Who We Are

Turtle Pads was founded by Andrew Morris in June of 2020 with a simple mission, to make percussion education more accessible to students. Having taught at a number of High Schools and Middle Schools across the country, many students did not have access to a pad and drumsticks and could not practice efficiently in class, or at home. Andrew started his percussion education in Middle School with the bell kit and he knew the kind of problems that came with it. For his small frame, the bell kit was heavy. For his parents, the bell kit was very expensive. So years later he set out to alleviate both of these problems, and Andrew designed the Turtle Pad. A Turtle Pad is a gum rubber drum pad built onto a drawstring bag, designed for the convenience of the percussion student on the go. Whether in class, at home, or anywhere in-between, the Turtle Pad provides the best possible practice experience. By pairing this design with a pair of drumsticks, students are given all the tools they need to be successful. 

 

The Team

Andrew Morris grew up in a drumcorps family, and has always been surrounded by music. His favorite activity growing up was attending a lot of the local drumcorps shows each summer, specifically in Riverside, California. Soon after, he joined his Middle School band and began learning percussion. In High School, Andrew started marching drumcorps himself with Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps. From there, he continued his drumcorps career marching 2 more years with Impulse, 1 year with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets, and 1 year with The Cavaliers. He also marched WGI before aging out at 22, he marched 2 years with Green Thunder Percussion, and 1 year with Northcoast Academy. After aging out of the activity, Andrew enlisted in the Army where he served as a Petroleum Supply Specialist and achieved the rank of Corporal. While Andrew served in the Army Reserves, he began teaching at various local schools as well as other drumcorps and WGI percussion ensembles. Teaching at Northcoast Academy, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion, Veritas, The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, Gita Surosawa Banten Drum and Bugle Corps, and STRYKE Percussion. Currently, Andrew studies Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University. He also works at the University to help local Veterans start their own businesses. Andrew continues to stay active in the music community as well, teaching at a number of the local schools, and STRYKE Percussion.