Tad Carpenter has built a distinguished career in the Marching Band and Drum & Bugle Corps activity. At age 11, he was playing with Santa Clara Vanguard "B" Corps. By age 14, he was a member of the SCV "A" corps drum line that captured the "High Drum" trophy in 1975 and then again in 1978.
Over the years, he has instructed championship drum corps including the Sacramento Freelancers, the Glassmen, and the Velvet Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. On the marching band side, Tad was percussion instructor for University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge.
Tad currently instructs drum lines for the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, Tournament of Roses Honor Band, and he is Director of Percussion at Pasadena City College. He is also a clinician for Yamaha Sounds of Summer, and instructs Disneyland’s All American College Band.
Tad received his Bachelor’s Degree and Teaching Credential at California State University, Northridge and his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance at University of Southern California.
Tad has composed music for The Guitar Center Drum Off, The GRAMMYs, The Academy Awards, Coachella Music Festival, and openings for The Hollywood Bowl and Old Navy Stores in China.
Tad is an endorsee for Yamaha Drums, Evans Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.
