timpani problems. You’ll lightly explore the mechanics of timpani to get a sense of how they work and then dive into troubleshooting techniques to resolve frequently seen headaches such as pedals that won’t stay in place, malfunctioning tuning gauges, and mystery rattles or squeaks that you just can’t nail down. As a bonus, you’ll also learn how to clear heads to reduce those pesky overtones. By the end of this session, you will be equipped with a literal and figurative toolbox of fixes. When you have an issue in the middle of a rehearsal, you can walk over to your toolbox, grab the right tool, fix the issue, and get back to rehearsal, proving once again that not all superheroes wear capes.

Rich Bono is a former band director and owner of Bono Percussion, which has been specializing in percussion instrument repair for schools since 2015. He launched the business to address the ongoing maintenance issues he had experienced firsthand in the band room through on-site repairs and maintenance clinics for directors. His client roster includes public and private schools, colleges and universities, churches, and professional productions like Cirque du Soleil. Rich is also a freelance percussionist based out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event. Members can also view archived NAfME webinars in the NAfME Academy.

The views expressed are those of the presenter; they do not necessarily reflect the views of NAfME.