Rohema Nick Petrella sticks | NP5 and NP10

Most drumstick news is about kit players. This one is for the concert hall.

German maker Rohema has released two signature concert sticks with American percussionist and educator Nick Petrella: the Nick Petrella 5 and the Nick Petrella 10 General. If you play snare in an orchestra, a wind band or a school ensemble, they are worth a look.

What are the two models?

Nick Petrella 5. 422 mm long and 17 mm across, with a long taper and an oval, acorn-ish tip. Rohema pitches it on quick, consistent rebound and on staying responsive right across the dynamic range, from barely-there rolls to full forte.

Nick Petrella 10 General. 416 mm long and 16.5 mm across, so slightly shorter, slimmer and lighter than the 5. It’s the one to pick if you want a touch more finesse for general concert work.

Both are made in Germany from Rohema’s own laminated Hornwood, with a two-step wax-oil finish for grip. Laminated wood is the point here: concert players care about matched pairs, and a laminate is far more consistent from stick to stick than a single piece of timber. For more on how wood changes the feel, see our drumstick wood guide.

Who is Nick Petrella?

A percussionist, clinician, adjudicator and author with decades of teaching behind him. He wrote The Multiple-Percussion Book and The Ultimate Guide to Cymbals, teaches at Kent State University, and spent almost twenty years as SABIAN’s director of education.

Concert players may already know the name from sticks. Cooperman has made Nick Petrella #5 and #10 General models for years, so this is his design philosophy with a new maker behind it.

How much are they?

The announcement didn’t include pricing. Rohema’s concert range is sold through specialist percussion shops rather than every high-street store, so check with yours.

Final thoughts

Concert sticks rarely get headlines, and signature models from educators rather than rock stars get even fewer. That’s a shame, because this is where a stick’s balance and consistency matter most.

The only downside is that you’ll probably have to order them in. If you’re working out where a 17 mm concert stick sits against your kit sticks, our drumstick size guide has the numbers.