The Power-lite Series for Student Percussionists

Yamaha Product Marketing Manager Joel Tetzlaff discusses the new marching hardware and drums for aspiring percussionists — the Power-lite Series — from its inception, the development process and its use in the classroom. Tetzlaff, who has more than 40 years of drumming experience, has worked in in the Yamaha world of percussion for over 20 years and is a Madison Scouts Drum Corps alumni. From speaking with educators and students, to sharing insights with hardware designers, Tetzlaff helped Yamaha introduce the Power-lite Series, which offers the perfect balance between being lightweight and sturdy.

Q. This Power-lite Series was designed with younger percussionists in mind. What are some features that middle/high school educators or parents would appreciate?

A. Overall, this series shines because of its simplicity and pragmatic nature. Because they were designed for younger students, we cautiously crafted equipment that was not overly complex. The carriers and drums don’t require many moving parts, so it’s easy for anyone to pick up and start playing. We want entry-level students to feel empowered in continuing their musical journey, so we ensured our designs would be comfortable, reliable and high-quality

The great thing about creating a series that’s simple is that we were able to maintain it at a competitive price point. We know that educators may be dealing with smaller budgets or unsure if forming a marching band at their school is possible, so this series provides a cost-effective option that will not be financially straining. Our goal in creating entry-level products is to always make them as accessible as possible so anyone can begin their musical journey.

Q. How does the Power-lite series compare to other drumline series?

A. The Power-lite series completes the Yamaha experience. With the addition of an entry-level marching set (snare, tenor and bass drums), we can holistically cater to professional, intermediate and beginner percussionists. From the hardware side of our products, we deliver consistency, and when it comes to our drums, we provide the same. Our phenomenal sound quality rings the same throughout all our instruments. By providing unwavering dependability, we help band directors, educators and musicians alike focus more time on teaching and less on tinkering with equipment. Plus, Yamaha carries decades of specialized knowledge and experience in designing and manufacturing instruments that build upon their preceding models. An increasing number of kids want to participate in musical extracurricular activities, and the Power-lite series is the perfect entry-point for that.

Q. One of the merits of the Power-lite series is the ultra-lightweight construction of the carriers. Could you offer a glimpse of the process behind building equipment that is lightweight but maintains sturdiness?

A. What makes our products so special are the formulas that we have built throughout the years. One of the ways we designed the Power-lite carriers was to assign the heavier elements of the Field Corps carrier to other areas where you won’t feel the weight as much. In this same vein, wherever possible, we utilized lighter material without compromising the sturdy base.

Yamaha shares manufacturing processes with our sister company, Yamaha Motor Corporations. We use their philosophy for most of the construction of our hardware so that they remain robust pieces of equipment.

When designing marching equipment, we take into consideration that this is a piece of equipment that students have direct contact with. Percussionists don’t wear their drums, they wear the carriers that hold their drums. With that in mind, our goal was to prioritize comfort. Additionally, to reduce weight, the T-bar of the carriers was decreased to make the experience more comfortable for young percussionists.

Q. For educators looking to buy new equipment for their school’s music program, how does the Power-lite series fit their needs?

As mentioned previously, we wanted to make gear that felt safe and comfortable, and not be overly complex. We also thought about the needs of educators. If your school only does a few performances a year, then a more feasible option for marching equipment would be the Power-lite series rather than the professional drum corps models that are designed for constant usage. Both educators and students get the benefit of having a set of our best-selling drums at a cost-effective price point. We understand how crucial it is to have a value-oriented line for educators and band directors who have tight budgets, but who want to provide superb quality equipment for their students. Our goal is to keep music accessible to all.

Discover the full line of Yamaha Marching Hardware

Q. Were there any cross-over in manufacturing techniques between the Power-lite carriers and the Yamaha Field Corps carriers?

The feedback and insights we received from students and educators for the Field Corps were implemented in the Power-lite series. We adjusted the weight ratio of the carriers to make them even lighter for smaller body types. The sizing of the flex points on the shoulders served as an important case study on how to make other areas more flexible, such as in the torso region. We wanted to empower newer students to endure longer performances without feeling uncomfortable or fatigued. The smaller elements in the Power-lite series come from another small carrier that was being distributed in Japan. Having those tools made it easier for us to adapt the carriers to American sizes. What we also learned from the Field Corps carriers was that stainless steel screws and fasteners are less prone to deterioration from corrosive sweat, which is a critical point for music programs that need equipment to withstand years of student use.

Q. The Power-lite instruments are smaller in size. How does this help younger percussionists more rather than regular sized instruments? Does it compromise sound quality?

Our intention was to create something practical for younger students — we didn’t want them to feel discomfort or fatigue when using our products. So, when designing the Power-lite Series, we did our best to focus on the basic function of the carriers and drums while allowing students to develop marching fundamentals. If there is anything our drums will always deliver, it’s consistency, so this series does not compromise sound quality.

At Yamaha, we consider the needs of our customers when developing a new product. There may be educators wanting to get their kids involved with music but don’t want to purchase an entire drumline bundle. The Power-lite series is a perfectly affordable option to purchase individually. Or, if a community wants to start their own youth marching band on a limited budget, this series gives them the opportunity to do so. These are all different-use cases that describe our heartfelt objective for this series. We focused on accessibility because we want to get more people to play music and to bring more people together.

Q. Is there anything else educators or parents should know about the Power-lite series?

A. There are many aspects that make Yamaha a superb choice. We create products with high value, and they’re made to last a long time. We understand the difficulties educators experience when it comes to classroom equipment, and we aim to mitigate these hardships by offering resources that will get them back to teaching quickly. It’s easy to find replacement parts, available resources, and we’re exceptional at keeping things in stock. So, we want music educators to trust that the Power-lite carriers will last for many years of student usage and are easy to maintain. The overall idea with this series was to inspire the joy of starting a child’s musical journey through a practical piece of equipment that will be easy for them to learn.