The Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band announced it will perform exclusively on Yamaha percussion instruments as part of an agreement with the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments. As part of the partnership, Yamaha will also provide teaching instruments to music education students.

Yamaha equipped the 220-member Bulldog Marching Band with 9300 Series snare drums, 8300 Series multi-toms and bass drums and a full complement of Multi-Frame II mallet percussion instruments.

Steve McKeithen, Fresno State’s associate director of bands, said the agreement also includes about $250,000 per year in instruments provided for student use, negating University expenditures and repair costs.

“Students benefit from this relationship in a variety of ways, but primarily from the ability to learn with and perform on the very best percussion instruments on the market. We have a goal to look and sound as professional as we can,” he said.

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