In the early 1900’s the proper term for a professional working drummer was a “Trap Drummer,” this was short for “contraption drummer.” These musicians were much more than simple timekeepers. They provided live musical accompaniment and sound effects for vaudeville acts, silent films, and theater productions. The drummer’s “trap kit” was filled with dozens of unusual noise-making devices used to re-create the sounds in a movie or theater scene. Drummers had to learn how to play a large array of sound effects, whistles, bells, tom-toms, cymbals, as well as more complicated devices like rain machines, anvils, and train imitators. Trap drummers had to imitate everything from a simple doorbell ringing to a galloping horse, and even a train or a gunshot. Furthermore, trap drummers had to buy (and know how to play) all these sound effects, along with tympani, bells, xylophone, and the drum set, for their gigs. Trap drummers […]

November 2025 Issue