Beautifully Hand Crafted
Timpani Sticks
Seán Hooper
Individually hand-crafted by Seán Hooper, these bamboo cane timpani sticks are used by professional and amateur timpanists across the world. With a range of heads to suit all styles of music, you won’t be disappointed with the quality, or the individual customer service.
Services
Seán makes every pair of sticks to order, using hand-matched, straightened and polished bamboo cane, to retain the feel of the cane. Each head is also hand-made, with over 50 different styles available, to give a huge tonal range.
He offers a refelting and refurbishing service (with a free first refelting for professional models), and will happily make alterations if necessary.
Pro
Sticks
Superior quality, for professional musicians. All the bamboo canes are carefully weighed, measured and knot-matched to ensure perfect balance in a pair. Each cane undergoes over 30 individual processes, with meticulous attention to detail – and that’s before the head is added. Seán is a true craftsman, and the quality of the sticks validates his beleif that the time spent is worth it.
Special
Offer
For models P1 to P16, in the professional range, a free renovation and refelting is offered, for the first refelt. Practically a new pair of sticks for free!
Seán can renovate timpani sticks made by other manufacturers, adding a new felt covering to the head, for around £15 per pair.
The Sticks
Sean’s Handmade Timpani Sticks
Sean’s passion for creating exceptional timpani sticks began during his studies at the Royal College of Music. Dissatisfied with the available options, he embarked on a journey to craft sticks that were both high-quality and affordable. His dedication and experimentation soon led to a demand from fellow students and professional musicians alike.
Handmade with Care
Each timpani stick is meticulously handcrafted by Sean in Cornwall. The handles are made from carefully selected raw bamboo cane, which undergoes a gentle, hand-crafted process to ensure optimal quality and durability. This contrasts sharply with the industrial methods used by many other manufacturers.
The soft, white felt used for the stick heads is specially designed for timpani and offers superior sound quality compared to the cheaper piano felt often used by competitors. To further customize the sound, customers can choose between wood or cork centers, and even specify the thickness of the handle to perfectly match their drum.
A Cornish Craftsman
Sean is proud to be a part of the “Made in Cornwall” scheme, a testament to his commitment to crafting authentic, high-quality products. By creating every stick from start to finish in Cornwall, he ensures that each pair meets the highest standards of craftsmanship.
A Wide Range of Options
With over 50 models available, there’s a perfect pair of timpani sticks for every player. While cork centers are often preferred for smaller drums and calfskin or plastic heads, wood centers tend to work better for larger pedal timpani with metal shells. Sean is always happy to offer advice on choosing the right sticks for your specific needs.
Experience the Difference
Sean’s timpani sticks offer an unparalleled combination of quality, affordability, and customization. By choosing handmade sticks, you’re not only investing in a superior product but also supporting a skilled Cornish craftsman.
Student
Covering all the types of stick a student timpanist should need, without compromising on quality.
Professional
Perfect for the professional timpanist, offering an unparalleled range of tone colours, and completed with custom-made timpani felt, to ensure a stick that will do your performance justice.
Speciality
With Seán’s trademark superb bamboo handles, this range offers a selection of other heads, for specialist applications.
About
A Life in Percussion: From World Stages to Truro School of Samba
Music, particularly percussion, has been the driving force in my life since childhood. This passion has fuelled a fulfilling career filled with performance and education.
On the World Stage: My playing credits span prestigious institutions like the Royal Ballet Company, English National Ballet, Ballet Rambert, Royal Opera Company, and English National Opera Company. Notably, I performed with the latter at the iconic Metropolitan Opera House in New York. My orchestral experience includes resident orchestral percussionist with the West End show “42nd Street”, and playing with Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the RTE Orchestra in Dublin.
Educating the Next Generation: While based in London, I held professorial positions at the London College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, junior department. When the Guildhall School of Music and Drama introduced Percussion exams I was one of their first examiners. After relocating to Cornwall, I continued sharing my passion as a full-time percussion teacher.
The Samba Beat: Cornwall also ignited my love for Samba percussion. There, I met leading British Samba dancer Emma Skilton, and together we co-founded Truro School of Samba. Our vibrant energy has fuelled performances for high-profile events, including the Olympic flame’s arrival in Truro and the Mayor’s Thames Festival in London (one of only two non-London bands invited!). We were also a regular highlight of Truro’s City of Lights procession, captivating audiences of 30,000 – a remarkable feat for a city of only 20,000! I also served as the City of Lights’ Musical Director before the pandemic’s unfortunate impact. In recent years I have regularly played with the London School of Samba at the Notting Hill Carnival, one of the most exciting experiences any Samba Percussionist could hope for.
Beyond Performance: My dedication to music extends to writing. I’ve authored well-received articles for “Brass Band World” and penned the textbook “Samba for Schools”, published by Southern Percussion.
This journey exemplifies my lifelong commitment to percussion. This deep understanding of the art form drives my belief in providing exceptional tools – a belief reflected in the high-quality percussion Timpani sticks offered on this website. After all, a musician deserves the best tools to create their magic.