I teach grades 2-5 music and I've owned the 18 x 21 gathering drum and the 16 x 8 drum. I used them for many years, then passed them on to another teacher now that I have a djembe for every student in my class. Both drums were very sturdy. I liked the bright colors on the drums because they cheered up the classroom. The mallets were quite useful for my other drums also and for the gong because they were soft and wouldn't dent the gong. The 18 X 21 drum was easily played by three students at a time. The tone sustains for a very long time, so it was usually best to have students mute with one hand and play with the other. It was also nice to turn it upside down and use as a storage bin for all of my nested hand drums, bongos and mallets. A good solid bass sound for an ostinato. The 16 X 8 drum didn't sustain a tone as long, so it didn't have to be muted. It had a very pleasant tone. Students would sometimes sit on the drums, but they were not damaged at all - very durable.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE these drums, and own several in different shapes and sizes. The absolutely only problem I've encountered is when a drum head or the drum shell itself becomes damaged in any way - it is impossible to repair it, either by myself, a drum shop or even thru the Remo Co. I own one of the largest sized of all the Remo gathering drums, and by accident, someone dropped it while helping me load out after a class. This resulted in a dent where the shell meets the drum head. I would like it if the drum heads - when they become worn, which eventually happens while teaching kids - could be changed/replaced. Like I said, I LOVE the Remo KId line of drums, I just wish there was a way to repair them when necessary. My collection has been very well loved over the years!

Awesome way to engage students in playing drums! Everyone enjoys and gets a kick out of the enormous sound the drums make!