As an 8th grader at Rogers Junior High in El Dorado, Arkansas, I was a member of the marching band. We had Slingerland parade drums with green and white sparkle finish as pictured here. We had four parade drums with snares and two that were called tenor drums (tom toms). I played one of those tenor drums that usually doubled the bass drum part. Playing tenor drum gave all of the pain of a parade drum slapping against your thigh without any of the musical satisfaction.
I asked our band director, John Keane, who would later become my principal, if we could attach snare strainers to those two parade drums so that all would become marching snare drums. I don’t remember him giving me an answer but a couple of weeks later he handed me two new snare strainers and wire snares. He asked me to install them on those two marching tenor drums.
Strangely, I didn’t involve my father in this project. I did use his tools though. I measured and carefully cut openings in the bottom rims and used a buffer to smooth sharp edges just like I’d done on the iron railings my father built.
One afternoon after school, my mother came home to find drum parts spread across the floor of our living room and me bending over a drum shell, drilling holes to secure the snare strainer. She was startled and I remember panic in her voice when she asked what I was doing. I explained that Mr. Keane had given me permission to change two tenor drums into snare drums. She looked confused. She could see that I was well into my destructive task and reluctantly left me to my work.
I wasn’t a gifted craftsman, but those two parade drums turned out great. To this day, I’m still puzzled that they worked out. I think it was probably motivation with a bit of luck mixed in. I really despised playing the tenor drum and wanted to play a snare.
I’m thankful for the level of freedom I had out there on Calion Highway. I was free to explore the woods, ride my bike, use the tools in my father’s shop, and beat on paint cans with drum sticks until my father bought me a garage sale snare drum. And, I was free to drill holes in my school’s parade drums. I had a good childhood!
If you ever see a parade drum with green and white sparkle finish like the one pictured here, give me a call. I would love to see it.
May, 2025 Update: I found a Slingerland Parade Drum matching the ones we used in junior high. My offer of $50 was accepted but I think it was the story that swayed the seller. He wanted this drum to have an appreciative home. After some cleanup, the drum looks great. The only improvement needed is to repair the snare strainer. Wish I had one of those brand new strainers that Mr. Keene bought for me to install in those old tenor drums.
I'm a retired educator. I enjoy learning and sharing with others. If you like the outdoors, check out my other blog: ozarkmountainhiker.com 
Principal Notes 