Marching percussionists are far too familiar with a stick breaking or struggling to find just the right sound on the marimba. Promark by D’Addario Percussion paired up with Tim Jackson, Tim Fairbanks, and Andrew Markworth to produce signature drumsticks and mallets that address those problems.
Tim Jackson Signature Marching Tenor Sticks contain FireGrain technology and an extra-long nylon molding on the tip that goes down the taper for rimshots. Jackson has performed with and taught at several drum corps and indoor percussion groups.
Tim Fairbanks Signature Marching Snare Sticks also feature FireGrain technology. They have an extended taper and strong round bead. A 2018 WGI Hall of Famer, Fairbanks is the percussion director and drill designer for Centerville (Ohio) High School as well as president of Rhythm X.
Both sticks were designed with durability in mind, says Kyle Thomas, Promark percussion artist relations manager. “It’s a problem that all of our marching community faces, just getting longevity out of their sticks because [of] those [conditions] they put them under day after day, week after week for long periods of time in the extreme heat and cold,” he says. “We wanted to bring a little bit more value to the player and to the purchaser.”
Andrew Markworth Signature Keyboard Mallets comprise four styles for marimba and four for vibraphone. They address specific applications, such as producing a relaxed bass marimba sound or projecting a good quality sound when performing, Thomas says. Markworth is music arranger and coordinator for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and music director for Rhythm X.
