About

Why Parish?

Drums are inherently loud and can be very obtrusive in the church setting. Historically there have been 2 options to try and salvage the situation and retain a live drummer. Option one is to cage the kit with a drum shield. Option 2 is to replace the kit with an electronic reproduction. Neither is ideal.

The Drum Shield

While the drum shield may help reduce the direct sound of the drums reaching the audience, the sound waves have to go somewhere. They reflect off of the plexiglass panels (even the curved ones) and bounce back into all of the microphones on the kit. As a result, the overhead is now a kick mic, the snare mic is now a tom mic, etc. You have lost the ability to EQ and mix each individual sound source without massive bleeding from the others around it.

The drum shield can also create a false sense of control and drummers tend to play harder when they believe the issue has been addressed.

Drum shields are ugly, conspicuous, and expensive. An entry-level enclosure with a roof and foam panels starts at over $2,000. Curved drum booths start in the $5,000 range and go up to $12,000+ with options, shipping, and installation.

The Electronic Kit

Electronic drum pads have been around for decades and the technology has only gotten better but there is nothing available that looks, sounds, and plays like a real acoustic drum. The feel, dynamics, and nuance of a real drum is something unique and there’s a reason why every year the big names release the next, newest, best, real-drum-alternative but it always falls short. It’s just not a drum.

Electronic kits fall into the same ugly, conspicuous, and expensive category as the drum shield. Cheaper kits can be found but they offer an even greater sacrifice on feel, sound, and aesthetics. Roland offers the best option available with their V-Drum line and you can expect to pay $4,000+ and still have to track down a few stands, pedals, etc.

The Alternative

We view the drum volume solution in a holistic way, addressing the drums, cymbals, sticks, cymbals, tone control options, and the drummer.

Drums - Soft mahogany shells with poplar cores produce warm, dry tones. Wood hoops dry out the sound even further creating a softer, rounder sound with decreased hi frequencies.

The 18” Bass Drum produces a deep low-end which is easily amplified by microphone. Because of the size of the drum, projection out into the room is less than a larger traditional sized kick.

We recommend using brush-type sticks and our favorite are the Vater Wood Handle Whip with wood handles, they play more like a stick than other brushes out there. Once broken in, the nylon bristles produce a softer, quieter tone and help keep things under control. They are extremely durable unlike the bundled wooden rods. The wood hoops on our drums are designed to sit low to accommodate playing with brushes and avoid the interference common with traditional hoops.

The Chapel Snare is a highly versatile drum offering a variety of uses and playing styles.

Cymbals are almost always part of the problem but rarely thought of as something that can be changed. Most store bought cymbals, especially the prepackaged sets, are small in diameter and high in pitch. These cymbals tend to be bright and resonate, continuing to ring out long after they are hit. Those higher frequencies bounce around the room (or inside the shield) and get into everything. They are pitched similarly to what we like hearing in vocal and choir mics which usually have those frequencies boosted, adding to the problem.

I designed these cymbals from the ground up (with the help of some great friends) to stay out of the way as much as possible. Here you will find large diameter hi-hats (16”, 18”), large crashes (20”, 21”), and large rides (22”, 24”). This has been done to lower the pitch of the cymbals. They are lathed to be thin and hand hammered to create darker tones. The Heritage Series are not lathed on top which gives them a raw look and dries them out. They are the least resonate and what I recommend when volume control is a main concern. The Tradition Series is a little brighter, has a smoother top end, and will resonate slightly longer.

The Drummer - An acoustic drum will only be as quiet as the drummer playing it, there’s really no way around that. When talking through all of these things I like to emphasize that the drummer is in control. Play to the room, play to the song. Playing to the room simply means serving the audience or the congregation. If what you’re playing is a distraction then you’re not serving anyone except possibly yourself. If people can’t hear the melody and lyrics, can’t sing along because the drums are too loud then you need to pull back. If you literally can’t pull back then something else needs to change. Use brushes, take your cymbals down, sit out for that song. If that big song that you guys are playing has this amazing, huge drum part, and the only way you can pull it off is to play really loud - then change the part. Play something simple, within your ability to have control. It doesn’t have to be the exact part on the record, I promise.

In the same way, playing to the song means serving the song. If you’re playing fills and distracting parts all over the melody then you’re not serving the song. Wait for the space at the end of the phrase, during the turn or the bridge. Pick your moments and take them, but all while serving the song and staying out of the way of those times when people need to hear and sing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transform Your Worship with Parish Drums and Cymbals. Parish Drums designs quiet drum sets and worship cymbals made for churches. Our compact low-volume drums are the best alternative to drum shields and electronic kits. The Best Church Drum Sets and Worship Cymbals Designed for Churches. Finding the right drum set for church can be difficult. Traditional acoustic drums are often too loud, while electronic kits feel unnatural and costly. At Parish Drums, we create quiet acoustic church drum sets that keep the authentic sound of real drums while lowering stage volume. A Better Solution Than Drum Shields or Enclosures. Drum shields and enclosures may reduce noise, but they are expensive, unattractive, and take up valuable stage space. Our patent-pending Clothtone Heads and Cathedral Snare offer a simpler solution, creating the quietest acoustic drum kits designed specifically for worship. Compact Design for Any Church Size. Whether your church is a large campus or a new plant with a small stage, our compact drum kits fit perfectly. Paired with Republic Cymbals, thin hand-hammered Turkish cymbals crafted to reduce volume and microphone bleed, you get the perfect balance of sound and control for worship. Parish Drums is the leading company dedicated to building quiet acoustic church drums and worship cymbals designed for the unique needs of churches. We understand the challenges worship leaders and audio teams face, and we’ve created instruments that solve these problems without compromising sound or style. Ready to upgrade your church’s worship experience? Explore our quiet drum kits and worship cymbals today and discover why Parish Drums is the best choice for churches. The Best Church Drum Sets and Worship Cymbals Designed for Churches.

Quiet Drum Kits for Church Worship. Parish Drums offers quiet drum kits made for worship. Low volume acoustic drums are the best alternative to drum shields, enclosures, or electronic sets. We understand the unique challenges worship leaders, pastors, and audio tech teams face, and we’ve developed instruments that solve those problems without sacrificing tone, authenticity, or stage aesthetics. Low Volume Acoustic Drums for Worship. Finding the right balance between energy and volume is a challenge for many churches. Traditional drum sets are often too loud, forcing churches to rely on costly drum shields or electronic kits that compromise sound quality. Our quiet drum kits are designed specifically for worship and Christian music, using patent-pending Clothtone Heads and the Cathedral Snare to create the most quiet acoustic drum tones available. These innovations keep the natural feel of acoustic drums while lowering stage volume to a manageable level. Compact and Perfect for Church Stages. Our quiet drum kits are crafted with churches of all sizes in mind. Their compact design makes them ideal for small sanctuaries, church plants, and rooms with limited stage space. Unlike bulky enclosures or artificial-sounding electronic kits, our drums provide an authentic acoustic experience that blends seamlessly with worship music. Paired with Republic Cymbals, these kits offer a complete solution that respects the room’s sound while enhancing the congregation’s worship experience. Upgrade your worship sound with a quiet drum kit from Parish Drums. Shop our collection today and discover the best acoustic solution for your church.

Handmade Turkish Cymbals for Church Worship

Republic Cymbals delivers hand-hammered Turkish cymbals designed for worship. Crafted to be dark, dry, and lower in volume for church stages. Republic Cymbals combines centuries of Turkish craftsmanship with the unique needs of today’s church market. Our cymbals are not mass-produced but carefully shaped and hammered by hand to give worship drummers a warm, expressive, and lower-volume instrument that enhances the worship experience.

Handmade Turkish Cymbals for Worship

Republic Cymbals are built with the needs of modern churches in mind. Each cymbal is hand-hammered in Turkey using traditional methods, giving them a unique dark and dry character. The larger diameters lower the pitch, creating a controlled tone that sits beautifully in the mix without overpowering vocals or other instruments.

The Best Cymbals for Church Worship

Traditional cymbals can be too bright and loud for smaller sanctuaries and intimate worship settings. Republic Cymbals solves this problem by reducing overall stage volume and minimizing cymbal bleed into microphones. This makes them the perfect choice for worship leaders, drummers, and audio teams seeking professional cymbals that blend naturally in church environments while still delivering authentic, inspiring sound.

Upgrade your worship sound today with Republic Cymbals. Shop our collection of handmade Turkish cymbals and experience the difference on your church stage.

Accessories for Drum Sets

Find high-quality drum set accessories designed to support worship drummers and improve the church stage experience. The right accessories can make a big difference for worship teams. From improving sound control to enhancing comfort and playability, quality drum set accessories help churches create a better worship environment. Designed with church needs in mind, these products support drummers, worship leaders, and audio teams who want a consistent and balanced sound.

Whether your church meets in a large sanctuary or a small stage setup, drum set accessories can provide practical solutions that improve performance and make setup easier. Built to be reliable and effective, these tools give your drummer more confidence while helping the entire worship team maintain the right volume and tone for the congregation.